ONAV LOOKS TO THE FUTURE: CAMILLA DE PAOLIS IS THE NEW GENERAL DIRECTOR

Seventy-five years of history and a new generation at the helm. Camilla De Paolis, 31, an oenologist with a PhD in Viticultural and Oenological Sciences, is the new General Director of ONAV – National Organization of Wine Tasters , the association founded in Asti in 1951 and today a leading Italian organization for the training of tasters and the dissemination of a wine culture based on knowledge, scientific rigor, and awareness.

This appointment marks a significant step for the Organization. Not only because of the new Director's age and the decision to appoint a woman in a sector where the presence of women in technical and management positions has historically faced greater obstacles, but above all because of the chosen profile: a professional who has grown up in scientific research, academia, and production , representing a generation now called upon to confront the profound transformations currently underway in the world of wine.

"The decision to entrust the General Management to Camilla De Paolis stems from the desire to look to the future with confidence, enhancing skills, expertise, and the next generation," comments Vito Intini, President of ONAV . "On its 75th anniversary, ONAV continues its evolutionary journey, drawing strength from its history to renew itself and look ahead. We believe it is our responsibility to create space for new energies and new perspectives, entrusting responsibilities to those who have demonstrated the skills to assume them."

"Having the opportunity to lead ONAV is a tremendous honor for me. After my experiences in research and production, I felt the desire to dedicate myself to promoting and spreading the culture of wine. However, I believe that the boldest step was taken by ONAV itself, choosing to go against the grain and invest in young management. I believe that in Italy there should be more and more companies with the courage to invest in the new generations," says Camilla De Paolis .
BROUGHT NEW GENERATIONS CLOSER TO WINE CULTURE

Camilla De Paolis's appointment is part of ONAV's ongoing evolution, which since its founding has made training and a technical-scientific approach to tasting its hallmarks. This legacy continues today, maintaining this rigor while simultaneously embracing new languages and new generations.

"I don't think young people are disinterested in wine; rather, I believe they're often intimidated by the complexity with which it's presented," explains De Paolis. "We must have the courage to present it simply, without trivializing it, putting emotion back at the center and ensuring that technique is an added value to be discovered over time, rather than the first barrier to entry . Education can offer a compass for exploring the extraordinary diversity of wine with curiosity and without fear."

A look at the new generations that also goes hand in hand with that aimed at the many young women who in recent years have chosen to build their own careers in the wine sector.

"Women still face obstacles in a world that, especially in the past, has struggled to entrust them with historically male-dominated technical and managerial roles. Fortunately, today, more and more young women are approaching wine, and more and more women are becoming winemakers in wineries. I hope that ONAV can set a positive example and lead the way in this direction," concludes Camilla De Paolis.