Interest in the Colli Tortonesi is growing thanks to the driving force of Timorasso and the entire Derthona supply chain

Authoritative voices from successful territories”, held at the Civic Theater of Alessandria. In fact, a round table of exceptional guests debated, in front of an audience of over 300 people (sold out at the theater and in venues connected to the initiative) on how to tell and relaunch the Tortona area and its typical products, starting with peculiarities such as the Derthona Timorasso wine. The conclusions entrust a very specific responsibility to all "slow tourism": local operators must in fact work together and create communities, but the last word in terms of promotion of the territory belongs to those who visit it and above all "taste" it.

It was 2005 when Walter Massa, president and creator of the “ Terre Derthona ” brand, as well as the soul of the development project of the Tortona area, launched a challenge that at the time could have sounded like a provocation. “Within 15 years – he said of a public event at the time – all top-level restaurants and wine bars will have a Colli Tortonesi wine on their menus”. Last Monday, Massa recalled that sort of "prophecy" made in unsuspecting times and introduced the next steps on which the territory will have to work. “Today – said the president of the “Terre Derthona” brand – our wine is truly present in the best restaurants. This must act as a driving force and model for the whole basket of excellences of our territory: Montebore cheese, noble salami from Giarolo, Volpedo peaches, Garbagna cherries, truffles from the Apennines, vegetables from Valle Scrivia” .

Finally, Massa dictated the next steps for an authentic and effective territorial promotion. “As local economic operators – he added – it is important to work together, creating sharing and community. But the first ambassadors will have to be the tourists who love food and good wine, who by stopping in our areas will be able to tell the many peculiarities that we are able to offer, from the Giarolo salami "obligatorily" cut at 45 degrees to the San Sebastiano truffle Curone, just to give two examples. In other words, the contribution of those who visit and deepen their knowledge of the area will be essential to successfully reach the next goal. The case history of the Derthona Timorasso wine, for its part, is showing all operators in the area the right path to take".

In addition to Walter Massa, contributions from the founder of Eataly, Oscar Farinetti, the historian and writer Luciano Bertello, the president of Banca d'Alba Tino Cornaglia, the artistic director of R&P Davide Rampello and of the owner of the 3-star Michelin restaurant "Dal Pescatore" in Canneto sull'Oglio (Mantova), Antonio Santini. The institutional presence was also at the highest levels, with the intervention of the mayor of Tortona, Federico Chiodi.