Merano Wine Festival 2012

The Merano Wine Festival is an annual tasting event of the finest Italian and international wines. It a tasting event like no other and the best I have ever attended! Over 400 wineries from Italy and more than 120 international producers from across the world were selected to participate. In addition, there is a Beer Passion section where you can taste handcrafted Italian beers as well as a Culinary Area showcasing some the best local ingredients.

The Festival is an amazing opportunity 'to take a trip around the world with your wine glass'. You have the chance to speak to winemakers, taste historic Italian vintages and acquaint yourself with up-and-coming winemakers. There is even an option to attend private tastings for an extra fee. A three day pass will set you back 160 Euros but I think you will agree it's money well spent!

The Kursaal Hall

J. Hofstatter, one of the many famous producers available to taste

An amazing Falanghina from Donna Laura with great complexity

After a long day of wine tasting it was time for a beer so I headed to the Beer Passion area and this chef handed one right to me as I walked in and insisted on a photo...haha oh, the Italians! J

Cittavecchia, where have you been all my life?! My favorite Italian beer!!! It didn't hurt that the brewer was extremely nice and spoke perfect English as well as German and Italian...a man of many talents!

Pavillon Des Fleurs was an entire room dedicated to Bordeaux and Chateau Leoville Barton was one of many being poured

And what's a room of Bordeaux without a little Sauternes?!

Feudi di San Gregorio is known for their elegant and traditional Italian wines. Serpico is 100% Aglianico and is a deep, powerful, concentrated wine with impeccable balance and great aging potential. And the photo below the bottle is not a tree but actually one of their ancient vines.

Vietti is one of the top Piemonte producers

Nebbiolo is the red grape varietal used in Pio Cesare's world class Barolo and Barbaresco

Fattoria Poggio Gagliardo was one of the few producers who were kind enough to serve from a decanter, which is much needed with these young and powerful Italian wines. After a couple of hours to breathe, these were some of the finest we tasted with elegance and precision.

Please don't judge our wine teeth to harshly. We had a long yet impressive day of Barolo tasting J

And what's an Italian wine tasting without a little Italian pick me up?

There were many international wineries present. Simcic was one of the many and are know for their traditional Rebula

Bodren is a Croatian winery who specializes in ice wine

Monday, the last day of the festival, was vintage tasting day! Many of the producers opened vintage selections according to a predetermined schedule for everyone who was still there to enjoy. This wine lived to see the next century!!!

You want some cheese with that wine? The culinary section was filled with all types of food you could sample from cheese to homemade olives to truffles. Needless to say, I spent a good amount of time there J

And if all this wasn't enough to convince you how absolutely amazing this festival is, check out the beautiful town of Merano. Now I gotcha!