Taste of Italy 2018 will be held MARCH 4-5 in Houston at the Hilton Houston Post Oak & Savor Italy Los Angeles MARCH 1-2.

Please note that the dates for Taste of Italy 2018 have changed.

The change is due to the delay of the Common Market Organization funding availability (OCM) for winemakers.

In order not to penalize wineries who depend on the EU monies for their international marketing efforts, the IACC has decided to postpone the event until the EU campaign becomes potentially active again.

This will more likely allow a larger number of wineries to participate.

Taste of Italy Houston is the largest food and wine trade fair devoted exclusively to Italian products in the U.S.

Now in its fourth year, the event has continued to grow since its debut. Last year, it was attended by more than 500 people, including restaurant wine professionals from across the state of Texas.

Guest speakers at last year’s gathering included celebrity sommelier David Lynch (author of Vino Italiano), Master Sommelier Guy Stout (Italian Wine Specialist for Southern-Glazer’s), Las Vegas-based sommelier Elise Vandeberg (Vinitaly International Ambassador), Melvin Maddux (Vice President of Interra Food Marketing), James Breuhl (Vice President of Perishables at Rouses Supermarket), Jeremy Parzen (Italian wine and food historian and journalist), and J.C. Reid (food columnist for the Houston Chronicle).

“The local, regional, and national response to the event last year was spectacular,” said Chamber Director Alessia Paolicchi. “Thanks to our outreach to media and to the Texas food and wine community, we were able to promote the many wonderful seminars we’ll be hosting this year. The response from the Texas restaurant and trade community has been extremely rewarding.”