Article by Carlotta Biraghi

May 13 2024

On May the 9^th, in the magnificent Reggia di Monza Dance Room take place an exceptional tasting event organized by the Donne del vino (Women of Wine) di Lombardia association (represented by Camilla Guiggi – Lombardia delegated and Paola Longo – National Vice President) in cooperation with Italian Blind Union (represented by Maurizio Erba – Monza’s Vice President), ONAV (represented By Teresa Bordin – national Vice President and 18 sommelier), Regione Lombardia (represented by the Member of Parliament Fabrizio Sala, who brought the greetings of President Attilio Fontana) and, last but not least, Freccianera, represented by the owner Pia Donata Berlucchi, creator, supporter and “Capitana” of the event as well as sponsor.

The event, called “Degustazione ad occhi chiusi” (Tasting with Closed Eyes) involved about 130 people, all with a black mask on eyes, in a unique tasting experience guided by the blind sommelier Luca Boccoli.

Luca Boccoli had a long working experience in wine’s field covering all roles in restaurant service area and becoming himself entrepreneur, but some years ago he became blind as a consequence of an incident. He didn’t lose heart and started to promote tasting courses for blind people.

Noting that the lack of the sense of vision give the possibility to “listen” to the wine in a deeper way, capturing aspects difficult to note with vision distraction, he started to propose tasting with closed eyes also to able-bodied persons with great success.

After an introductory explanation, Luca Boccoli invited all the present to wear the black mask and take confidence using hands with space around them and find glasses positions to be able to taste the wines when served.

After dimming the lights of the majestic chandeliers, the sommeliers started the service of wines, with extraordinary mastery.

Emotional background of the service was the music of Giusy Ammendola (Pianist), Pierfranco Manzi (Tenor) and Mariangela Franco (Violinist) all Professors in Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi. Every piece was introduced by the multifaceted “Capitana” Pia Donata Berlucchi, great passionate able to start from a wine, create connections with history, art, music, culture and return back to the wine thrilling the audience.

The first new sensation of having the eyes closed was to note the sound of wine poured into the glass.

Were served 6 rosé wines, 2 sparkling and 4 still, but colours and kinds of wines were not anticipated, and audience was invited to start the tasting everyone by him/herself.

Here the sensations of having not possibility to rely on vision became more intense, trying to understand the kind of wine, and audience experimented increased sensibility of senses of smell and taste.

At this point, after taking off the black mask and seeing the wines’ colours, audience was invited to express their sensations and impressions and very interesting and enthusiastic interventions were expressed by many people.

The wines tasted, all produced by Lombardia’s Donne del Vino:

- Valtènesi Riviera del Garda Classico Dop Perla del Garda

Complete correspondence between smells and flavours, as expected, like a late spring evening on Garda see.

- Maria Novella Oltrepò Pavese DOC Pinot Nero Rosato Cantina Conte Vistarino

Great smell elegance as only a noble grape like Pinot Noir can give.

- Metodo Classico Brut Rosé - Resort Podere Castel Merlo

A silky perlage like a caress in the mouse that leaves space to a persistence like a still wine.

- Franciacorta Rosé Brut 'Freccianera' Freccianera Fratelli Berlucchi

Power and complexity in a graceful elegant body like it’s producer.

- Monrose Alpi Retiche IGT Rosato Mamete Prevostini Vini di Valtellina

Generosity in apparent initial austerity, surprising unusual expression of Nebbiolo grape and Valtellina.

- Elegia IGT Franconia della bergamasca rosato Cascina del Ronco

Intriguing with it’s particular flavour notes given by Franconia grape that found an ideal habitat in this terroir.

Wines were matched with the original salty snack proposed by Silvia Canizzaro, shy pastry chef who prefers to express herself with her creations instead of words.

She is also the creator of the surprising snacks offered in the buffet that followed the tasting, on violin and cello notes.

On the buffet table she wrote a thought that can be the synthesis of the whole event: “But what I wanted to say you is that the only times I’ve clearly seen in my life were when I used my heart”.

All proceeds were donated to Italian Blind Union.

Carlotta Biraghi is Freelance translator and graphic designer layout artist - Marketing Specialist - WineHunter - Event planner - Wine industry corporate gift consultancy