Music and Wine are the two main protagonists for OperaWine 2016. This year’s list of the 100 Top Italian Wines includes “Sister Moon,” an IGT Toscano produced at Trudie Styler and Sting’s 16th century estate “Tenuta il Palagio”.

This biodynamic wine, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, was orchestrated by Trudie Styler, Sting, the winemaker Paolo Caciorgna, the late Alan York and Daniel O’Donnell. Sister Moon attributes its name to the song of the same name, written by Sting in the mid 80’s and included in the Album “Nothing Like the Sun,” the second solo studio album of the English singer-songwriter.

“We are so honored that Il Palagio’s Sister Moon 2011, the flagship IGT Toscano Rosso from our Tuscan estate, has been selected by Wine Spectator as one of the top 100 Italian wines and so flattered to be in the company of such great Italian wineries at OperaWine 2016. Sister Moon is a wine that has consistently expressed the best qualities of Il Palagio’s terroir and encourages us to continue striving to produce the highest quality wines. With the brilliant guidance of our winemakers, the late Alan York, Paolo Caciorgna and Daniel O’Donnell, and our estate manager Paolo Rossi, this 15-year endeavor has been more rewarding than we could ever have imagined. We are truly thrilled and grateful for this recognition,” responded Trudie Styler and Sting to being part of this year’s OperaWine.

Interestingly, Alan York was a leading consultant for biodynamic viticulture for Il Palagio and President of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of North America for four years. The recognition of this biodynamic IGT Toscano in OperaWine 2016 coincides with the launch of the new award of Vinitaly, “FreeWine, Wine without walls”. This new award will recognize wines that have some form of organic farming, with no additives, including the controversial “added sulfites”.

Among all the regions that are included on the list of the 100 Top Italian Wines, it is Tuscany that is the most representative region this year, comprising 30 % of the wines that are on the list, followed by Piedmont with 15%. Italy is the number one wine producer in the world in terms of volume and this would not be possible if all the protagonists in the realm of Italian wines were not engaged in the production of quality wines and events like OperaWine, which for the fifth year celebrates the best of Italian wines.

Opera Wine 2016 represents all Italian wine regions and brings more than 60 Italian native grape varieties that this year represent the 100 Top Italian Wines.

OperaWine is a partnership between Vinitaly and Wine Spectator, the world's leading wine publication, now in its fifth edition. Wine Spectator is solely responsible for the selection of wineries to participate in OperaWine. For more details, check their website: http://www.operawine.it/wineregions2016