the program of the 2nd edition unveiled and enriched for Italy

The 2nd edition of the international symposium Sparkling Wine Forum, organized by the Champagne company EFFEVENT, will take place in Brescia (near Milan, Italy) on June 17 and 18, 2024. This annual event, held under the patronage of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), brings together leading researchers from the main sparkling wine-producing countries as well as companies in the sector around conferences and technical masterclasses to promote the latest innovations and propose new solutions to tomorrow's challenges:

Sparkling Wine Forum 2024

New consumer expectations

Representatives of Italian oenologists, wine merchants and sommeliers will provide keys to understanding the evolution of purchasing and consumption behaviour for sparkling wines in Italy. Winetech will also host a round table on the latest innovations from French startups to meet the new expectations of sparkling wine consumers.

Adaptations to climate change

Etienne Neethling, lecturer and researcher in viticulture and oenology at the École Supérieure des Agricultures d'Angers, will put into perspective the adaptation of sparkling wines production from South Africa and the Loire area, offering a cross-sectional look at these two wine regions producing Chenin Blanc.

The Franciacorta appellation, who hosts this second edition, will bring its expertise on Italian sparkling wines, with a focus on the techniques to deal with climate change (leaf surface management, use of anti-hail nets, precision irrigation, new resistant rootstocks, etc.).

The representatives of this Italian consortium will also present the results of recent research work on artificial intelligence for the development of biodiversity in the vineyard.

Sensory Analysis

Maria Carla Cravero, researcher at the Council for Research and Agricultural Economics (CREA), will discuss innovations in sparkling wine production with a focus on sensory aspects and the consumer's point of view.

The Franciacorta consortium will also address the chromatic issue of rosé sparkling wines and their impact on tasting. He will also lead a tasting Masterclass on the typology of sparkling wine "saten".

Oenology

Monika Christmann, Director of the Geisenheim Institute of Oenology, will speak about Estaan, a new oenological tannin that reduces SO2.

Belinda Kemp, a researcher in viticulture and oenology in the UK at NIAB, will present her work on accelerating the formation and concentration of age-associated aromas in sparkling wines.

Other speakers are scheduled, for example on the causes, prevention and treatment of the reduction of sparkling wines or the Moët Hennessy group, which will present the results of studies recently carried out at their research center located in Champagne.

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Matthias Schmitt, professor at the Institute of Oenology in Geisenheim (Germany), will present a study on the reduction of alcohol content in sparkling wines and new consumer expectations

> What's new in the second edition

Masterclass

For its second edition, Sparkling Wine Forum is enriching its offer with the addition of tasting masterclasses.

Participants will be able to taste several sparkling wines from new processes applied to viticulture and oenology.

Companies in the sector will also present their latest innovations in oenological products.

A free tasting area

In addition to conferences and masterclasses, a continuous free tasting area will allow you to taste a selection of sparkling wines of various origins and production techniques, in the presence of representatives of Italian oenologists, wine merchants and sommeliers.

Networking dinner

A networking dinner preceded by visits to Franciacorta wine estates will be offered on Monday 17 June to encourage exchanges and professional meetings.

The networking dinner is available with the purchase of the ‘Visit and business dinner’ pack.

Technical visits

On Monday 17 at 6.30pm, after the lectures, continue your journey through Franciacorta and meet its producers on an organised tour.

On the programme: travel by bus along the Strada Franciacorta from 6.30pm (tourist route) and stop off at a producer's estate for a tour.

You'll learn more about how their wine is made and their know-how.