(16 - feb) The art of wine tasting is one of the typical Italian excellence and even in China this generates great interest. "Made in Italy" sommelier lessons in China, Italian wine training schools in Shanghai and Beijing, Italian language courses, educational materials and issueing of a degree by the Italian Association of Sommeliers. This is an ambitious project created to form of Chinese sommeliers. It is a collaboration between the University for Foreigners of Siena, Italian Sommelier Association and Enoteca Italiana with the intent to affirm the cultural value and quality of Italian wines in China. The agreement, sponsored by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, was signed today by Massimo Vedovelli, dean of the University for Foreigners of Siena, Antonello Maietta, President of the Italian Sommelier Association, and Claudio Galletti, president of Enoteca Italiana. The first two courses will take place in cities of the project "100 Enoteche Italiane": Shanghai and Beijing. In a second stage, will be identified other cities, in collaboration with universities, agencies or Italian consortiums in China. "The Italian Sommelier Association is flattered to be able to offer its contribution, together with two institutional, to spread the culture of a strategic product for the Italian economy - states Antonello Maietta, president of the Italian Sommelier Association -. We also believe that this partnership will bring undeniable benefits not only to the wine industry but to the entire Italian wine-food scenario, with significant implications for the national tourism industry". (Roc)

SOMMELIER'S WORKS PUSHES THE EXPORTS OF WINE
The job of the sommelier helps to drive the growth of the Italian wine exports, increased of 16% in the first half of 2011. This was stated by Coldiretti, which remarks that the widespread presence of Italian sommeliers abroad has encouraged the presence of Italian wine abroad. Coldiretti estimates almost 23 million hectoliters of wine drunk abroad against a national consumption of just under 21 million hectoliters. The success of Italian wine abroad is sealed by the fact that, in 2011, exports of Italian wine have exceeded those of France in the same period, stopped at just 14 million hectoliters. The result is particularly significant because, according to global estimates for 2011 provided by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), in France in 2011 - remarks Coldiretti - were produced 49.6 million hectoliters, equivalent to an increase of 9% and in Italy the historic low of 42.2 million hectoliters, with a loss of 13%. The sharp decline in the quantity of wine produced in Italy in 2011 has come with an improvement in quality.