Calici di Stelle in Bari

A great “debut” in Puglia’s regional capital for the seventeenth edition of Calici di Stelle in Puglia, in Bari for the first time onWednesday 5th Augustwith wine tasting and exciting shows in the shadow of the Basilica of San Nicola. “Bari is happy to host Calici di Stellefor the first time– says Bari mayorAntonio Decaro, -one of the summer’s most eagerly awaited events, offering excellent wines for tasting in some of Puglia’s most beautiful settings. We welcome Calici di Stelle on the Muraglia in the old town, one of the loveliest places in the city, and we are proud that our friends in the Movimento Turismo del Vino Puglia have chosen this venue for an evening of wine and stars, a truly irresistible combination, with the added attraction this year of the sea. This is an unmissable opportunity to discover the flavours and scents of our region, with its extraordinary tradition of quality wines. We are increasingly certain that events like this promote our region, by intelligently combining culture and traditional skills, offering tourists and locals a unique and atmospheric experience. This is why I am sure that Bari will be ready on 5th August Bari and that its people will be enthusiastic to take part in this “debut” of Calici”. Puglia’s wines will be the stars of the evening, represented by60 wineriesbelonging to theMovimento Turismo del Vino Puglia, who will offer their own labels at the tasting tables run by the sommeliers ofAIS Puglia. In order to taste wines correctly, visitors must buy theCalici di Stellekit– a wine glass and case, a book of eight wine tasting tickets, a bag oftarallibiscuits and the map of the event. Then they can set off to discover the wines set out along Via Venezia, the lovely wall or “muraglia” around the old town of Bari. While they enjoy the spectacular view of the city’s sea-front they can taste wines from Puglia’s three most important wine-growing territories:Terre di Federico,Magna Greciaand theSalento. This is whatSilvio Masellithe City’s Culture and Tourism officer has to say:“We are especially happy to host this beautiful event Calici di Stelle in Bari for the first time. More than any other product, wine tells the story of the transformation of the land, of ancient cultures, of the beauty of this region and its areas.” And he goes on to add: “We are looking forward to strolling with all the tourists and lovers of good wine who will flock to the marvellous “muraglia” of our lively and welcoming regional capital. It will be a pleasure taste the most precious gift of the land under the stars along with our visitors”. There is a rich cultural programme – with a touch of Italian patriotism – to accompany the wine tasting. The Italian themeof Calici di Stelle has been chosen at the national level to celebrate Expo 2015 and will be reflected in the opening ceremony at20.30in Piazza Mercantile, with local officials to greet visitors and theItalian national anthemperformed by children’s choirVox Juvenes. The same piazza is also the venue for“Il Vino nella canzone – Sorsi di danza”,an exciting contemporary dance show by“Skenè”to Italian light music on the theme of wine. Opera music in Largo Maurogiovanni on the Muraglia with theGershwin Cultural Association’sshow“Il Vino nell’Opera”, a concert of operatic arias singing the praises of wine’s conviviality performed by three soloists – a tenor, baritone and soprano – with a 35-strong choir and accompanied by pianoforte and a string quintet. This evening is not only about wines, but also olive oils and conserves, for visitors to discover the best of Puglia’s quality products. Under its partner brandMovimento Turismo dell’Olio, the Movimento Turismo del Vino Puglia will host the newassociationBuonaterra; its members include some of Puglia’s most important olive oil presses, which have always been wholehearted supporters of wine and food tourism. Their olive oils will be on display in the“Salotto dell’olio extravergine d’oliva”in theFortino Sant’Antonio, the city’s important symbolic monument, open to all visitors for the evening. The area dedicated to extra virgin oil will also continue the“io sto con #gliulividipuglia”awareness campaign in favour of Puglia’s olive oil sector, launched on the day of Cantine Aperte and spread on the social networks by the region’s best chefs. At Calici di Stelle wine-lovers can buy the campaign T-shirt “io sto con #gliulividipuglia” (15 euro), wear it and post a selfie with the campaign hashtag and a comment in support of Puglia’s olive trees. There is also the funwine game “A prova di naso”, the famous hunt for the scents of the region’s native vines, in which the winners take home a supply of excellent regional wines. The contest will take place in the courtyard of the Fortino Sant’Antonio. Visitors to Calici will be able to discover a very different aspect of Bari, with the intineraries of theEventi d’Autoreassociation, which will organise“Vino e archeologia”, a discovery of Bari below ground (tickets 16 euro, starting at 17.00 and 17.30 from the Infopoint Eventi d’Autore, at the corner of Via Venezia and Piazza Ferrarese). For visitors who want to enjoy the magical skies of San Lorenzo along Via Venezia,A.S.L.A – Associazione Astronomica San Lorenzoof Casarano (Le) will be running a free observatory with telescopes to view the stars and night sky Finally, visitors will be able to take a simple test (price 1 euro) to measure their blood alcohol level, so that they will be able to drive home again safely. The event is made possible by funding from the Agro-Food Resources Office – PSR 2007-2013 Measure 133.