Last week's G7 summit in Puglia saw not only important diplomacy taking place between world leaders, but also a lot of fine Italian wine being drunk.
The summit, held in the upscale resort town of Borgo Egnazia, brought together leaders from host Italy as well as representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the United States, Canada, Japan, EU member states and other countries, including Pope Francis, to discuss Ukraine, Gaza and the general world situation.
While vital issues were debated at the diplomatic table, Italian products and creativity were celebrated at the dining table.
Among the wines on offer for the occasion were those of Ferrari Trento, owned by the Lunelli Group, who presented the visiting leaders with Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2012. This sparkling wine is made using traditional methods from Chardonnay, with the wine aged on the lees for nearly 10 years, and according to Ferrari Trento, has aromas of yellow grapefruit, flowers, almonds and brioche.
Notably, at least two of the group's leaders, British Chancellor Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden, do not drink alcohol, while French President Emmanuel Macron is a known wine lover.
According to Wine News, the various lunches and dinners also offered a host of other legendary Italian wines, including well-known Tuscan wines such as Marchesi Antinori Tignanello 2021 and the highly acclaimed (and recently released) 2019 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, the latter of which sells for around £500 for a case of six bottles in the UK.
Magi's Amarone della Valpolicella was also on offer, as was the 2022 vintage of Donnafugata's famous Passito di Pantelleria, Ben Lie (although this is a sweeter wine that deserves aging).
Guests were also treated to a selection of wines from Puglia, including Gianfranco Fino's Salento Primitivo S 2019, which boasts an alcohol content of 16.5%.
Culinary diplomacy
In keeping with the Summit's opulent atmosphere, guests enjoyed cuisine by Massimo Bottura, founder of Osteria Francescana, a Modena restaurant widely considered to be the best in the world.
In an interview with La Repubblica, Bottura explained that his intention with the menu was to “take the world's greatest dignitaries on a culinary journey through Italy.”
Among the dishes served was Bottura's “Bread is Gold,” a toasted bread soaked in tomato water (a la Panzanella) and covered in edible gold.
Concerns were apparently raised over Bottura's decision to serve cod for one of the courses, rather than a more appealing fish, but Macron reportedly praised the renowned chef's food, calling it “very delicious.”
Dessert was Bottura's signature “Oops, I Dropped My Lemon Tart,” a dish he has previously claimed was “a satire on our daily pursuit of perfection and pure beauty.”
Bottura said the most difficult guest to accommodate was Biden, who isn't a big fan of fish, so he was served a menu of vegetables and Puglia lamb instead.
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