A WORD ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL WINE ACADEMY OF ROMA

The International Wine Academy of Roma opened in Rome, Italy, in October 2002 in the prestigious setting of Il Palazzetto, overlooking the Spanish Steps in the very heart of the eternal city. The Academy is located on the ground floor of the Palazzetto, a beautiful 19th century four story building that also houses its own restaurant, wine bar, and hotel rooms. Both the Wine Academy and Il Palazzetto are under the ownership of Roberto Wirth, the President, who is also the owner of the world famous Hassler Hotel in Rome.

The idea at the heart of the Academy stems from the same that animated the Academie du Vin, originally founded in Paris in 1973 by Steven Spurrier, who is one of the world's best known wine writers and certainly one of the foremost experts of Bordeaux. He is currently Consultant Editor of Decanter magazine, and is the Vice President of the Wine Academy in Rome.

The activities at the International Wine Academy of Roma revolve around wine and gastronomy. The Academy is the site of wine tasting courses (in Italian, English, and French), select wine tastings and supertastings featuring the best producers from Italy and around the world, as well as "Meet the wine-maker" and "Great Chefs" dinners, in which a winemakers or chefs are invited to the evening and present their wines or culinary creations. Thus far we are pleased to report that we have been honoured by the presence of Michel Tesseron of Chateau Lafon Rochet, Patrick Maroteaux of Branaire, Dominique Befve of Lascombes, Christine Vernay of Domaine Georges Vernay in the Rhone, Odilon De Varine of Champagne Henriot, Jean Trimbach of the famous Alsace firm, and others. Great chefs who have attended thus far are Nicolas Le Bec and Michel Portos of France, Michelin-starred chefs that have been named amongst the top 10 emerging chefs in France by more than one food and wine magazine, as well as three-star chefs such as Jean-Michel Lorain of Burgundy. Of course, there have also been many Italian winemakers and producers, such as Carlo Ferrini, Attilio Pagli, a vertical of Barolo Borgogno dating back to 1947, as well as events such as an evening dedicated to Prosecco microvinifications, another with the wines of Grave, an Italian wine tasting led by Burton Anderson, and much more...

Finally, wine tours are organized into the Italian wine country (from one to three days in duration), as well as longer (four day) trips to important European wine areas such as Bordeaux and Alsace. These trips are specifically geared to meeting the wine producers and visiting their estates, many of which are not usually open to groups but are for D'Agata and Comparini. Most trips involve visiting estates in Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, but trips into other regions, such as Piedmont, may also be organized.

Ian D'Agata and Massimo Comparini often travel through Italy, Europe and the United States where they guide wine-tasting classes, lectures on wines, or participate in conferences on a multitude of enogastronomic subjects. There are always happy to participate in similar events and are available for presentations and interviews with enough due notice.

The Wine Academy is also site to one of Rome's best restaurants, "Il Palazzetto Restaurant", managed by the staff of the Hotel Hassler. Besides the restaurant, Il Palazzetto also features a lovely wine bar, a spectacular terrace on the 4th floor which overlooks the famous Piazza di Spagna, and four boutique hotel rooms. Wine tastings and other private events are organized under the direction and supervision of the Hotel Hassler's dedicated staff, where guests and visitors may savor a glass of wine at the Wine Bar or have an intimate lunch or dinner in the restaurant. The experts of the Wine Academy are also available to guide tastings or hold events should you wish for a more in depth, expert wine tasting experience. The Wine Academy and the Palazzetto are truly a quiet haven in the middle of Romes busy city center where one can lay bace and relax, before returning to the fray of everyday lovable Roman mayhem!