Shanghai mission – the Sannio in China

Fragments travel of Paola Mustilli
10-16 June 2012

We are again protagonists of Sannio mission in China, thanks to a project of international promotion in third countries, funded by Confagricoltura Benevento with Andrea Postiglione President and co-financed by the European Community and the Region of Campania.

Travel Companions:
Nicola Matarazzo – Manager of Consorzio Samnium
Domizio Pigna – Guardiense Winery,
Antonio Razzano – Sannite Vineyard,
Alfredo Di Leone – Vinicola of the Titerno,
Rita Pessina – Taburno Winery,
Carmine Fusco- Il Poggio Winery,
Michele Del Vecchio – Vinicola Del Vecchio,
Antonio Di Cicco – Land of Briganti,
Paola Mustilli – Mustilli Company
Manfredi Pascarella – manager of Confagricoltura – Benevento
Ida Savoia – consultant of Confagricoltura
Salvatore Cuoci – Regione Campania.

After 12 hours of flight cheered from the film in Chinese with English subtitles, we landed in Shanghai and we set off at once to sight ‘that alone is home to one third of the Italian population! We expect our partners Yijia, the original Chinese de Rome! The sense of belonging to the country is still very strong, you choose an Italian restaurant for dinner with a nice boy from Puglia who delighted us with a very delicate food.

Already at the first meeting with the operators, we realize the impact of economic reform launched by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, China is rapidly expanding economy, the race is rampant Westernization, the desire for material goods and status symbols is strong , drinking wine is a model, the French first of all, the Italian following close behind.
The state also supports private businesses in the wine business, exhibition centers and commercial platforms are born with infinite extensions that support at 360 degrees for import and distribution companies: the wine from customs clearance, logistics, marketing and the participation in trade fairs with hundreds of almost every week we organize in all Chinese cities!

We start the tasting sessions; the ladder are educated in a Western way: whites, light reds, reds, and final, sweet wines. I go into crisis when I started the tasting with a sweet and then finally the full-bodied red and white! I Sweat and try to bring order to politely explaining the sequence, but to no avail, then I let myself go, “maybe we should start from here and then change things,” I say hopefully!

Dinner with traders at the Chinese restaurant: indeed with duck or pig split glazed sweet raisin we’re good! With a fried jellyfish Falanghina is ok, the beauty is in the Campe, when inviting you to drink and to drink in one gulp the entire contents of the glass… until the ‘last straw!
La dinner ends well, it passes from glass to the bottle, drink directly to reed! In Chinese restaurants have private rooms a certain level, the hottest it has 44, a building of five floors, marble everywhere, every room with the name of a city in the world, all decorated in a theme, complete with carpets, sofas, armchairs, big screen and digital.

The open kitchens and an aquarium that rivals the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn with species of fish and seafood worthy of the best restaurant in Naples, the only difference turtles, alas! And snakes in a cage (thank goodness) sigh!

The dinner, with the usual turntable this time with independent engine. Solution because it avoids comfortable especially when it becomes anoint your hands dirty with various sauces because of inexperience in the use of Western chopsticks! In keeping with Chinese tradition begins a first toast of the owner of the restaurant where we are guests. Unlike ours, the landlord gets up and starts to go around the table toasting personally with each diner shouting Campe, then drink up to ‘last drop and turn the glass! We were in 14, I start worrying about my traveling companions that males will touch the same lap!
Chiusura in style with an obvious state of collective joy!
Si meet many Italians, chef, gourmet of the luxury to professionals, each with a story to tell, there is a sense of nostalgia for their country, one sees the phrase “chef, thanks for making us feel a bit ‘ at our house tonight. ”

Comes time to leave.
Come after each trip is sure to leave something of ourselves in the place that hosted us and to be enriched with unique experiences.
Fantastico the group together in the great China we have learned to be united in respect for differences.

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