As a birthday present for the president of the United States, who is passionate about wine, Berlucchi offered him a truly unique bottle

With the economy struggling, President Obama may well

resort to a tall glass of this birthday wine gift from Italy.

 

 

L'Espresso, Italy

With Love from Italy, Happy Birthday President Obama

 

"He may not be a sommelier, but he’s certainly no simpleton regarding wine. Barack Obama - before being able to tap into the outstanding wine cellar at the White House - was proud of his collection at his house in Chicago, which included about a thousand bottles of mostly American but also Italian and French."

 

By Maurizio Bertera

 

Translated by Katharine Townsend

 

August 3, 2011

 

Italy - Espresso - Original Article (Italian)

For the birthday of the wine connoisseur and president of the United States, Berlucchi has dedicated a truly unique bottle.

 

He may not be a sommelier, but he’s certainly no simpleton regarding wine. Barack Obama - before being able to tap into the outstanding wine cellar at the White House - was proud of his collection at his house in Chicago, which included about a thousand bottles of mostly American but also Italian and French.

 

What are his favorite wines? Those produced in the country he leads but which are nurtured by Italian oenologists. Proof of this are the gifts Obama bestowed during the G8 in L’Aquila, Italy: for Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, a Vermentino from the Raffaldini Vineyards - a North Carolina company with a very Italian name - and for the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano, l’Octagon 2005, which comes from the Barboursville Vineyards estate run by Gianni Zonin in Virginia. This is an estate that historically links wine to an American president; it was built based on the vision of the legendary Thomas Jefferson.

 

It is with reverence for the Italian tricolor that Guido Berlucchi & Co., one of the leading names specializing in the classical method of producing “spumante” wine, crafted a unique bottle for Barack Obama’s 50th birthday, to be celebrated on August 4th. 

 

Naturally, it's a special bottle: the Franciacorta DOCG ’61 Brut magnum is a stylish opaque white, streamed with thin red crisscrossing lines that give it a pleasant, sinuous effect. On the front, lettered in blue and red, appears, “Happy Birthday President Obama,” along with the date in a slightly smaller font, “August 4th, 2011” - the day the president turns half a century old. Even the capsule - in blue marine decorated with precious white enamel stars - recalls elements of the American flag.  

 

Shipped from Borgonato where Guido Berlucchi & Co. is based, and addressed to the White House, the bottle was entirely hand-decorated by a team of local artisans: a further testament to Italian creativity and talent.

 

The focus on the United States is by no means casual: This summer, the Brescia company reinforced its commercial links with the States: Just days ago, an agreement was inked with Paterno Imports, Ltd., a reputable importer of premium and super-premium wines, to distribute Berlucchi to a market that already appreciates Italian bubbly and offers important prospects.    

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

For the record, the agreement was signed in a very important year for Berlucchi, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary since its first bottle. The Pinot of Franciacorta signaled the birth of the company - for which Italy's minister of economic development and the Italian Postal Service dedicated a commemorative stamp [see photo box, upper right]. But just as rightly celebrated is the 80th birthday of Franco Ziliani, whose intuition and willingness to gamble led to the birth of that first bottle and who brought higher quality to the Franciacorta region - now one of the “pearls” of Italian wine production. (August 30, 2011)

 

CLICK HERE FOR ITALIAN VERSION

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US Aug. 4, 1:49pm]

 






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