Puegnago Agricultural Fair Boosts Local Wines, Food, and Traditions
Official unveiling, yesterday morning in the council hall, for the Puegnago Agricultural and Craft Fair, now in its 24th edition. The event will take place on Friday the 1st, Saturday the 2nd, Sunday the 3rd, and Monday the 4th of September.
Wines and Tastings at the Fair
The «Cavalieri della luna d’agosto», led by Salodian oenologist Beppe Fiotti, have sent 19 out of 46 wines into orbit: the best, the only ones capable of winning top marks. The jury, chaired by Michele Vescia, sniffed and tasted the Groppello wines, selecting 8 out of 23. The winners will join the collective space, called la Corte degli assaggi, alongside the agricultural company stands.
The names of the winners will be announced next week, just to maintain a touch of suspense. But Puegnago does not only focus on Valtenesi wine. It also produces extra-virgin olive oil, and Giovanni Mazzoldi, president of Aipol, explained its characteristics, recalling tastings and the conference scheduled for the last day.
There is also honey, with tastings and experts explaining the differences between dioromel (“multifloral honey —” said Franco Bergognini — “is our flagship product; but we shouldn’t forget the honeydew, chestnut, and acacia honeys”). The Fair also features grappa. Imagine: 115 different brands from Lombardy, Trentino, and Veneto.
Products and Activities at the Fair
«Another 30 exhibitors arrived late,» says Renato Paini, president of Anag, the association of tasters, who will complete the evaluation today in Montichiari. Next year, the number may reach 200, compared to 160-180 in Asti. A triumph of aromas: from grappas to Amarene in Sassella, Traminer, Sauvignon, Nosiola, Trebbiano di Lugana, Franciacorta. And a couple of organic products.
Silvano Zanelli, president of the Ente fiera, sums up: «25 companies with 69 wines, 10 producers of olive oil with 30 extra-virgins, 34 exhibitors of agricultural machinery and related activities, plus 115 grappas.» Councillor Tiberio Prati describes other fair activities: the skewer contest, reserved for agritourism establishments (in ’99, «La sercola» won), the culinary stand, coordinated by all the village volunteers.
The Palio delle contrade, the «Piasaroi», who wear traditional clogs and dance, bringing cheer to the square, the Valtenesi Singers celebrating their 30th anniversary, sports competitions (running, cycling, bocce), the parade of allegorical floats, the photographic exhibition, Albanian folklore and various shows, the Caronte group, and dialect comedy, plus games for adults and children.
Inauguration and Other Highlights
The official opening will take place on Sunday morning in the presence of authorities, the band, and confraternities. The ribbon-cutting will be performed by a farmer: Umberto Zanelli, born in 1930, a well-aged seventy-two. A script to uphold and respect.
«We aim to offer the best products from our land, and the Fair is the most important event,» explains Mayor Gianfranco Comincioli. «This edition will also address two important issues: citizens’ safety against the rising phenomenon of crime (a project has been developed in Valtenesi, which will be submitted for consideration to Andrea Cavalli, Provincial President); and traffic flow, especially regarding the Cunettone-Desenzano highway, which passes through inhabited areas, needs industrial zones, and is the only connection between Garda and Valsabbia, as well as the Milan-Venice motorway.»
Ermes Buffoli, provincial tourism councillor, highlighted the fair’s growth and described the Internet portal project, which will enable access to a range of data (events, hotels, travel agencies); starting September, even via a simple mobile phone.
The closing remarks were delivered by Honorable Francesco Ferrari. The President of the Agriculture Committee reiterated the need to maximize the display of local products: «A quality weapon against the dominance of multinationals and genetically modified foods.» He then invited to «forget the past» and to consider a «unified regulatory plan for Valtenesi».