The first Franc&Franc international conference and tasting day was born in 2015 and it signalled the cooperation and unity of the Villány winemakers. In previous years, all the major Cabernet Franc producing regions, both in Europe and the New World, represented themselves at a professional event focusing on the variety, winemakers and professionals who believe in this variety and make their own wine from it.
In 2023, for the eighth time, we will organise our most important professional and public event, FRANC & FRANC, where this year we focus on the “Mediterranean way of life”, with Villány and Tuscany taking centerstage.
The 8th FRANC & FRANC Forum takes place on Friday 24 November 2023 from 9.30 a.m. at the Bock Winery conference room in Villány (7773 Villány, Batthyány Lajos street 15.)
In addition to the presentations, the conference will offer a chance to taste classic, premium and super premium Villány Francs, presented by renowned experts, and also exciting Tuscan wines presented by Peter McCombie MW.
Emphasising the role of wine in gastronomy, Gianni Annoni, owner of the Pomo D’Oro Restaurant, will present the “flavours of the South” with Tuscan and Villány snacks and wines. Mediterranean oils will also be featured in the spirit of the “Tuscan-Villány” connection, with a presentation by expert Stefano Dini.
Conference programme
Opening speeches
9:30-9:35 József Bock, President, Villány Wine Region Council
9:35-9:40 Pál Rókusfalvy, Government Commissioner for National Wine Marketing, National Wine Marketing Agency
9:40-9:45 Andrea Gere, Villány Marketing Workshop
Professional presentations
9.45-10.45 Cabernet Franc in Tuscany and Villány (Stefano Dini, agronomist, Ignác Ruppert, Managing Director, Cellarius Ltd.) – presentation with tasting
10:45 -12:15 “Unity in Diversity”: Francs from Villány (Speaker: András Horkay, Director, CEWI) – presentation with tasting
12:15 – 12:45 The atmosphere of the South on the plate (Speaker: Gianni Annoni – owner, Trattoria Pomo D’Oro) – presentation and tasting
LUNCH: 13:00-14:00
Afternoon session
14:00 – 15:15 Cabernet Franc from Tuscany (Speakers: Peter McCombie MW, Simone Tacconi) – presentation and tasting
15:15 – 16:00 Oils in gastronomy (Stefano Dini, agronomist) – presentation and tasting
16:00 – 16:30 Round table discussion Villány VS Tuscany, or the Mediterranean way of life (Gianni Annoni, Andrea Gere, Peter McCombie MW, Stefano Dini)