Polpenazze Wine Fair Celebrates Tradition, Research, and Community
Grand parade of wines (111 samples presented), companies (36 present), audience, and parliamentarians at the 52nd Polpenazze Wine Fair. Yesterday morning, punctual as the hour that governs fieldwork, the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, this year performed by Mayor Giancarlo Ribelli after years of dominance by Hon. Adriano Paroli. It was Ribelli’s first official appearance following his re-election by the voters of Polpenazze to the position of Mayor.
Then a procession, led by the Marchiori Civic Band and a cart with a barrel and grapes pulled by a pair of white horses, all gathered in Piazza Biolchi, where Father Roberto celebrated the Holy Mass at the parish church.
At the end, as per the tradition unchanged for many editions, award ceremonies were held in the castle square, alongside numerous parliamentarians heading to Rome in the coming days, including Paroli, Saglia, and Tirelli. Provincial councilors Parolini and Buffoli, as well as most mayors from Valtenesi, were also present. Absentees with justified reasons were Massimo Pollini of Moniga and Roberto Rosato of Soiano, both engaged in their first municipal council sessions with the appointment of deputy mayors and assessors.
Shows and Community Involvement
In the afternoon, there was ample space for the peaceful invasion of thousands of visitors who, each year—and this year especially, encouraged by a wonderful sunny day—crowd this interesting and now unique large showcase of Garda wines from Brescia, with tastings and samplings.
Great satisfaction was expressed by both the mayor and the organizer committee coordinator, Francesco Bottarelli, regarding how this edition is proceeding. In the first two evenings, over 3000 “covers” were served, mainly spit-roasted meats and polenta, which were literally sold out.
The various guests also expressed words of appreciation for this Fair during their greetings, noting how in recent years it has gained recognition not only within our province but also beyond its borders.
It is a revival of old peasant traditions, perhaps too quickly forgotten, but which helped shape the history of Brescia’s agricultural world.
Traditional Cuisine and Modern Activities
The large exhibition of dishes prepared with old rural recipes from the early 20th century demonstrated how, in times of poverty, people knew how to appreciate and invent “poor” dishes that today have become a cult.
Today, Monday, the Fair continues with the “Palio of Salamis,” starting this morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Bar Centrale, and in the afternoon there will be activities involving the Confraternities and trade associations. In the evening, awards will be given in the photographic competitions and the “Wine, Vines, and Landscape of Valtenesi” Painting Exhibition, organized by the local Library, presided over by Arsenio Palamone, in collaboration with the municipal administration and the Fair Committee.
In the photographic section, the jury awarded the 1st prize to Liliana Samorè Pavesi; the 2nd to Fabio Cigolini; and the 3rd to Maria Maestri Cavallari. In the painting section, the first prize went to Tancredi Muchetti; the second to Mirko Portello; and the third to Elio Roberti.
