Great success for the 18th edition of Wine for Smile

Great success for the XVIII edition of Wine for Smile, the charity auction of fine wines in support of the projects of Smile House Fondazione ETS.

A range of over 370 fine bottles, donated by renowned Italian wineries and wine producers, took centre stage at the XVIII edition of Wine for Smile, the annual charity event eagerly awaited in the calendar of Roman events.

The hall of the Circolo Canottieri Aniene, in the presence of Board Member Francesco Bolla welcomed the guests who secured very interesting lots, curated by Stefano Campatelli, director of the Consorzio Vino Toscana, and auctioned with professionalism and mastery by Giacomo Volpi, thus helping to support the initiatives of Smile House Fondazione ETS, which since 2000 has cared for and assisted children and young adults born with facial malformations.

“The Wine Auction at the Circolo Canottieri Aniene in Rome is a historic event that in the past has already supported numerous projects brought to completion. We regard the hospitality and support of the Aniene club as a privilege as well as a great resource in support of our cause. The Foundation is developing in Italy, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, a large network for the care and research of craniomaxillofacial malformations and cleft lip and palate in particular. The training of medical and nursing staff is the third pillar of the Smile House Project in Italy and around the world.”

So says Domenico Scopelliti, Vice President of Smile House Fondazione ETS and Director of the Complex Operating Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery at the San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome.

“In this edition of Wine for Smile, Stefano Zapponini President of the Foundation emphasised, we wanted to dedicate a space for outreach to one of the most significant sectors of made in Italy: the wine sector. And we did so with two authoritative figures and friends of the Foundation, Micaela Pallini, entrepreneur and the first woman President of Federvini, and Alberto Mattiacci, university lecturer with a profound commitment to specialisation in the agri-food sector. This choice was guided by the desire to give even greater value to the generous contributions of the Italian wineries, donated for the auction to benefit children with craniomaxillofacial malformations. A gesture that underlines the solidarity and commitment of the wine sector in supporting such a noble cause. A heartfelt thank you also to the media partner ‘I viaggi del Gusto’, which together with its director Filippo Teramo accompanied us on this wonderful adventure of ours.“

The evening, in fact, offered guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the universe of wine, elevating it from a mere beverage to an authentic form of culture. Before the auction began, professor Alberto Mattiacci, Full Professor of Business Economics and Management at La Sapienza University and representative of the European Federation of Origin Wines at the European Wine Market Observatory, was the protagonist together with Micaela Pallini, President of Pallini SpA and President of Federvini in a short talk show designed for enthusiasts and newcomers that focused on the economic, cultural and sensory aspects of the world of wine and on the theme of responsible drinking.

“Wine is many things, Alberto Mattiacci emphasised: Economics: it is a product that spans the primary sector (grape production), the direct secondary sector (the transformation of the fruit into a beverage) and the indirect one (the production of the materials needed for the first two activities), and the tertiary sector (science, which pervades the first two and the commercial activities connected to them). Culture: tasting requires continuous learning; building value on the beverage means enriching it with narratives; organising its commercial offering requires knowledge. And then, it means Export (over 5 billion euros), landscape, tourist attraction, and so on. All bright? No, not at all, quite the opposite. This first post-pandemic year slams (it must be said) onto the table a number of challenges for the future of the sector, issues that are not simple and potentially destructive: the change in consumption driven by the demographics of the producing countries; the spread of hyper-health-conscious consumption models and the emergence of a false and alarmist narrative about the harm caused by the product; the structural global overproduction; the entrepreneurial reorganisation of the sector on a supranational scale; the unknowns linked to global warming. Last but not least, young people, who do not resemble the young people we once were, optimistic, projected towards the discovery of the pleasures that progressive enrichment offered to almost everyone, mindful of the past, lovers of the physical relationship between people. In essence, wine is a jewel that our country wears around its neck with rightful pride but which is not given forever, quite the opposite.”

And Micaela Pallini wished to add: “Our company took part with enthusiasm in this year’s \”Wine for Smile\” charity auction, a project we are fond of and have admired for years. This year, we wanted to be an active part of this significant initiative. We have gained a greater awareness of the relevance of this issue, which has a significant impact on the health of those who, unfortunately, are born with craniomaxillofacial malformations. This impact extends not only to physical health, but also to nutrition and, in the case of children and young adults, can even affect social life, especially in parts of the world where life is far more demanding than in our country.

The evening was presented by Livia Azzariti, doctor, science communicator and co-founder of the Foundation: “As a co-founder of Smile House it is always moving to be able to witness first-hand the interest and the will to support the Foundation. Wine for Smile is one of our most important institutional events whose fundraising constitutes a precious contribution to our projects: first among them all, the roll-out of Smile Houses in Italian regions beyond Lazio, Puglia, Marche, Sardinia, Sicily and Veneto.”

At her side Beppe Convertini, presenter of Uno Mattina in Famiglia broadcast on Rai 1: “I am happy to have been able to contribute to this extraordinary evening, dedicated to supporting the Foundation in its praiseworthy mission of assisting children and young people born with facial malformations. It was an honour to be alongside the Vice President of the Foundation, Doctor Domenico Scopelliti, an extraordinary surgeon whose exceptional medical talent is placed at the service of those who need it most. I have personally witnessed his dedication and professionalism and I am grateful to be able to contribute this evening to this noble cause.”