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Merano WineFestival The Merano WineFestival (or MWF in short) is a high class international enogastronomic event founded in 1992 by Helmuth Koecher. This three-day event is held yearly in the first half of November and takes place in Merano[], small termae city in the South Tyrol[] area of Italy[], near the border to Austria.

The MWF was the first event in Italy to impose a rigorous selection on potential exhibitors based only on the high quality of the products. The selection process has been delegated to a series of committees that taste recommended and well-known wines only of high quality. Each year more than 5000 different wines are tasted and evaluated and only the best 1200 wines from 500 vintners are invited. The area in the Kurhaus dedicated to wine is divided into 7 sections: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, which represents most of the premiere crus from Bordeaux. Centum -Italia Excellentis, Italian wines that have made it through the selection process, without additional characteristics. They represent the majority of wines being tasted. Italian Top Selection, a presentation and tasting of the best selected wines of the most important wine growing areas from all regions of Italy from the best wineries New entries, wines that are not well-known, but have been chosen by the selection committee as wines possessing great growth potential. Extremis, featuring wine produced in extreme conditions (altitude, climate, soil or vinification process). bio&dinamica, vintners that practice sustainable viticulture, are respectful of nature, and produce wine according to the Rudolf Steiner philosophy. Consortium, an area dedicated to wine consortiums (like the Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico or the Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella). In addition to wine, the Festival has an other area of interest inside of the GourmetArena: BeerPassion, dedicated to beer, both artigianal and mass-production. Culinaria, an exhibition dedicated to the best raw ingredients and products in Italy. Chef’s Challenge, which offers the opportunity to observe and taste recipes from professional chefs who prepare important dishes in an area dedicated to haute cuisine. The Merano WineFestival also organizes a Merano Wine & Culinaria Award contest. During the selection process, wines that receive 86/100 up to 89/100 points receive a red sticker. Alternatively, gold stickers are given to wines with more than 90/100 points. In the 2013 edition, 132 gold award were given. In 2013, the Merano WineFestival inaugurated Dialogues, a laboratory of ideas and solutions for the wine economics formed by the finest experts in the sector. History The first edition of the Merano WineFestival took place in 1992 and started out as a group of friends who met for love of good wine and food. Their knowledge and experience grew until they started to organize international wine and food events. The Kurhaus of Merano, a historic building in the Liberty style in the centre of the city, represented the ideal base of the Merano WineFestival. Helmuth Köcher is one of the founder and CEO of the company that manages the event, Gourmet's International http://www.meranowinefestival.com/en, as well as the president and the head of the Festival. In 2003, the partnership with the Union des Grands crus de Bordeaux was created and since then, they have showcased their wines at every festival. In 2005, bio&dynamica was conceived as a side event of the MWF and is dedicated to organic, biodynamic and natural viticulture. It was first held at the Castel Katzenzungen, a medieval castle, just a few kilometres from Merano. In 2008, the event moved to Castel Kallmünz, also a very nice medieval castle, in the centre of Merano. The following year, bio&dynamica integrated with MWF moving its location to the Pavillon des fleurs hall in the Kurhaus. In 2011, in occasion of the 20th anniversary of the festival, the "important vintages" were introduced: on the closing day of the event, some producers offered tastings of their oldest wines, in a "mini-vertical" tasting. Guided tastings were introduced as well as vertical and horizontal tastings led by prominent moderators. These last mentioned may be reserved until they are sold out. They are held at the Hotel Terme in Merano. The Merano WineFestival organizes other events in other places: in 2014, Food&WineFestival Milan and Rome, Food&Wine Festival New York and Chicago, in collaboration with Identità Golose and since 2002, the Euro World Tour in several different European capitals (in London, New York, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Moscow etc.).

Numbers

The Merano WineFestival 2013 saw: 6,500 registered participants and 300 accredited journalists. More than 300 Italian winemakers, over 120 from Bulgaria, Germany, France, Croatia, New Zealand, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, and the United States for a total of 1,200 different wines. More than 100 culinary companies with over 500 products.