INTRODUCTION:
The innovative structure of “The Roots of the South – 2008” has been thought up as an event for all the Italians sommelier, wine-experts and non-experts. The event tends to redefine the initiative by consolidating it as a biennial action to take place in Campania.
The initial project started in 1998 with “ The wines of the South” during the National AIS Congress in Sorrento, the second edition took place in 2003 strongly supported by Vincenzo Ricciardi who was vice-president at that time. This third edition extols a consistent promise of integrated improvement.
The wine fusion with arts, scientific research, society and local policy, they are all necessary to lengthen a path in wine, culture and production started thousand years ago and which is now risking to be interrupted.

STRUCTURE:
Two days with at the centre the wine with a special attention to the wines coming from the South of the world. It will be a cognitive organoleptic study to be compared with the Italian production.
This will be possible thanks to the world famous oenologists and agronomists. They will put at our disposal their experience and knowledge from their territories. Special attention will be given to those issues concerning the future climatic changes and the repercussions caused by these changes.
The other issue is the internationalization of sommelerie: the participation of presidents coming from the international associations will give the opportunity to talk about all the peculiarities of the sommelier as a professional figure from a worldwide point of view by giving the basis to plan the improvement of the sommelier as a professional figure.

AIMS:
Build a net of communications between wine communities and market, companies and research institutes.
Enoecology: relationship, tenability and quality.
Market/Trade: Possible solutions for small wine-makers.

STRATEGIES:
Information exchange
360°communication
Support to the trade of the small wine-makers helped by AIS

OPERATIVE PLANS:
Meetings and debates
Tasting
Visits
Training Courses

PERIODS:
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th  of March 2008
The period has been chosen considering the vintage time in some parts of the South of the world. Moreover it corresponds to the presentation of the white wine 2007 in sight of Vinitaly a week after.

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS:
Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily
Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisy, Algery, Lybia, Egypt, Greece, Cipro, Malta, Israel, South Africa, California, Chile, Brasil, Argentina, India, Australia, New Zeland.

FOREIGN WINE-MAKERS:
5 continents, 20 different Countries, over 30 wine-makers selected between the most representatives in their own areas to give the opportunity to all our guests of “Roots of the South” to make a real journey all over the world discovering the biggest wines of the South. All the selected participants will present some of their most famous wines to meet close up their own stories maybe still unknown. From the bigger wine-makers to the smaller ones.

THE WINE-MAKERS FROM THE ITALIAN REGIONS:
The most representative wine companies in south Italy with a selected method of viticulture, symbol and winning card of made in Italy. More then 40 wine-makers, about 100 wines to taste.

PLACE:
ROYAL PALACE IN CASERTA: A prestigious place supporting with its scenery such a relevant meeting. The spaces where the meeting will take place in the Royal Palace:

-THE COLONNADE  which connects the main entrance with the park entrance, this will be the right place for the exhibition and for all wine tasting.

-THE COURT THEATRE for conventions and seminaries.

-HISTORICAL APARTMENTS: Exhibition – “Arts and Wines in the historical apartments”