Vision Expo East, the premier trade event for the eyewear industry in the United States, bid farewell to New York with the end of its 2024 edition on Sunday, March 17th. Three intense days were characterized by the presentation of new products, talks, fashion shows, accredited training sessions, networking opportunities, and business meetings. This edition also marks the end of an era for New York City, as starting from the following year, visitors and exhibitors will be welcomed at the exhibition center in Orlando. Vision Expo East has always been a valuable opportunity to connect with the American optical market, attracting professionals from Canada to South America who stop here to discover the latest innovations in eyewear, machinery, and optical technologies. In this edition, Zed_Comm participated with some of its clients: Blackfin made its debut with a dedicated booth in the L’Atelier design area, emphasizing the importance of this event after the announcement of the opening of the headquarters in Houston, Texas, and the start of direct distribution in the USA. LOOK showcased its eyewear collections within the Italian collective organized by Anfao with the ITA Italian Trade Agency, while MEI exhibited the latest machinery dedicated to lens cutting. Over 450 exhibitors and more than 200 training sessions at the Javits Center contributed to creating an atmosphere of intense networking and celebrations throughout Manhattan. The city bid farewell to the event’s audience with a wonderful spring-like weather, marking a positive anticipation for the future of the fair and the optical industry as a whole.

Lights and shadows at Prowein. The Zedcomm team, consisting of Lucia, Michela, and Michele, attended Prowein in Düsseldorf. Prowein is an international wine and spirits fair with over 6,000 exhibitors from 61 countries. It is in its thirtieth year and is an undisputed reference point in the trade fair panorama with an international scope and openness.  The event, which took place from 10 to 12 March, turned out to be less international than expected and much more regional in spite of expectations. There are few international buyers, particularly from the USA and Asia, but more from Germany and Northern Europe. Our customers include Cavazza, Felsina, Lungarotti, Marchesi Mazzei 1435, Monteverro, Prà, Tedeschi, Villa Santo Stefano, Zorzettig, and the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC, Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo, and Consorzio Vini Alto Adige. These customers have expressed varying opinions, ranging from total dissatisfaction to moderate optimism. The 2024 edition of Prowein was expected to be much more participative after the overshadowed 2023 edition, but this was not the case. The train strike and Lufthansa flight cancellations may have contributed to this. However, most people believe that Prowein still has a lot to offer. For a more detailed analysis, please refer to two interesting in-depth articles. Lorenzo Ruggeri discusses it in il Gambero Rosso (https://www.gamberorosso.it/notizie/notizie-vino/prowein-vino/?fbclid=IwAR2QsFDJHM and Jens Priewe on FB https://www.facebook.com/jens.priewe.1.  Our idea as a press office is that trade shows are always a good place to meet and talk to customers and the press in attendance.

So the date for us at Zedcomm is also confirmed with Prowein from 16 to 18 March 2025. 

Gli Svitati continue to make their voices heard to support the adoption of screwcap in the Italian wine world. The companies Franz Haas, Graziano Prà, Jermann, Pojer e Sandri and Vigneti Massa, flanked by their partner Guala Closures, chose to dedicate this second appointment-hosted by Pentole Agnelli in Lallio (BG)-to the world of catering, highlighting the merits and potential of this closure, but also taking into analysis the prejudices and related problems of presentation to the end customer.The appointment was held first with a round table discussion with national and international Maîtres and Sommeliers who reported their personal experience, highlighting how abroad the screw cap is now cleared through customs and appreciated, while in Italy it turns out to be still very strong the traditionalism linked to the cork stopper.Alongside the presentation to the final customer, the meeting discussed the issue of production regulations, which should make it easier for producers to make discretionary use of this closure even for DOC and DOCG wines.In the afternoon, Dr. Silvia Carlin and Prof. Fulvio Mattivi of the Mach Foundation brought the results of two studies comparing cork and screwcap closures of Svitati wines, while Prof. Michele Fino of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Emanuele di Faustino of Nomisma and Federico Donato of Guala Closures discussed screwcap as a sustainable choice.Guests included national press journalists, opinion leaders, sommeliers and industry professionals, who, thanks to the event, were able to learn more about the potential of the screwcap through both talks and comparative tastings.

The grapevine is often personified as a woman, representing a feminine journey through the white wines of South Tyrol. Among the key players in this region, sharing ideas and perspectives is essential to gaining new insights into the vine and its cultivation. This allows for meaningful discussions and a deeper understanding of the craft. The event La vite è donna took place on 7 March at VIVA Viviana Varese in Milan. Its aim was to showcase a variety of perspectives related to women in the vineyard through personal stories and wine tastings. The South Tyrolean Wine Consortium presented a selection of white wines from wineries where women play a fundamental role. Some of these female producers and managers also spoke at the event. Several Alto Adige white wine gems were tasted in combination with the Chef’s refined proposals. The guests consisted of female wine and lifestyle journalists, as well as some writers. Cristina Mercuri, Wine Educator and founder and CEO of Mercuri Wine Club, led the discussion between glasses and insights. It was a true journey among the white wines of South Tyrol.