The main innovations of the national wine-literary prize “Vermentino”, now in its ninth edition, were launched from Milan. The competition, which promotes the prized grape variety and its territories through literature, rewards published works that privilege the story of the soul of places and people, of travel and the atmospheres of the world of wine; from this year, to give an international character to the Prize, foreign published narrative works will also be competing in an ad hoc section entitled “Special Mention Foreign Fiction”.
Publishing houses will be able to nominate up to a maximum of two works by foreign authors, translated into Italian, in addition to the two works of Italian fiction that will compete, as usual, for the attribution of the “Vermentino” wine and literary award. The opening to international literature will not be the only innovation: a collaboration agreement with the Associazione Librai Italiani will allow greater diffusion of the Award, in a selected number of bookstores throughout the country, through corners dedicated to the awarded volumes.
"It is an important moment for everyone - underlined the president of Ali, Paolo Ambrosini - but above all for the Prize that will find a space that will allow it to reach even more people. We are really satisfied with an agreement that focuses on reading and spreading the authors' works." The choice to present the event overseas, an indication of the will of a competition that wants to grow. "It is important to underline the importance of this prize and the fact that it is presented in Milan shows how much we care about making it grow and how it can still carve out an important space in the national panorama" said during his speech the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Sassari, Stefano Visconti. The works can be nominated until May 30, the award ceremony is scheduled in Olbia on October 4. "This year too it will be a great challenge between authors and publishing houses - said the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, and president of the Prize, Maria Amelia Lai - and it will be another opportunity to demonstrate how much the Prize has grown in appreciation and reputation in recent years." Among the novelties is also the birth of the Development Committee, announced by the general secretary of the Award, Pietro Esposito.
"A prize that evolves and grows - he highlighted - and that over the years has given great satisfaction thanks to everyone's support and a great job. But another challenge starts from Milan with other innovations that will give another dimension to the "Vermentino, in fact the Development Committee is born which is composed among others by Luca Ammirati, winner in 2023, and Giulia Ciarapica". As always, the event will involve many students, critical soul of the Prize, in particular of the Classical High School "A. Gramsci". "Working together with the kids to make them understand the importance of reading is a result that we care about in a particular way - highlighted the deputy mayor of Olbia, Sabrina Serra - and every year the participation of the kids shows us that we are following the right path".
In addition to the “Vermentino” Award, there is also a special mention “Territory”, a section that has become increasingly important within the competition and that hosts volumes that more than others enhance territoriality, local cultural aspects, regional, urban or rural environments and contexts. The “Vermentino” wine and literary award is conceived and promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Sassari and created in partnership with the Municipalities of Olbia and Castelnuovo Magra and with the collaboration of the Consortia for the Protection of Vermentino.
