June 2010 - Organized together with the Consorzio di Tutela Isonzo in Friuli and Consorzio di Tutela Valpolicella in Veneto an Educational trip for the Association of Wine Educators - UK. The trip involved winery visits and as well as an introduction to the appellations of the two areas visited.

Organized two educationals. One for Trentino Spa with a group of international journalists from Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavian countries. At the same time organized an educational for Trentino Sprint with a group of international importers from Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavian countries. Visited a number of producers as well as the Trentino wine fair.

Advisor & Coordinator for WINETT T&T EXPORT, a private Business to Business event dedicated to foreign importers (buyers) and a small number of selected Italian Wine producers keen to establish and consolidate commercial relationships with international markets - set in Hotel Europa & Regina on the Grand canal in Venice. This event involved organizing three workshops: GDO national Italian supermarkets; Asian markets; USA and Americas markets.

Selected 30 International Wine Buyers for the Rimini Wine Trade Fair

Organized for the Consorzio Tutela della Valpolicella the incoming of 35 international press to attend the release of the 2006 vintage of Amarone della Valpolicella. The consultancy involved the tasting of over 70 Amarone 2006 wines and two days of winery trips ti different producers.

Organized an Educational for MTV Puglia for foreign press which focused on the different areas and appellations of the Puglia.

Advisor & Coordinator for WINETT T&T EXPORT, a private Business to Business event dedicated to foreign importers (buyers) and a small number of selected Italian Wine producers keen to establish and consolidate commercial relationships with international markets - set in Hotel Europa & Regina on the Grand canal in Venice.

Organized an Educational for Assivip which focused on the different areas and appellations of the Marche. Five international journalists and five international wine buyers joined the educational.

Organized a workshop showcasing of Brunello di Montalcino wines and winery visits for three days for a group of 10 importers from Norther European countries with particular focus on Eastern Europe.

Organized an itinerant educational for the Producers of Tuscany & Co. situated in Tuscany and Lazio for a group of Asian and US importers.

Organized a workshop showcasing of Brunello di Montalcino wines and winery visits for three days for a group of 10 importers from Norther European countries with particular focus on Scandinavia.

Power Point presentation and tutored tasting of the wines of Sicily for the Regional Institute of Wine and Viticulture - Presented to the press and trade at Vinopolis - London.

Importer workshop at Alla Corte del Vino in Tuscany (Chianti Classico) for internatinal importers from Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Alto Adige and Trentino with the Association of Wine Educators - AWE
Vino in Villa - Prosecco annual showcasing for UK Press

Wine judging for UK’s IWSC Competition and Decanter Wine Competition on the Italian wine panel.

Consultant to VeronaFiere for Vinitaly in 2004 - 2005 -2006 - 2007- 2008 - 2009 -2010
Veronafiere are the organizers of Italy’s largest and most influential Wine Trade Fair Vinitaly held on an annual basis in Verona in April.
The consultancy involves selecting and bringing together a selection of some of the leading international wine buyers/importers/distributors to attend Vinitaly. In addition to setting up regional wine tastings and b2b workshops for the international trade sector during the exhibition and special wine tasting evenings organized with regional wine grower associations.

Acted as Advisor for the selection of 32 wine producers from all Italy to participate on a b2b event with 17 international (personally selected) wine buyers and 10 national (Italian) supermarket buyers. The venue took place in March 11-13 March 2009 at the Westin Regina & Europa overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice. The first two days were dedicated to export markets and the third day to national (Italian) market.

Selected and organized for 30 international wine buyers to attend the Arezzo Wine trade fair in Tuscany.

Selected and organized the incoming of 30 international journalists to participate in the presentation of Amarone vintage 2005 showcased by the Consorzio della Valpolicella. The event took place in Verona where journalists could meet with producer members of the Consorzio Valpolicella and taste through over 70 ssamples of Amarone 2005 and Recioto wines.

February 2009
Conducted a masterclass in Delhi for the Food & Beverage staff of the Park Hotel on Italian wines
Conducted a masterclass in Mumbai for the Food & Beverage staff of the Taj hotel group on Brunello di Montalcino with 50 participants attending

Organized and conducted an educational for a group of 15 Indian press and Indian wine importers for the Consorzio Brunello di Montalcino. The organization involved a full tasting of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino as well as winery visits over 3 days.

