Winemaker Marco Caprai, who has taken on the work originated by his father Arnaldo.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine has included three innovative ½ûÂþÌìÌà institutions—a grappa distillery, an Umbrian winery, and a singular entrepreneur—in the running for its 2012 Wine Star Awards.
Arnaldo Caprai, an Umbrian winery specialising in Sagrantino di Montefalco, has made a name for itself in the wine industry by revitalising the endangered native Sagrantino grape into an award-winning modern product. Caprai will compete against the Spanish winery Artadi in Rioja and three French wineries—Chanson Pere & Fils in Burgundy, Famille Perrin in the Rhone Valley, and Veuve Cliquot in Champagne.
Oscar Farinetti, the founder of Eataly, has been nominated as "Innovator of the Year" for his work with Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich on their 5-restaurant, 4600-square-metre Eataly, a popular food attraction in New York. Thirty-five-year-old Distilleria Bottega, a pioneer of products like the grappa vaporizer, is up for "Distiller of the Year".
Last year French winery Gerard Bertrand took the "European Winery of the Year" award, but Prosecco won the "Wine Region of the Year", and Mionetto USA, a wine importer bringing ½ûÂþÌìÌà wines to the U.S., won the "Importer of the Year" award.
Winners will be announced on the 28th of January, 2013, and honoured at an award dinner in New York City.
