Il Canton Ticino ha una lunga e rinomata storia vinicola. Fin dai tempi più antichi quando ancora i contadini “pigiavano” il vino con i piedi, esso era uno dei prodotti principali della regione. Nel frattempo la lavorazione si è modernizzata, ma una cosa è rimasta: la passione per il vino. Ogni autunno in Ticino vi sono sagre e feste in onore di Bacco, e visitarle è un’occasione speciale per conoscere le tradizioni locali e diventarne partecipi.

Il primo appuntamento è nel borgo di Mendrisio (dal 4 al 6 settembre 2009) che apre le corti delle antiche case nel nucleo storico trasformandole in autentici “grotti”, dove ci si ritrova per degustare deliziosi vini e piatti nostrani. Nelle viuzze, si passeggia fra le numerose bancarelle che offrono una varietà di prodotti locali.

Segue la città di Bellinzona con la Bacchica (dall’11 al 13 settembre 2009) che oltre l’immancabile sfilata di gruppi in costume, propone numerosi eventi collaterali. Le degustazioni di vino con i vinificatori del Sopraceneri sono certamente il cardine della manifestazione, affiancate però da costumi tradizionali, teatro e tanta musica.

Locarno organizza la sua festa in collina (12 e 13 settembre 2009) in Piazza della chiesa SS. Trinità, dove un mercato, musica e balli allietano il fine settimana settembrino.

Lugano conclude le sagre con la festa d’autunno (dal 2 al 4 ottobre 2009); bancarelle e capannoni, musica e mercatini animano le principali vie e piazze della città. Il programma abbina folclore, vino e gastronomia, saltimbanchi e musicanti e soprattutto la celebrazione dell’uva e del vino.

Le feste della vendemmia offrono un incontro genuino in un’atmosfera festosa che invitano a godere dei sapori autunnali della nostra terra. Scritto da Deborah Fontana

Posted By: Team Lugano

Caprino, pittoresco paese situato sul lago di Lugano, sulla riva opposta della stessa città, ospiterà a partire da questa primavera un nuovo locale aperto tutto l’anno.

Lele Mora, agente di famose dive, rinnoverà con il suo partner Davide Taddei, proprietario di Starbus, il più antico grotto di Caprino. Tutto sarà bianco, le pareti, i pavimenti, le tende, mantenendo il fascino del grotto ticinese.

Il grotto si raggiunge idealmente con la propria inbarcazione altrimenti viene servito anche dalla società di navigazione luganese.

Ricordando la fama delle notti passate trascorse ballando e bevendo un buon bicchiere di vino, aspettiamo con gioia l’innaugurazione di questo locale esclusivo.

Posted By: Team Lugano

More than 800 restaurants have been tested, evaluated, commentated from the well-known Gastro Guide GaultMillau and some of them in the Ticino even got excellent valuations. „Promoter of the year 2009” in the Canton Ticino is Frank Oerthle with 16 GaultMillau scores. Oerthle is cook in the restaurant „Arté“ right beside the Lake Lugano. „Arté“ belongs also to the distinguished five star Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano. „He puts on Mediterranean cooking, modifies inventively and sophisticated“ so the laudation of the Gastro Guide.

Lugano - is both the social and financial centre of Ticino, and is Switzerland’s 3rd banking city (after Zurich and Geneva). Lugano’s most sought-after neighborhoods are on the slopes of Mount Bre and Mt. San Salvatore, with its south-facing residential areas of Castagnola, Ruvigliana/Aldesago and Montagnola/Collina dlOro. They all offer peaceful but spectacular panoramic views over the city and the bay between the mountains. Two small local Airports at Lugano and Locarno enhances accessibility for those with private jets. Wetag Consulting has in its listings apartments for everybody’s liking and desire.

Source: „Tessiner Zeitung“, 07.11.08

Posted By: Claudia Starck

A very nice tradition at Wetag is our big get together at the end of the year where we all meet for a great dinner and some fun beside of the daily business. For the dinner we always try to find the best places where you can eat if it comes to quality. This year we went to Bellinzona, the “Canton’s” capital and also UNESCO world heritage site where we booked our table at the “Castel Grande” deluxe restaurant which is located in the same named castle and one of Bellinzona’s three castles overlooking the city. The restaurant is a very chic mixture of the old traditional building structure combined with modern elements made of concrete, marble and glass. Clean lines and black, white and grey colours forming the background of this stylish restaurant. Comfy seating makes even the longest dinner more than comfortable.