15-17 May - Alla Corte del Vino - Asia Workshop
Selected a gorup of wine buyers from Asian countries and conducted a b2b workshop for 15 Asian buyers and producers from Tuscany at the Corte del Vino event at Le Corti estate

Conducted an International Press trip in Friuli for Movimento Turismo Italiano. At the same time assisted with the implementation of an International wine trade workshop b2b for Friuli Producers organized by Movimento Turismo Italiano. The assignment consisted in selecting 25 international importers.

January 2007 Led a group of 20 interntional press to Verona to participate in the Amarone 2004 vintage release, which involved tasting 70 Amarone wines from 2004. Two days were spent visiting wineries in the area of Valpolicella.
Preparing also for january 2008 on Vintage 2005

November 2007. Led an educational for a group of 12 international press in the area of Dogliani foscusing exclusively on Dolcetto di Dogliani. This included a general tasting and varius individual winery visits.

Led an educational in the area of The Marches for a group of 12 international press. This included a general tasting and a range of individual winery visits.

October 2007 - Assisted in the organization of the Consorzio di Tutela Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene’s first debut in London. This included the showcasing of 32 producers and their wines to the UK trade at the Insittute of Directors in central London. The turnout was over 150 trade and press and a seminar for over 40 trade conducted during the all-day event.

The event was repeated as an annual event in October 2008 for 45 Prosecco producers.

Consultant for co-coordinating 40 International wine buyers from a global range of countries to attend a ’Supply/Demand’ workshop between buyers and Italian producers held at the Salone del Vino 2007 Trade Fair in Torino, Italy.

September 2007 - Focus India - Conducted an Educational for 8 Indian press from consumer and trade magazines, lifestyle, travel and major daily papers. The educational focused on the top estates of Chianti Classico and involved individual themed winery visits.

September 2008 - Focus Baltic countries and northern Europe - Conducted an Educational for 12 wine buyers from the Baltic countries and norther Europe. The focus was setting up b2b workshop meetings with the Chianti Classico produces from different production zones over a two full day schedule in which 70 producers were involved.

August 2007. Conducted an Educational for 12 international buyers with focus on Vernaccia di San Gimignano docg and San Gimignano Rosso doc. This included a programme based on a general tasting and individual winery visits. Food and wine pairing.

Conducted an educational in Veneto to the areas of Prosecco Doc, Valpolicella and Soave. The group included 8 international wine buyers for the Asia market and 4 international press Asia. The educational organized over 7 days was in collaboration with the three Consorzios and included area briefings, winery and vineyard visits as well s visits to local artisan food producers.

The Eductional included a selection of 18 international wine buyers and press to visit the opening of the Grifalco Wine Estate in Venosa Basilicata, as well as a comprhensive tasting of: Basilicata DOC and IGT wines “Matera”, “Alta Val d’Agri” and “Roccanova del Grottino”. Historic towns of Venosa and Matera were also visited.

Educational with focus on small group of top UK press visitng some of Alto Adige’s key wineries as well as the “Mostra Vini Bolzano” – a general tasting at Castel Mareccio with about 60 producers showcasing more than 300 wines. Individual visits included: Laimburg Research Center and Winery; Manincor;Abbazia di Novacella; Cantina Termeno; Cantina Terlano.

Speaker at the Bath Wine Festival - a festival held at the Bath Priory Hotel focusing on Itlaian wine. Gave a talk on Italian wine at the Bruno Giacosa dinner. Gave a talk and a tasting on Italian wine - showing Italy’s different regions of production and main diferent grape varieties.

Power point presentation of the main issues that local Italian producers face when looking to enter the UK wine trade. This involved an in-depth market analysis of the developments and evolution of wine industry in the UK.

Educational of the appellations around Arezzo, which includes: Cortona DOC; Valdichiana DOC; Colli Artetini DOC; Pietraviva DOC for a group of 20 professionals -9 international press and 11 international buyers.

A day of tastings organized by the Prosecco DOC Consozorzio - Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, held at Cipriani in Manhattan, on 27th June 2006. During the New York venue Michèle Shah two guided seminars on the history of the area, the vinification process and the viticulture of the DOC area of production. The seminar also touched on the different examples of food pairing to the various styles of Prosecco.

June 2006 Conducted an educational in Veneto to the areas of Prosecco Doc, Valpolicella and Soave. The group included 7 international wine buyers and 7 international press. The educational organized over 5 days was in collaboration with the three Consorzios and included area briefings, winery and vineyard visits as well s visits to local artisan food producers.

