5StarWines - the Book 2021

Let me remind readers that the main objective of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is to
facilitate the showcase of participating producers with a special attention to the awardees.
There has never been a more important time to send positive signals and recognize the
wonderful (award-winning!) work being done by winemakers.
Thanks to the dedication of the team and Judges before, during and after the tasting days
we have been able to continue the work of selecting these “5StarWines” and presenting
them to as broad an audience as possible.
Each year the tasting finishes late into the evening, and this year was no exception, with
committed judges at home often working long into the evening to complete their tastings,
and the Special Committee of the judges in Verona – Daniele Cernilli, Monty Waldin and
Gabriele Gorelli – assessing and reassessing wines to ensure the objectivity of the final scores.
The tasting days were only tiny pieces of a complex, fascinating puzzle: the scores must
be collated, the selected wines’ list released, winning wineries informed and promoted,
diplomas printed and, last but perhaps most importantly, the Guide written and published.
After the Guide has been produced, still the work continues throughout the year with
wine-searcher listings, special B2B moments during the events organized by Veronafiere in
Verona and abroad, trophies and selected wineries’ promotion on social media.
Trust me when I tell you that it takes extreme patience and commitment to streamline
the various human resources of the 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls “supply chain” to
complete the puzzle.
All this cannot be achieved without the 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls “extended family”.
Gianni Bruno, Exhibition Manager Wine & Food at Veronafiere, and his dedicated team
deserve a special mention for continuing to believe in this project and assisting in its
organization. ICE – Italian Trade Agency, for the synergic and harmonious cooperation to
promote Italian quality wines abroad, Assoenologi association — in particular to President
Riccardo Cotarella and Director Paolo Brogioni — for continuing to endorse the Selection
despite the unconventional concept, especially the lead oenologist Andrea Zanni for the
seamless of activity of assessment and anonymization of the wines on site before and during
the tastings. Monty Waldin, for his fast and efficient editing of the book (and of course his
excellent — and typically esoteric — commentary on it!), Mauro Cobelli, Veronafiere Legal
Affairs Coordinator of the Selection for strictly controlling the respect of the guidelines
and guaranteeing the safety of all the resources involved and last but not least, all the
judges, patiently waiting for the developments of the project and for the marvelous effort
to receive, store and blind taste the wines.
I will spare you the gory details but 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls this year was truly
a collective effort. Team members and affiliate partners have been incredibly generous
in their support and efficiency even at stressful times and, once more, I would like to
extend my most sincere “grazie di cuore” to all involved. A special thanks, however, goes to
Manuela, Rebecca, Jacopo, Cristina, Pauline, Elena, Andrea C., Andrea D., Nasir, Margherita,
Daniela, Koen, Davide, Franco and Marina because I drove them absolutely mad at times to
make this work as we had to reformat this edition exactly three different times. I am truly
grateful. That is all.
Stevie Kim
Chief Content Officer of 5StarWines and
Managing Director of Vinitaly International
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