Well, after the aperitif we started our five courses menue with two kinds of Hors d’oeuvre which were very delicious. Now, culinary excited and prying what’s next, the very friendly waiter served the starter. The well arranged appetizer was a cold plate combination of different tastes like Caprese, sort of fish, vegetable salad variation and a pâté. All this, was followed by the first main course a light tagliatelle with salmon on a light creamy sauce. But, without a doubt, the second main course was the highlight of the dinner. Our palate was titillated and spoiled by a very tasty and tender filet of a deer on a delicious sauce and Brussels sprouts and “spaetzle dumplings”. After that, the desert could only extend the culinary trip without setting a last highlight, but with all the wines and Grappa’s, it’s been a great festival of senses. Being around with all the colleagues from all our offices is always fun since we don’t see each other that often and with lots of stories told, this night became memorable.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

To query through Matasci Vini & Dstillati is a special experience. As one of the pioneers of the Ticino Merlot, Matasci provides a wide choice of local wine and distillery of its own production for everyone’s taste and budget. The “Selezione d’Ottobre”, famous for more than 40 years, and the “Villa Jelmini”, named by the Matasci-Villa itself, are only two excellent drops mentioned. But not only local wine and distillery are present; there is also distinguished range of wine round the world available. In the stupendous old cellar of the Villa Jelmini, Matasci opened a museum, which can be called as the proudest of the firm. Carefully documented it attests the story and the culture of the wine production in the Ticino. The aura of barrels vats and grape presses tempt everyone. In the upper floor of the beautiful Villa Matasci is Matasci Arte, a small museum with changing art exhibitions. The Villa Jelmini is just in front of the railway station of Tenero, a very sunny village at the Lago Maggiore with beautiful houses on the hillside. A much demanded area as it is close to Locarno city with all its conveniences and also close to the famous Verzasca Valley with its wild nature and picturesque old rustic houses. In Tenero, a beautiful villa in a very sunny position with beautiful panoramic views on Lago Maggiore is listed by WETAG Consulting.

Posted By: Claudia Starck

Just recently the results of the „Grand Prix du Vin Suisse“ have been published. According to this rating, the classic „Sassi Grossi“ of Gialdi Vini SA, Mendrisio, is the best Merlot! In second place came the Merlot del Ticino 2006 of Fa. Vino from Melide, an unknown producer until today. Two more of the total six nominated Merlots came also from the Ticino: With this the Ticino preserved the domination by its main brand.

Gialdi Vini SA was founded in Mendrisio, Switzerland in 1953 by Guglielmo Gialdi, the father of the present executive director, Feliciano. The company initially devoted its efforts to the wine import business. In the course of the following years the company was able to develop rapidly through the acquisition of several other wine merchants and importers. Guglielmo handed over direction of operations to his son in 1980. Captivated by the idea of producing wines from his local Ticino, Feliciano acquired Roberti Foc SA of Bodio, a winery that had a working relationship with a number of growers of the “Tre Valli” (Leventina, Riviera and Blenio) in the Sopraceneri region. Feliciano made major investments to expand the cellars and improve the vinification equipment. Gialdi soon became a name synonymous with wines of quality and established a position at the summit of Ticino winemaking.

Source: Ticino Newspaper, 14th of November 2008 / http://www.gialdi.ch

Posted By: Claudia Starck

As the first city of Switzerland, Mendrisio gets the respectable label „Cittaslow“, which means Slow City. By this decoration the community commit itselfs for an enhanced engagement in the ecological and infrastructure policy and for intensified promotion of its regional features. Local products shall get upgraded and the hospitality shall be more cultivated. Next year the first international Slow-City-Conference will have place in Mendrisio. It is the first time this established congress takes part outside of Italy – a great honour for Mendrisio!

The origin of the Slow-City-Movement goes back to Orvieto, Italy. 1999 some active Slow-Food cities as Greve in Chianti, Orvieto, Bra and Positano founded this important network.

Source: TIcino Newspaper, 14th of November 2008

Posted By: Claudia Starck

Quite recently the noted GaultMillau published the winner’s name of the Sommelier 2009: Sergio Bassi, Maître d’hôtel and Sommelier of the world-famous Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona got this dignified honouring. As a “grand connoisseur in wine” the established Swiss Gourmet Guide entitled him. Now Sergio Bassi hands over his profound knowledge: On four weekends in November the Hotel Eden Roc invites to a special arrangement around wine. To a rate of CHF 720.00 per person in a double room you can enjoy two overnight stays in this gorgeous five star hotel, right beside the beautiful Lake Maggiore. A rich breakfast buffet, two elegant diners and an in-depth introduction and tasting with Sergio Bassi is included as well as a viewing of an original Ticino vineyard.

Source: www.edenroc.ch

Posted By: Claudia Starck