May 2006 - Conducted an educational with 12 international press to the region of Trentino. The educational was organized over three dayswith Trentino Spa and included general area briefing, winery and vineyard visits and a group wine tasting of over 70 estates.

Responsible for selection of 20 internatioanl wine buyers and importers from global market with special focus on Asia to attend a full 3 days work at MIWINE trade fair held in Milan 14-16 June 2006.

• September 2005 - Organized and led a group of 18 international press on a special 3 day programme focusing on the wines and production area of Tuscany’s Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The cosnultancy was carried out for the Consorzio Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Consorzio Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Consultant for co-ordinating 50 International wine buyers from a global range of countries to attend a ’Supply/Demand’ workshop between buyers and Italian producers held at the Salone del Vino 2003 Trade Fair in Torino, Italy.
Repeated on a yearly basis starting from 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007. Presently organizing the biannual 2007 workshop for International Buyers.

2006 2005 Consultant to the Municipality of Montefalco and the Strade del Sagrantino responsible for inviting a group of international press and global wine buyers to sample the latest vintage releases and visit a selection of Montefalco estates.

2005 Consultant to the Municipality of Montefalco and the Strade del Sagrantino responsible for inviting a group of international press and global wine buyers to participate in the annual en primeur tastings of the latest vintages of: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2002 and Rosso di Montefalco DOC 2003. The educational included a special focus on the wines of Montefalco, winery visits, the opportunity to taste Sgrantino wines with the producers and a vertical tasting from 1985, showing the longevity of Sagrantino wines.

2004 Consultant to the Municipality of Montefalco and the Strade del Sagrantino responsible for inviting a group of international press and global wine buyers to participate in the annual en primeur tastings of the latest vintages of: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2001 and Rosso di Montefalco DOC 2002.

Consultancy organizing foreign press and a global portfolio of buyers, distributors and importers to participate at the Umbria stand during Vinitaly 2003, Vinitaly 2004 and Vinitaly 2005.

Consultant to Chianti Classico da Scoprire events 2004 - 2005 - 2006 responsible for inviting international press and global wine buyers to a focused Chianti Classico tasting, which included 17-20 dedicated small Chianti Classico estates showcasing their wines at a unique tasting held at Azienda Casafrassi, in Castellina in Chianti, the heart of Chianti Classico, during March 2004 and repeated in March 2005 and March 2006.

The aim of the event, open to the trade and press is to emphasize that high quality production can be synonymous with a good price/quality ratio. The wines on show will include Chianti Classico and IGT wines their ex-cellar prices ranging between 5 and 10 euros.

The first ever ’en primeur’ showcasing of over 50 Vlapolicella estates producing Amarone wine. Organized by the Consorzio di Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella 31 January - 2 February, 2004. Consultancy focused on inviting international press and wine critics to attend the tastings.

• Piemonte - Roero - Regional Profile 2010
• Australia - Yarra Valley - Regional reportage 2010
• Vinitaly 2007 couverage
• Market analysis of Italian wines imported to India

Wine Business International is a new (2006) publication which deals with the international wine arena. Regular in-depth articles on the Italian wine scene as well as breaking news on Italy, which is published on www.wine-business-international.com
• Harvest 2007
• Prosecco Profile
• Pinot Grigio Profile
• Harvest Report 2006
• Tuscany Survey - Frescobaldi and Antinori - 2007
• Italy market analysis - 2007
• Vinitaly profile - 2008
• Tuscan Profile - 2008
• Italy Distribution - 2008
• A Survey of Who’s Who in Italy - 2008
• Zonin Interview
• Harvest 2009
• Italy Analysis
• Italy’s top Cooperatives
• Zonin - Interview with Gianni Zonin
• Tavernello - Caviro - Product profile
• Barone Ricasoli - Company Profile 2010
• Veneto - Regional Profile 2010
• Amarone - Varietal profile 2010
• Prosecco - a Regional Prolife 2010
• Company Profile - CAVIT 2010
• Swedish Revolution (Systembolaget) 2010

Correspondent for Italy with breaking news on the Italian wine and spirits trade.

