POP ITALIA! Global Sparkling & Champagne Celebration Presented by Fiorucci

Celebrate the World's Love of Great Sparkling Wine & Champagne

Calling all sparkling wine and Champagne lovers - plus still wine enthusiasts - to join us at this thoughtfully crafted wine and food fete celebrating Virginia's and the world's love affair with bubbly. Savor an elite lineup of sparklers from Italy, Champagne, France, Virginia, Portugal, Oregon, Washington State, Spain, California, South Africa and more. Highly regarded still wines from Virginia, Italy and Oregon will be available too.  Enjoy inventive, regionally-sourced Virginia- and Italian-inspired bites to enhance your tasting experience.

Expect to taste an expanded and stunning array of sparklers and champagnes from legendary producers considered among the best in the world, with prominent inclusions from Italy and Oregon since they are the ‘Regions of Emphasis’ in 2024 in addition to Virginia.  The number of sparkling and champagne tables will be increased and more dispersed at our expanded footprint in the beautiful and expansive Virginia Museum of History & Culture.  

In some cases, we expect to have the actual producer serving you the sparkling wines they make.  

Presented by Fiorucci

In addition to the fine cuisine of 21 Spoons, you'll experience a unique opportunity to enjoy an exceptional array of artisan Italian products from Fiorucci, including but not limited to Fiorucci's legendary PANINO, which is proudly crafted in Richmond, Virginia.

In additional to a beautiful crystal wine glass, each attendee will also take home a package of artisan-made Fiorucci product!

21 Spoons Extraordinary Cuisine

Voted the #1 local restaurant in Virginia by Southern Living Magazine, owner Ann Butler and her team will present delicious Virginia- and Italian-inspired cuisine.  Below please find 21 Spoons' exceptional menu:

• Arancini with Virginia honey + truffles
• Rappahannock oysters with champagne mignonette
• Grilled eggplant with feta + diced tomatoes
• Fried calamari on a bed of winter greens
• Charcuterie featuring Fiorucci's artisan products
• Pasta bolognese + Alfredo with shaved parmesan and basil chiffonade
• Limoncello mousse cups
• Italian wedding cookies
• Cannoli's - pistachio, classic + triple chocolate

Enjoy Top Scoring Bottlings from Legendary Producers From Around the World

This exceptional tasting will feature these premium bottles*** :

Szigeti Neusiedlersee Sekt Brut Gruner Veltliner, Ruffino Prosecco Organic, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, Taittinger Prestige Brut Rose, Gosset Brut Grand Blan de Blanc, Louis Roederer Collection 243 Champagne, Gusbourne Brut Reserve, Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Brut, Dom Perignon Champagne 2013, Nicolas Feuillate, Pfister Cremant Alsace Brut 2020, Sokol Blosser Bluebird Sparkling Cuvee, Argyle Brut 2018, Gran Moraine Yam Brut Rose, Trump Blanc de Blanc 2017, G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut, Rappahannock Kellers Blanc de Blanc, Vajra NS Della Neve Rose Brut, Zardetto Long Charmat Prosecco DOCG, Barone Pizzini Franciacorta Golf 1927, Enrico Serafino Brut Alta Langa, Schramsburg Vineyards Blan de Noir, Les Glories Cremate Blanc Brut, Bellissima Brut Prosecco Organic, Ferrari Perle, Marsuret Prosecco Brut San Boldo, Nomine Renard Brut Champagne, Domaine Carneros Brut Sparkling, Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Blanc, Boshendal Brut NV, Bisol Cartizze Valdobbiad Sparkling, Barboursville Cuvee 1814 Brut, Henry Champliau Cremate D Bourgogne Brut, and Ca Del Bosco 43 Extra Brut.

We're devoted to properly educating you about the drinks you taste, which is why we insist that every beverage at POP ITALIA! is poured by knowledgeable representatives - whether they be winemakers, distributor representatives, proprietors, or experienced volunteers - capable of explaining about the drinks they are serving you. 

***Premium bottles subject to change based on availability.

Enjoy a Fascinating Informational Experience Presented by Janine Aquino, Agritourism Expert, Former Winery Owner and Current Consultant to Virginia Wineries, Cideries and Farms

Janine Aquino has been in the agritourism space for 30 years from working at farm markets to owning and operating a winery with a farm to table restaurant for 10 years. She is a fourth generation wine professional from New York and grew up in the business.  Current owner of Aquino Baron Consulting, she will not only share her knowledge of sparking wines in Virginia, but also offer her take on the Virginia wine industry more broadly, including her view on which Virginia wineries are innovating and where Virginia is headed in the future.  See Janine's full biography below.

Regions of Emphasis

While POP ITALIA! features sparkling and still wines from around the world, Virginia sparklers will be well represented along with bottles from the Expo's two 2024 guest regions, Italy and Oregon.   The cuisine will also have a decidedly Italian and Virginian accent.

Ticket Package Availability and Build Your Own Package

This event can be purchased a la carte or as part of three discounted ticket bundles, ‘First Weekend’, ‘Sparkling Grand’, and ‘SUPER PASS’, which you can check out on the Ticket Packages page.  Alternatively, to curate your own experience, you can buy tickets to this event using our “build your own package” and save 15% on 3 events or save 20% on 4.

With Your Ticket, You Will:

• Taste 50+ highly regarded sparkling wines and champagne, premium still wines, and savor artisan bites to enhance your tasting experience.  Note that this is primarily a beverage event so please be sure to have a light meal before you arrive.  
   
• Receive and keep a beautiful Stolzle crystal wine glass
   
• Be permitted to park for free in the Virginia Museum of History & Culture parking lot.  
   
• Be able to use the complimentary coat check.
   
• Be provided with free artisanal water throughout the tasting.
   
• Be able to use tables, chairs and cocktail rounds throughout the exhibit hall.

About Janine Aquino

Janine Aquino has been in the agritourism space for 30 years from working at farm markets to owning and operating a winery with a farm to table restaurant for 10 years. She is a fourth generation wine professional from New York and grew up in the business. Her family owned a small vineyard in the Hudson Valley region, and operated a wine importing company in Manhattan for multiple generations. She grew up learning about viticulture and distribution. While in college, she took classes at the Culinary Institute of America on food and wine pairing. After college she worked at several Hudson Valley region wineries and worked in the vineyards, tasting room, setting up on premise programs with restaurants, and business operations. She moved to Ohio and here she consulted several wineries on operations and sales, before owning and operating a winery and restaurant for 10 years. In 2020, She received an offer to GM a new winery in Virginia, so she moved to Virginia, GM'd the winery, then moved onto a second new winery startup, built all the infrastructure, teams, training, sales, and operations. Once she achieved great results and saw a need for winery consulting, she started Aquino Baron Consulting allowing her to consult multiple wineries, cideries, and farms. What sets her apart is her attention to detail and need to get results. 

Aquino Baron Consulting, is licensed in Virginia to sell real estate and focuses on wineries and farms. With her depth of knowledge, she can offer due diligence and transitional ownership to buyers and help prepare a winery for sale.
Her company is a member of the Virginia Wineries Association, Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce, and Route 231 Association. She personally sits on the Waynesboro Tourism Advisory Board.

Important Information

• All wine tables will end tastings at 9:30 p.m., fifteen minutes before the end of the event.  
• Only 21 years or older are permitted to enter the event.
• Smart casual or smart chic attire recommended.
• All inclusive.