Focus on Venice Cocktail Week
It is really happening! Venice is getting its own cocktail week and it is starting on Monday December 13! Twenty-six bars on the lagoon will show the world what they can do, cocktail-wise. If you are anywhere near Venice that week, don’t miss it!
Photo credit: Veronica Gaido
We talk to Paola Mencarelli, who started it all with Florence Cocktail Week.
Paola, how did you get the idea to start Florence Cocktail Week?
My friend Lorenzo Nigro, who managed a few cocktail bars in Florence, attended Paris Cocktail week and approached me to see if I was interested in doing something similar in Florence, our city. Since I have experience in organizing events, I agreed, and the story of Florence Cocktail Week (FCW) began. It was a challenge, because we had to adapt the format to a much smaller city than Paris, and the public was not used to the cocktail culture as they are in big cities like London, Paris and New York. I wanted to put the emphasis on culture over commerce, feeling that if people appreciate culture, commerce naturally follows. The first edition was a success and it has been growing year on year. Going forward, I now run the event solo, but could not pull it off without my brilliant team.
I understand you didn’t drink alcohol at all until you were in your late 20’s. What happened to spark your interest in this field?
I am a journalist, and I participated in a giornalist’s Masters program with Gambero Rosso (a well-known food and wine guide) where I had my first foray into wine, and at 35 I graduated to spirits. I’ve always enjoyed hotel cocktail bars, as I travel a lot; from the design point of view, the sense of hospitality and the creativity of the bartender . I am still a light drinker and very strict with my team . I don’t just write “drink responsibly”, I live it, and the whole team follows my lead.
How did you feel at the end of the first edition back in 2016?
Exhausted…. And elated. The event was a lot of work but I forged some friendships that get stronger every year. It is extremely rewarding from every point of view. It is a delicate balancing act to make sure everyone is represented to the right degree. Above all, we have to remain true to our mission: to spread the cocktail culture and the message to drink well, and responsibly.
How did the idea for Venice Cocktail week come about?
I was approached by Hotel Aman in Venice and they really started the ball rolling. I rented an apartment in Venice last summer to become familiar with the bars and the area. I don’t believe in just swooping in and making a carbon copy of Florence Cocktail week. The event has to be genuine, rooted in the territory.
How many bars are included in the week-long event?
We have involved 26 bars from Venice and Lido: it wasn’t an easy task to coordinate everything, as the Venice logistics are unique and tricky, but we are proud of what we have achieved in the very first edition.
How will the event work?
The format is similar to Florence cocktail week, there will be events during the day as well as parties and night shifts. Because this is the first time we are doing an event in the winter, we have added a hot winter cocktail category, that goes beyond Irish coffee! We have four categories of drinks on the roster:
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Each bar is promoting its own signature #VCW21 cocktail all week.
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This category is dedicated to cocktails for the cold weather.
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Here, we play with the typical concept of the Spritz that is so well-known in Venice.
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In this category, the cocktails are made with products that are strictly made in Italy.
A selection of the various cocktails proposed for VCW: from left to right, Caffè Florian, Londra Bar, Tarnowska, and Quadri.
Photo Credit: Andrea DiLorenzo
The afternoons will be dedicated to masterclasses with national and international guests, and held in the various Venice Cocktail Week venues.
We also have meetings book and product presentations in the afternoons. These are Fun and cultural meetings. Book presentations will be especially interesting for the curious and for enthusiasts. All events are free of charge and must be booked in advance. A Venice walk and a visit to a maze on the Island of San Giorgio is a highlight.
The Night shift are events open to everyone in VCW21 cocktail bars with internationally renowned guest bartenders. These are ticketed events, and guests are only charged the cost of the cocktail.
A Cocktail bar map has been created so you can discover where to find the 26 cocktail bars of this first edition of Venice Cocktail Week.
Be sure to check out the events calendar, where you can see all the happenings day by day and reserve the ones you want to attend.
Sharlafied’s Enchanted Forest by Ca Maria Adele
The Enchanted Forest at Ca Maria Adele. Photo Credit: Riccardo Tosetto
Sharlafied has even created little pop up at hotel Ca Maria Adele hotel from Monday December 13 to Friday December 17. The event is called Enchanted Forest. The hotel’s lounge has been decorated like a magical forest, and a different gin is featured each day, served by a professional bartender. On Monday, there is Zu Plun gin, Tuesday features Winestillery gin, Wednesday showcases 400 Conigli gin, Thursday is River Mentana Gin, and Friday highlights Gin dei Sospiri. There are only 8 places per day, and the lounge is only open for two hours a day. More info can be found on the events calendar.