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International
Seminar
Il Vino sull'Altare / Altar Wine
The role of Religion in the spread
of Viticulture
The only International Study Group dedicated to the
exploration and documentation of the history, liturgy and science of Eucharistic wine and
the fundamental role of Religion in the spread of viticulture can be found in the Asti
region, appropriately enough the historic homeland of both wines and saints.
Brief history:
 Founded in 1987 by a group teachers of
oenology and oenological technicians, with priests, liturgical experts, Church historians,
and specialist journalists, to celebrate the 1988 visit of the Supreme Pontiff to
Castelnuovo Don Bosco in the province of Asti, the centre for the production of Malvasia
grapes and the world headquarters of the Salesian order.
Based at Casa Brina, the lodging house and
cultural centre of the Bava estate winery in Cocconato d'Asti, where the Seminar and Study
Group are organised. The organisers are Roberto Bava and Paolo Massobrio; Maria Lisomar
Silva looks after the Public Relations in Rome.
A biennial Seminar has been created to
expound the results of the Study Group's continuous researches.
So far 20 participants have been confirmed
for this year's event, to which will be added eight oenologists and eight priests who will
take turns to form the basis of two separate Altar wine tasting panels.
Wines tasted come from Spain, Portugal,
California, Argentina, Ecuador, Germany and Italy. New this year are Eucharistic wines
from Greece.
An experimental wine has been produced in
the search for the ideal Altar wine; made from Malvasia da Schierano it is called Malvaxia Sincerum.
A new Moscato-based wine will be presented
in this IV edition of the conference.
Some of the ongoing projects already
underway:
- The cataloguing of all the world's Eucharistic wines and
their producers.
- A permanent exhibition on 'Wine and the Church' in the
cellars of Casa Brina.
Patrons include the Office International du
Vin (O.I.V.), the High Council of the Regional Government of Piedmont, the Piedmontese
Government, and the Commune of Cocconato. The Church's blessing comes from Cardinal
Sodano.
The IV Seminar will up-date the themes of
the previous editions and be dedicated to the theme of wine in liturgies of the Eastern
rite. New Altar wines will be tasted by the separate tasting panels composed of
oenologists and priests.
Organisers' office:
Roberto Bava. Tel: 0141 907083 Fax: 0141 907085 e-mail: casabrina@casabrina.com
Paolo Massobrio. Tel: 0131 345 414 e-mail: massolon@tin.it
Il Vino sull'Altare, Casa Brina, Via Piave 29, 14023 Cocconato d'Asti
Rome Press Office:
Lisomar Silva. Tel & Fax: 06 321 0553 e-mail: silvacon@micanet.it
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