UK’s new consumer/trade magazine made its debut in March 2006. April 2006 contains two features:

Tuscany’s lasted vintage releases: Brunello di Montalcino 2001; Nobile di Montepulciano 2003: Chianti Classico 2004
includes top wines from the newely released vintages

Italy’s Extreme & Heroic Viticulture - ‘Extreme’, ‘heroic’ viticulture, conjures up spectacular images of dramatic vineyard exposures, producing some of Italy’s most exciting ‘borderline wines’. Tradition and culture have been fundamental in safeguarding the integrity and authenticity of these unique wines.

2010 - Sustainable viticulture in New Zealand
2007 - IWSC - International Wine & Spirit Competition Results 2007
10/7/2006 - Cronache dal Mondo- Focus Vinoble - A Jerez de la Frontera Sherry, Porto & c. si dichiarano pronti al cambiamento
1/2/2006 - Cronache dal Mondo- Focus Russia - Il grende Orso non Dorme - interview with Director of Simple Wine imports in Russia
16/1/2006 - Cronache dal Mondo- Focus Ucrania - Quella voglia d’Occidente da non farsi scappare - interview with CEO of Ukrain’s top importer of foreign wines - Dolmart Ukraine.

• VinoVip, Tasting with the Eagles at Cortina
•Sicily 2009
•Angelo Gaja celebrates “150 years of Gaja” - 1859 – 2009
• From Shoes to Wine and from Wine and to Shoes
• Italian women winemakers
• Cooking Schools and Wineries in Italy
• Wine and Fashion in Italy
• Tuscan Tasting report on Brunello, Nobile and Chianti Classico
• Vinitaly 2007 review of the trade exhibition
• Amarone -a feature on Veneto’s most intriguing wine
• Wine in India and Indian wine - a feature on wines produced in india and the import of global wines to india
• Bordeaux and its market - a look at the wines of Bordeaux the en primeur tastings of vintage 2004
• A profile of the wines of Tuscany with focus on Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico
• New Zealand Tour 2009/2010
• Trentino/Alto Adige 2010

Features for Asias’s leading luxury hotel group:

- City Guide to Madrid
- Altabadia - Rosa Alpina Spa

• Friuli profile - August 2007
• Bordeaux en primeur - a look at the wine trade in Bordeaux with particular focus on vintage 2004
• Profile on the wines of Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico - plus travvel info 2004

• Vince - Decanter’s first Hungarian Event - overall reportage
• Sulle tracce dello Scoth - Whisky Survey
• SudAfrica - a profile of Southafrican wines 2005
• Bordeaux ‘en primeur’ feature 2001 vintage and report

Freelancing for Decanter Magazine – feature writing and news reporting for Decanter.com website re Italian wine news, wine expos, wineries, harvest reports from Italy.
• Puglia - Nero di Troia - Varietal reportage
• Verona Reportage Where to stay and what to eat 2009 April
• Kings of the Castello - 2008 Italy Supplement
• Volcanic Vineyards - 2008 Italy Supplement
• Harvest 2007
• Arezzo amd the Colli Aretini profile - August 2007
• The Real Italy - Italy Supplement 2007
• Making History - Southern Italy’s whites - Italy Supplement 2007
• Small Wondere - Sagrantino di Monteflaco - Italy Supplement 2006
• The Great Wine Tour - Tuscany - March 2005
• Dessert Islands - Sicily’s Sweet Wines - Italian Supplement Jan 2005
• Marches top 20 Wines - Italian Supplement Jan 2005
• Red Hot - A regional prifile of Sicilan red wines- Italian Supplement Jan 2005
• Producer Profile - Barone Francesco Ricasoli - August 2004
• Umbria: Regional Profile: Umbria - July 2004
• Aglianico: A Coming of Age - Italian Supplement 2003/4
• Tuscany: Off the Beaten Track -Italian Supplement 2003/4
• Going for Gold - Prosecco - Italian Supplement 2003/4
• Interview with Giacomo Tachis ’Founding Father’, 2003
• Bubbling up...a resurge of interest and improvements in quality in Lambrusco, 2003
• Great Wine Route: Piedmont, 2003
• Interview with Ambrogio Folonari, 2002
• Travel article on Verona, 2002
• Regional profile on Valpolicella, 2002
• Prima Donna - Italy’s top women wine producers, 2002
• Features on Parmigiano Reggiano, 2001

