42nd MASI PRIZE: WINNERS ANNOUNCED
THEME: ROOTS AND VISIONS
PRIZE WINNERS:
CIVILTA’ VENETA: Mario Cannella, Andrea Rinaldo, Stevanato Group
CIVILTA’ DEL VINO: Yuko and Shin Kibayashi
GROSSO D’ORO VENEZIANO: Rakhshan Banietemad
FRIDAY 27th OCTOBER 2023 AMARONE BARREL SIGNING AND LIVE STREAMING EVENT FROM THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAN GIORGIO DI VALPOLICELLA
Once again, the 42nd edition of the Masi Prize will see five outstanding personalities signing the famous barrel of Amarone at the Masi winery headquarters in Valpolicella on 27th October, personalities whose skills and experience best interpret the “Roots and Visions” theme that the Juries followed in choosing the winners of the three sections. Here are the names. For the Civiltà Veneta Prize: the internationally renowned lexicographer Mario Cannella; the hydraulic engineer Andrea Rinaldo, recently awarded the ‘Nobel Prize for Water’; and the Stevanato Group, a historic Venetian company and leading manufacturer of glass containers for medicines. Two Japanese men, Yuko and Shin Kibayashi, authors of the highly original manga about wine called ‘The Drops of God’, are awarded the Civiltà del Vino Prize. Finally, the recipient of the Grosso d’Oro Veneziano Prize is Iranian film director Rakhshan Banietemad, for her fight to promote democracy and women’s civil rights, particularly in her own country.
“The main theme of the Masi Prize 2023 is ‘Roots and Visions’. Which is a contradiction in terms. But that’s what it must be, because it is the only way forward for all of us who need to cherish our valuable traditions and look forward, or innovate, at the same time,” explains the President of the Masi Foundation, writer, journalist Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti. “ At a time when uncertainty pervades thoughts and behaviour, a concentration on roots presents no obstacles to change, but instead provides the certainty of nourishment in the exploration of new paths.”
The Foundation’s Vice-President and President of Masi, Sandro Boscaini, adds: “The jury of the International Civiltà del Vino Prize could not have been more in tune with ‘Roots and Visions’. In fact, it has given the award to a way of talking about wine, the manga, which since its birth in Japan and with potential in many other countries recently opened to wine, transmits its message in the spirit of a symbol of ancient culture. In general, a more appealing communication for young people.”
Marco Vigevani, Secretary of the Masi Foundation emphasises: “The Venetian Grosso D’Oro has always brought to light a message of culture and solidarity and civil progress in the world. It seemed extremely topical this year to highlight the discrimination that afflicts women in Iran and beyond, and we do so through the work of a great Iranian film director, who has paid particular attention to human rights in her long and award-winning career.”
The award ceremony will be streamed live from the Pieve di San Giorgio di Valpolicella on Friday 27 October at 6.30 p.m:
– on Masi Foundation website – in English
– on the Facebook page @MasiWines – in Italian
– on the Instagram page @MasiWines – in English