Bardolino Wine Festival Boosts Tourism Despite Rain Challenges
A milestone marked the last Grape and Wine Festival of the millennium: the rain. For three full days, with only brief pauses, it rained nonstop. Things looked slightly better on Monday, the fourth day of the celebration, with the fireworks display over the lake expected to conclude the event.
Consequently, the event was somewhat subdued, saved overall by a substantial presence of foreign tourists. More than seventy percent of those who attended the four-day traditional festival—focused more on wine than grapes—during its 71st edition, spoke foreign languages, particularly German and English.
Tourist Impact and Promotion
This demonstrates how the event is increasingly establishing a clear tourist appeal each year, in the context of promoting Bardolino wine, during the autumn period, one of the most popular times for enthusiasts of eno-gastronomic entertainment.
This reflection has prompted deeper thought and motivation among those working in the agri-tourism sector, encouraging the development of a more substantial image of the festival, better aligned with the ever-evolving tourist market.
Improvements by the Consortium and Promotional Activities
On this front, the Consorzio Tutela has played its part by rescheduling its conference and study portion to a more appropriate date, offering greater space for promotion through the educational event «A Treasure in a Bottle», which saw about thirty media outlets—both television and print—participate in a treasure hunt reserved for journalists.
Participants sought, by solving riddles, particularly significant dining environments along the Riviera and the hinterland of Lake Garda, driven by the idea that «wine tastes better when one knows the beauty of its land».
The Protection Consortium is also working to lay the groundwork for obtaining the recognition «Bardolino Superiore Doc», through committed and targeted viticulture in particularly suitable vineyard areas and careful vinification that maximizes environmental and varietal potentials.
Vinegrowers, especially those sensitive to quality, are reducing grape yields from 130 to 90 quintals per hectare, densely planting vines to decrease production per plant. This results in a Superior wine characterized by high concentration, more open aromas, greater body, and fuller flavor.
Future Prospects
«After reaching significant milestones, we aim», stated the president of the Consorzio Giuseppe degli Albertini, «to face the challenge of the price-quality ratio by presenting a great wine, adhering to stricter rules through self-discipline among members».
Achievements and Recognitions
Returning to the grape and wine festival—now archived—the winners of the Bardolino Classico DOC wine grape competition include: the agricultural companies Colle dei Cipressi and Rossi Cesare of Calmasino; Raval, F.lli Girardelli, Costadoro, Ca’ Bottura, and Guerrieri Rizzardi of Bardolino; Orlandi Vittorio and Giovanni Gelmetti of Lazise; Vittorio Beghini of Cavaion; and the wineries Lamberti Giv of Cavaion, F.lli Zeni, and Lenotti Vigneto La Prà of Bardolino.
