The Pavia Territory has won the "Vinarius al Territorio" award, now in its ninth edition. President Vinarius, Andrea Terraneo, announced this today 16 January during the ceremony held in the evocative setting of the Sala Caduti di Nassirya of Palazzo Madama in Rome during which the Vice President of the Senate Gian Marco Centinaio also spoke. In fact, every two years Vinarius (the Association of Italian Wine Cellars) selects an Italian territory in which there is a strong wine-growing vocation, a significant agri-food basket but also great attention to issues related to environmental sustainability, the enhancement of traditions, history and to wine tourism reception.

" Receiving this prestigious award for the 'know-how' of our territory - says the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chamber of Commerce of Pavia Giovanni Merlino - is a great honor and it is a source of pride that it is awarded by companies that play a role of ambassadors of the territories through the story of wine as a factor of attraction and hospitality. The credit goes to our producers and to all the companies involved in an agricultural, manufacturing and commercial chain that sees its natural roots in the Oltrepò Pavese. A great opportunity for local operators and for associative and institutional subjects who have the responsibility of working together so that the quality of Oltrepò wines represents a brand for the entire territory of the province of Pavia ".

" The Pavese Territory represents a true example of how the combination of wine and wine tourism can become the key to discovering a territory and its history, for this reason we are not only happy to have awarded this prize - explains Andrea Terraneo, President of Vinarius – but also extremely honored to have conferred it inside the Senate building, a sign of how the wine sector is increasingly at the center of the dialogue between institutions and exponents of a truly driving sector in Italy ".

" For me it is a double pleasure to host this ceremony at Palazzo Madama - adds Gian Marco Centinaio, Vice President of the Senate - because it helps to open such a solemn place to those who work every day to enhance the Italian wine heritage, but also for the pride that I feel to see my territory awarded.The convergence between the food and wine and tourism sectors can give a great boost to the Pavia economy, as well as that of many other areas of Italy, and this recognition is proof that you are already on the right track ".

" Thank you from our wonderful territory that aspires to be ever more sustainable smiling and passionate, this is an award that honors us ." Gilda Fugazza, president of the Oltrepò Pavese Consortium for the Protection of Wines , said.

The Pavia area is rich in history, art and culinary traditions and is characterized by entrepreneurial and artisanal know-how, with around 58,000 businesses in the province. The Pavese wine sector fits into this panorama, which finds full expression through the DOC, DOCG wines of the Oltrepò Pavese and IGP Province of Pavia. 13,269 hectares of vineyards , of which 11,102 registered with the various denominations, which give life to quality wines, representative of the territory and the passion of its producers. Peculiarities that make this wine-growing area all to be discovered through the numerous wine tourism itineraries that make it a unique destination.

WHO IS VINARIUS
Vinarius is the Association of Italian Wine Shops and represents over 110 members (whose total turnover is close to 50 million euros) covering the entire national territory. The association, now chaired by Andrea Terraneo, was founded in 1981 and has as its social purpose the promotion, enhancement and protection of wine shops as commercial activities specialized in the proposal of quality wine. The association deals with the training of the winemaker, his collaborators and employees, professional updates, identifying and implementing a whole series of activities ranging from the organization of study trips to in-depth internships in the various production places, actively participating in conferences, exhibitions, fairs, events of various kinds. Every two years Vinarius organizes and promotes the Vinarius al Territorio Award which reached its Ninth Edition in 2020. Furthermore, it maintains close and cordial relations with the two major French counterpart associations. It periodically carries out surveys among its associates to monitor trends, consumer requests and market trends.