Fulminant launch in Milan: Falstaff Italia enters the scene
The very first issue of the Italian-language magazine made its debut before 380 dignitaries in the workshops of La Scala in Milan. Celebrity chefs Massimiliano Alajmo, Massimo Bottura, Enrico Bartolini and the Cerea brothers, Enrico and Roberto, presented their signature dishes, while three Italian gourmet icons were honored with the "Falstaff Legend Award".
What began this year in July between Vienna and Bolzano culminated last Monday in the Ansaldo Scala Laboratories, the workshops of La Scala in Milan: Fresh off the presses, Falstaff Italia made its debut amid thunderous applause. Flanked by Falstaff Italia co-editors-in-chief Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler, Falstaff publisher Wolfgang Rosam proudly presented the "primissima copia" of the Italian-language magazine to around 380 guests. "Italy is the most beautiful – and finally, we are in Italy!", Rosam cheered. "It's our passion for the good and beautiful things in life that brings us here. We like to eat, we like to drink and we like to travel – that's the Falstaff trinity. Italy is a great role model in that respect."
Editor-in-chief, Othmar Kiem, also a Falstaff all-star wine critic, has a clear goal: "After more than 25 years with Falstaff, I am delighted to launch Falstaff Italia, and enter a new dimension of wine, food and travel writing." His colleague, Simon Staffler, added: "Today we are celebrating an arrival that is also a beginning. Our promise to our partners, to ourselves and – above all – to our readers is to do our best to revolutionize communication in this industry!" Falstaff Italia is now available at newsstands across Italy and will be published four times a year. Its digital presence includes an Italian gourmet portal similar to Falstaff's other regional versions, regular newsletters and a that already boasts robust numbers.
German, Austrian, and Swiss wines meet Italian haute cuisine
The gourmet magazine lived up to its name, serving a plethora of culinary highlights for the occassion. The aperitif by chefs Enrico and Roberto Cerea was followed by signature dishes of Italian haute cuisine: Cappuccino di Seppia al nero by chef Massimiliano Alajmo, beetroot risotto by Enrico Bartolini and Massimo Bottura's Tortellini del Tortellante. The wine accompaniment saw Falstaff Italia's sister publications bring out some of the finest from their respective regions: Austria provided a 2023 Grüner Veltliner Dürnsteiner and a 2023 Riesling Ried Burgstall from F.X. Pichler, followed by a 2020 Beerenauslese Cuvée from Weinlaubenhof Kracher. German winemaking tradition was also well represented with a 2022 Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs from Weingut Dr. Loosen and a 2022 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG VDP Große Lage from Robert Weil. Finally, Switzerland made its mark with a 2021 Estro Rosso del Ticino DOC from the Gialdi winery. And Italy itself provided an iconic trio: a 2020 Barolo DOCG Ornato from Pio Cesare, a 2019 Tignanello Toscana Rosso IGT from Marchesi Antinori, and a 2021 Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC from Tenuta San Guido. A very special pairing was served with the dolci from master pastry chef Gabriele Vannucci: a retro-disco performance from the prince of "dolce vita" himself, Alessandro Ristori.
The Vienna Connection
In addition to the many Italian dignitaries, 120 partners, media representatives and companions were flown to Milan from Vienna via a special Austrian Airlines charter, including GW-Cosmetics owner Rainer Deisenhammer, Daniel Serafin, Real estate mogul Daniel Jelitzka (Guesthouse, Hoxton, 25hours Hotel), Hella owner Andreas Kraler, Evi & Christian Höfer, celebrity lawyer Clemens Schindler, Kruzik jewelers, PR professional Eva Zanzinger, Lubos Bogar, Daniel Bujar (ATV Realty), Camilla Cisterna (Campari), Andrea Colonelli (ENIT), Brigitta Coreth (Liechtensteinische Landesbank), Johannes Eder (Humanomed), Silvia Eichhübl, Glenn Estrada (Tür 7), Franz Hirtzberger (Weingut Hirtzberger), Marlies Hubmann, Daniel and Daniela Jelitzka (JP Immobiliengruppe), Stefan Klasmann, Nada Knezevic, Emmerich Knoll, Gerhard and Yvonne Kracher, Barbara Kritsch, Maurice Lebet (Moet Hennessy), Jürgen Leitner (Aldiana), Alexander Ludwig (Schlumberger), Benjamin Mayr (DelFabro), Christoph Morandell, Maximilian Nimmervoll (Kattus), Thomas Opsthal (Hotel Imperial), Mustafa Özdemir, Alexandra Picker-Rußwurm, Anna Prudka (Coca-Cola), Edit Rainsborough, Franziska Reisetbauer, Manuel Resch, Julien Rossier (Bucherer), Elena Strapkova, Fritz Wieninger (Wieninger vineyards) and many more. Also present: artist Billi Thanner and the director of Steinbruch St.Margarethen, Daniel Serafin. And last, but not least, the cover star of the first issue – Renza of the La Terrazza Castiglione Falletto estate.
In addition, the Falstaff Legend Awards also made their debut at this star-studded event, with Marchese Piero Antinori, Giannola Nonino and Vittorio Moretti all honored for their life's work.