June 2003 - Italy correspondent to Wine & Spirit International

Features:
• India
• Grappa
• Sicily Hepls Build Brand Italia
• Heat Exchange - On trade success is being offset by the challenges of a strong Euro
• One to Watch - A regional profile of Umbria• Heat Exchange: Vino Italiano struggles to keep abreast on UK market, May 2004
•Laying down the law - to DOC or not to DOC, 2003
• Each to their own - Southern Italy, 2003
• Tuscany, Chianti Classico report, 2003
• Vintage 2002 report, 2003
• A profile of Italian Cooperative, 2003
• The Wines of Southern Germany, 2002.
• The Renaissance of Lambrusco, 2002

Features:
• Sardinian Success - Native Charm- Sardinian wines, 2005
• Mountain High - a regional profile of Alto Adige wines
• Makers & Shakers - exclusive interview with Italian winemaker brothers: Renzo & Riccardo Cotarella
• Chili V Italy - Carmenere, 2003
• Maremma, a regional report, 2003
• Book Review on Italian Wine, Food and Travel, 2003

• News from Italy and features on Italian Wine 2004 - 2005
• Homegrown is Key to Success - pulished 24 June 2005 - feature on Italy’s Indigenous varieties.

News stories and features
• Sardinia Regional Profile 2005
• Arrested Development - a survey of Italian wine exports to UK- 2005
• Vinitaly overview 2005
• Vinitaly overview 2004
• Sparkling Wines 2004
• Italy Harvest Report 2003
• Guiding Lights - Survey of the most influential Italian wine guides - Supplement - Italy 2003
• Vinitaly programme 2003
• Italian Dessert wines - feature in Special Supplement - Italy

Wite-ups of international restaurants and Italian events posted on the www.sanpellegrino.com website as well as features for the San Pellegrino De magazine
•Gianni Vintage Cellar
• Hotel Trofana
•Le Jardin des Sens
•Tom Aikens
•Park Hayatt Milano
• Felix
• Sartoria
• Pierre Gaignare
• Spago - Beverly Hills
• Blossom Street - London
• Can Fabes de Santi Santamaria
• Atelier de Joël Robuchon
• Sam Leong
• El Cellar - Can Rica - Girona
• Faena Hotel - Buenos Aires
• Al Mahara - United Arab Emirates
• La Tupina - Bordeaux
• Opia - Hong Kong
• River Café - London
• Fidelia - New York
• Carluccio - London
• Zafferano Restaurant - London
• International Wine & Spirit Competition - London
• Belthazar - Cape Town
• Castello di Ama/Anish Kapoor
• Bollicine
• IWSC
• Kapoor- Castello di Ama
• Enrico Bernardo - World Champion Sommelier - DE
• Atlantic Bar & Grill - London

• Ongoing contribution to Italy’s top wine website - monthly newsletter giving wine-news from around the globe as from January 2002

•Maharaja di Spirito - India il Nuovo Mondo d i Vino - October 2005

Italian correspondent for Poland’s top wine magazine, Wino
• Wine Evolution 2006
• Ribera Del Duero
• Bordeaux En Primeur 2005 - Vintage 2004
• Sicily profile
• Cotarella Brothers

Featrues
• Osservatorio - Il Futuro è una svitata? Slowfood No1/2004
• Budapest and Istambul Travel tips - Slowfood web
• Hungary - Budapest’s market Nagj Vasarcsarnok
• Biodynamic wine making in France - Interview with Nicolas Joly
• Sale of Italian wines outside Italy – sales via importers, restaurateurs, auctions and internet.

Bibenda is the official AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommelier) magazine published by Bibenda Editore, Editor Franco M. Ricci and probably the most prestigious specialized Italian Wine Magazine which comes out every two months.
www.bibenda.it

• Ribera del Duero July/September 2004 - A profile of Ribera del Duero’s top producers and wines
• Il vino Italiano sfila a Londra - Feb/March 2004 - A profile of top dining in and out of London where Italian wines promoted by able sommeliers prominently feature on the wine list.

• A profile of the ’World of Conran’ 2006
• India - Interview with Chef Heman Oberoi of Taj Group of Hotels 2005
• The Cinnamon Club Restaurant - Lodnon - Pairing wine to Asian cusine, 2003
• Outlook and report on the UK consumer market and restaurant trade - wine drinking trends in UK, 2003
• Interview with Giacomo Tachis, 2003
• Outlook and report on American consumer market - wine drinking trends in USA, 2002

• A regional profile of Austrian white wines with special focus on Gruner Velliner and Riesling

• Responsible for the English version of the book: "Ricette di Talento" profiling over 60 chef profiles and 65 recipes from the Italian association of the Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe.

