From the great Giorgio Morandi to the young talents of today.
The Umberto Cesari Art Contest began with the desire of Umberto Cesari to promote emerging artists and new talents by offering them the opportunity to propose a new design for the bottle labels on the MOMA line of wines, a line dedicated to the world of art. The very name of the line derives from the acronym of MyOwnMAsterpiece, a clear reference to the artwork reproduced on the label and to the high quality of both the art and the wine.
Everything started with first bottle label, which reproduced a work of one of the greatest Italian masters of the 20th century, Giorgio Morandi. Then came the idea of continuing this artistic “duet” by creating an opportunity for young artists to display their talents and gain worldwide recognition.
The first edition of the competition, in 2011, was in collaboration with the Accademia di Belle Arti of Bologna and the Accademia di Belle Arti of Ravenna. From the 37 submitted works, the jury of experts selected a group of finalists, and the winner was selected via a vote the Web.
The art specialists in fact, passed the baton to the users of the website dedicated to the competition, and online voters determined the winner, Paper Glass by Elena Valentini, a work that then graced the bottles of the MOMA line.
This young, dynamic Accademia was founded in 1967, the fruit of very diverse artistic movements, from Arte Povera and Pop Art in the beginning, to Conceptualism and Postmodernism. Vittorio Sgarbi was its Preside for several years, while among its directors was Conceto Pozzati, prominent member of the Italian Surrealism school. Its professors include artists as well as theoreticians of the visual arts. The Academy is located in a city made famous by its achievements in Humanism and during the Rinascimento, and its art educational traditions date back to 18th century. Urbino still today occupies a position of significant prestige in the field of culture and art.
A centuries-old Institute, the Accademia was established 24 September 1750 by the Venetian Senate as the "Veneta Academia di Pittura, Scultura e Architettura.” Its first president was Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. A benchmark for artistic excellence over the last 250 year, the Academy has numbered among its professors Piazzetta, Tiepolo, Hayez, Nono, Ettore Tito, Arturo Martini, Alberto Viani, Carlo Scarpa, Afro, Santomaso, Emilio Vedova, Riccardo Schweizer.
These are just a few of those who have made the Accademia one of the world’s finest and prestigious art institutes.
The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), founded in 1969, is a lay university with a world-wide vision. Its six departments, Art, Communications, Political Science, Law, Educational Science, Humanity Sciences, make it the most authoritative francophone university and one of the finest institutions in Canada. Formed from various separate institutions, such as the ÉcoledesBeaux-Arts de Montréal, UQAM immediately assumed a pioneering role in the field of the Fine Arts, significantly contributing to the cultural life of society.
In the early 1960s, Umberto Cesari purchased 20 hectares of vineyard and took up the challenge of a lifetime: to make Sangiovese a great wine, loved throughout the world. In fact, Umberto Cesari was among the very first to focus on this grape variety and to spread its culture on the international scene.
These wines grow in the vineyards of Emilia Romagna, planted on the hillslopes of Castel San Pietro Terme, at elevations of between 250 and 450 metres. Protected by the striking Calanchi Azzurri, the 170 hectares of vines enjoy an ideal micro-climate, characterised by marked day-night temperature differentials, constant breezes, and abundant sun.
To bring out the finest qualities from the grapes classic to Emilia Romagna has always been the mission of Umberto Cesari. The core wines are the four noble local varieties: Sangiovese, Albana, Pignoletto, and Trebbiano. Complementing them are international varieties, utilised primarily for the production of blends: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The hallmark and true inspiration for Umberto Cesari wines are high quality and varietal fidelity. To achieve that, the winery has invested in research and avant-garde technology, acquired vineyards of indigenous grapes, and has established collaborative relations with the Department of Agriculture of the University of Bologna and with professional oenologists and agronomists. From fermentation to bottling, every single step in the production of its wines takes place in the cellars in Castel San Pietro Terme; this complete control over quality makes it possible for Umberto Cesari to ensure the quality of its wines.
