Blair Hanel, Della Toffola Pacific sales manager attended SIMEI back in November. He returned to Australia encouraged by the advancement in technology and machinery that will drive the industry through the next decade.
Being my second trip to SIMEI, the first back in 2001, I was keen to explore the new Fiera Milano Rho exhibition centre where SIMEI 2015 was staged. SIMEI is the leading international Wine Industry Technology trade fair exhibition in the world and this was the 26th time the biennial event had run. This year’s event also had a focus on craft beer in the sensory workshops. Across four days more than 31,000 people visited the show (which was organised by UIV – Unione Italiana Vini) and they came from more than 90 countries! The exhibition was housed in four gigantic pavilions covering 100,000 square metres with more than 600 companies showcasing their wares. This is definitely not just an exhibition; it has become a must for professional development and international relations. With more than 150 speakers at the various WINEPRO events – a new initiative run by the UIV to enrich the event with a platform that addresses the promotion of new technologies. SIMEI is definitely a cross-media fair that uses all the latest technology platforms to make this event such spectacular viewing entertainment. The new Fiera Milano was also easily accessible for all visitors and exhibitors – but be aware that the venue is a long taxi ride from the centre of town.
My official role at SIMEI was to participate on the Della Toffola Group stand – with representatives from Italy, France, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Chile, New Zealand & USA… Our allocated area was a big as the MCG with our own restaurant, wine bar and baristas serving breakfast through to dinner every day across the entire event. This seemed to become a central meeting hub for lots of international guests – especially the Aussies that were looking for a rest and a cold beverage. Some of the key wine making machinery on show covered some key initiatives, including Filtration, Continuous Initiatives and Viticulture
After meeting and talking to a plethora of industry professionals over the four days and evaluating where the general wine industry stands I am glad to inform that the wine industry is looking rather exciting from a technological perspective. Many new initiatives of machinery advancement that will see the forefront of quality unsurpassed will be the main points of interest over the next decade. SIMEI has definitely undergone some positive overhauls since my first visit in 2001 at the Fiera in the centre of Milan. It now boasts one of the best events where you can network, learn and evaluate the best technology for making wine in the World. 2017 will be a special year with the SIMEI roadshow crossing the border… headed for Munich, Germany.
This article first appeared in Australian Grapegrower and Winemaker – Issue 624
For more information, contact Blair Hanel:
Della Toffola Pacific Sales Manager
blairh@dtpacific.com