Here’s an article we received, which we’re very glad to publish on line:

The Brinca Restaurant located in Conscenti di Nè has been awarded with a valuable prize

Ne, 19 ottobre 2001

Tuesday, October 16th, 2001 – Siena – The IV edition of the "La carta delle carte" contest ended in Siena on Tuesday 16th. This contest is organised by one of the most important magazines belonging to the "Pubblici Esercizi Bargionale" association and by the Italian Wine House, which gathers the total of the Italian and Regional Public Wine Houses. More than 400 restaurants and wine shops took part in the contest and sent their list of wines to be judged by journalists, sommeliers and wine-making experts. After the first selection, only three competitors were left and they competed in Siena. Those, who were taking part in the final contest were among the most famous restaurants in Italy (Gualtiero Marchesi was one of them), but there were also equally important, even though less famous, restaurants.

Liguria was there thanks to the restaurant La Brinca located in Né, and this was its second year. It sent its list of wines, oils and wine distillates and all pieces of information related to all dinners and parties organised to celebrate wine. At the end of the Gala, which took place at the Park Hotel, the winners were proclaimed (see the cover of Bargiornale).

In the category "the list of oils", La Brinca Restaurant defeated a famous Rome restaurant.

Bargiornale's editor Antonio Mungai read the decisions taken from the important jury:

"Thanks to the large offer for the customers, its artwork, the very good value for money, the support of typical wines and Liguria's region, two excellent lists of oils and wine distillates - and Liguria is a very difficult region where to produce these products - we are very glad to announce that the best List of the lists comes from Liguria this year: La Brinca di Né Restaurant, Valgraveglia, Genoa…."

I could not believe my own ears! I really worked hard to create that list and to supply the cave with the best wines. I was celebrated joyfully by my brother and two friends and colleagues of ours, coming from the Bacco Club - Abruzzo, and the previous year's winner, Marco Reitano - he works as a sommelier at the restaurant La Pergola in Rome, Hilton Hotel - and by everybody there.

This was really the greatest success for a restaurant like ours, which has always relied on Liguria' s cuisine and the value of typical wines.

My final opinions

The best List of Oils and the best Italian List of Wines: this is what the jury decided.

1300 different kinds of Italian and international wine, 500 wine distillates and liqueurs, 20 typical oils and a number coming from other Italian regions.

Our unknown restaurant defeated the most famous caves of the most famous restaurants in Italy, which offer their customers very famous wines at expensive prices. I looked for small wine-producers working everywhere in the world and producing great wines (I'm not looking for a "brand name") and I wanted to establish a good value for money: this is the way our list started a new era in our sector. Bargiornale's November issue is publishing a through and comprehensive article, which will be read by all restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels in Italy. This piece of news is not likely to be published at the Italian level though. Italian mass media, in fact, comment on the "extremely expensive dinner served to three people only" or "the bottle dating back to 1870 (which is likely to have disappeared), which cost a gigantic deal of money and has been drunk by the most popular actor or actress of the moment…". This pieces of news are not increasing the value of the food and agricultural sector.

This prize is of great importance for our family and our restaurant, which is now well-known at the Italian level; I think, though, that this prize is going to be very important for the Tigullio gulf and Liguria as well. Our region, in fact, is not thought to be a valuable area as for the refreshment. sector in the latest years.

The journalists and the interviewer from RAI 3 Tuscany were asking me how I was feeling and I answered that I wished to dedicate this prize to all my friends and colleagues. We have been working together for many years now to increase the value of Liguria' s wines.

I wish to share this success with all my colleagues and friends, restaurateurs and wine merchants; we visited a lot of farms, exhibitions and fairs, we attended courses and tasted thousands of different kinds of wine and we debated their fragrances and scents. In our region, many experts work to let people know the importance of drinking valuable and good wines.

I wish to share this prize with the producers and farmers of my land and hope that it will encourage us to always look for quality.

In the end, my dedication goes to my family and my masters, to those still living and to those, who are no more. They taught me to love Wine and to always be humble and respectful towards it.

Best regards to you all