• Bordeaux en primeur, vintage 2002 survey, 2003

• Freelance writing features and harvest reports for the German magazine Der Feinschmecker –
• Travel/Food feature on– Gioachino Palestro artisan goose products, Corte dell’Oca, Mortara;
• Harvest 2001 wine report; Travel feature ‘fax from Beijing’
• Travel research on Sicily

• Travel/Food Feature on Italy’s top craft chocolate producer – Amedei srl. from Tuscany

• Freelance journalist based in Tuscany. Author of over 50 news stories on all aspects of the wine industry published on the website and in the magazine

• Italy, wine growing areas ranging from north to south.

• France, wine news coverage, restaurant & hotel write-ups on Bordeaux.

• Portugal Port industry in the Douro valley.

• Global Travel reports – hotels/restaurants/shopping/culture

• News articles include: purchase and sale of wineries; planting of international grape varieties and indigenous varieties; release of new wines; reviews of wineries and winery lodgings; winemaker profiles; new-emerging appellation areas, appellation regulations; reports on wine auctions, wine conventions; harvest reports; wine in ancient history.

• News coverage on olive oil production and its producing areas in Tuscany.

• Travel features for the Wine Spectator: Tuscany (issue 15 May 2000), The Cinque Terre (issue 31 October 2000) in collaboration with James Suckling, senior editor of Wine Spectator and director of the European Bureau. Feature article on Verona (issue 30 April 2001). Features include general introduction and lead story, as well as detailed restaurant, wine bar, hotel, winery and lodging reviews. Bordeaux (issue 30 June 2001) 3 profiles of top Chateaux vintners. Interview with Relais&Chateaux, chef/owner, Michelin starred, Jean-Marie Amat - Hotel Saint James, Bordeaux

Selezione Testi ed Elaborazioni sul Web - "Roero Terra di Dovizia" - Ventiduesima Edizione

Conducterd a wine tasting for the Goverment of New Zealand in Milan together with winemaker Jeff Chilcott, presenting twelve wine estates and their wines from New Zealand’s wine producing areas.

Judge for Italy during the September session of Meininger’s Mundus Vini International wine Competition.

January 2008 - Mumbai and New Delhi - Carried out guided wine tasting and Seminar on Brunello di Montalcino for India’s trade and press. In delhi held a masterclass on ’Wine Tasting’ for the IFOWS show.

Internatinal Judge to "Winemaker of the Year 2007 Czech Republic " (in Czech language "Vina? Roku 2007")

Number of wines entered:
Totally 242 wines, each participants entered a minimum of 5 wines. The finals were chose between 8 top winemakers and a total of 40 wines which made it to the final tasting panel judged by international jury.

Objective of the competition:
To select the winery and winemaker with the best portfolio. A range of wines from each winery were evaluated to select and reflect a well-balanced portfolio and not just a single top wine.
Winemaker of the Year 2007: ?EBAV - 32 hectars winery in Tvrdonice in south Moravia, production 150 000 litres/year.
www.vinarroku.cz

FIJEV is an international association created to promote contacts between wine journalists and writers all over the world and to defend the profession.Our aim is to develop the cultural aspects of wine.
We seek to undertake a limited number of projects (with a focus on quality rather than quantity), in an atmosphere of conviviality and mutual support.
Many famous wine writers are members of FIJEV, but we welcome new members. Notoriety is not a selection criterium - competence is.

Led an Italian wine tasting at the London International Wine Fair highlighting some of the 2005 International Wine & Spirit Competition winning award medal wines.

Led an International wine tasting at Vinitlay Wine Fair (Tasting Express) highlighting some of the 2006 International Wine & Spirit Competition winning award medal wines.

7th July 2006 Round table discussion on wine communication for Promozione del Progetto Valle di Cembra

2009 Led a masterclass and guided wine tasting on Italy’s small Island Wines

2008 Led a masterclass and guided wine tasting on Hungary’s Tokaj wines.

2007 Led a mastercalss at Vinitaly Tasting Express, featuring some of the Italian Trophy and medal winners of the 2006 Decanter Wine Awards.

