From journalist to wine advocate

I come from Verona, Italy and was initially drawn to China in 2007 because I wanted to explore the country’s cultural richness — something that cannot be done through economic statistics.

I first arrived in China in 2007. My first sojourn was a several-month stay in Shanghai, after which I worked as a journalist reporting on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

My path took a turn when I began working for Veronafiere, a leading global organizer of wine and spirits events. I saw the potential for a major wine trade fair in Shenzhen, a young, dynamic city with a vibrant future. The energy here is palpable, and I knew this was the place where we needed to establish Wine to Asia.

Then I relocated to Shenzhen in 2021, as I recognized the need to be immersed in the local market to ensure the success of the event. The decision to base the event in Shenzhen was strategic. As the economic powerhouse of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen serves as a gateway to China and Asia, making it an ideal hub for international trade.