2006 ‘Extreme’, ‘heroic’ viticulture, conjures up spectacular images of dramatic vineyard exposures, producing some of Italy’s most exciting ‘borderline wines’. Tradition and culture have been fundamental in safeguarding the integrity and authenticity of these unique wines. Guided tasting of 15 wines from north to south Italy showing how this ’extreme’ viticulture can produce wines of exceptional character.

The Circle of Wine Writers is an association of authors, broadcasters, journalists, photographers and lecturers who are professionally engaged in communicating about wines and spirits. It was founded in 1960 by the late Cyril Ray and now has more than 200 members and, although most of the membership is based in England, the Circle has members in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong and the USA.

The objects of the Circle of Wine Writers are: to improve the standard of communication about wines, spirits and beers; to contribute to the growing knowledge and interest in wine; to promote wines and spirits of quality and to comment adversely on faulty products and dubious practices; to establish and maintain good relations with the news media and the wine trade; to provide members with a strong voice with which to express their views; to provide a forum for the exchange of information; and to provide a programme of workshops, meetings, talks and tastings.

Elected an honorary member - journalist - of Italy’s Associazione Donne del Vino.

London April 2004 - April 2005 April 2006 - April 2007 - April 2008 - April 2009
Judge for Italian Wine Panel at the Decanter Wrold Wide Awards Competition.

Official italian representative of the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.
The Competition is backed by a group of vice presidents made up of the most influential men and women in the trade, including Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Miguel Torres, Marchese Piero Antinori, Robert Drouhin, Robert Mondavi, May de Lencquesaing, Kenneth Graham and Sir Anthony Greener.
The Competition has the support of many of the world’s top wine and spirits producers, setting the international benchmark for quality. The unique combination of detailed technical analysis, specialist judging panels, and using the Olympic principle when awarding medals means that gaining any Competition award is an outstanding achievement.

Judge to the regional Marche wine competition held in April 2004, in Offida - Ascoli Piceno. Assessing the quality of the wines and awarding prizes to top wines.

Invited to speak to AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommelier) at a seminar held in Rome on May 3 2004 regarding the potential of Alto Adige wines and their impact in international markets.

After seven years of dedicated studies in December 2003 Michèle Shah was awarded a first class degree in Humanities with Art History from The Open University in UK

Participated in a workshop held by Nicolas Joly, owner of Clos De La Coulée De Serrant organized by Porthos in Rome.

Nicolas Joly - one of the greatest authorities on the philosophy and implementation of biodynamic wine production.

24 may 2003 Conegliano, Vladobbiadine, Prosecco DOC

Chaired roundtable on wine tourism organized for the Vino in Villa annual event held at Castello di San Slavatore in the Prosecco DOC area. The event was organized by the Prosecco Consorzio of Conegliano and Valdobbiadine. The talk included a general global outlook on wine tourism.

Member of jury for the International Wine Challenge - London

Consultant for Wine Talks and Wine Tastings for small groups

’Il Piemonte dei Sapori’ - roundtable – speaker in a discussion regarding the international success of Piedmont’s traditional foods/wines

2002 Member of jury - 500 Lambrusco wines tasted

Won join-first prize for the best article on Lambrusco wines published in Decanter magazine (awarded in March 2003)

organized by Veronafiere (Vinitaly) to promote Italian wines in conjunction with China’s International Agricultural Expo, 2001, held in Beijing from 7-10 November 2001

1985 -1996 Agrisytems is a group of international consultancy companies in the field of agriculture and rural development.

• Responsible for the running of the Rome office.
• Responsible for all external relations with FAO (Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations) WFP (World Food Programme) & IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)
• Researched and obtained consultancy contracts worth several thousand US$ per year
• Supervision of consultants
• Financial and administration of the company’s operations in Italy.
• Proof reading and editing of consultants’ reports

Republican Press is one of South Africa’s largest press agencies in the publication of daily newspapers and weekly magazines.

• Responsible for liaising with Italian press organizations.
• Responsible for translating Italian texts to English.


Travel Experience
• Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius.
• Asia: India, (5 trips covering North and South), Ladakh, Zanskar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, China
• Central & North America: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, New York and the northern states of US, Canada
• Europe & Near East: England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece, ex Yugoslavia, Cyprus and Turkey.

Languages:

• Fluent English and Italian, good spoken French, some German & Spanish