Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio to become Italian wine Hall of Famer

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One of the highlights of the Italian Trade Commission’s Vino 2009 U.S. wine convention this weekend in New York will be the induction of eight wine-industry professionals into the commission’s newly created Distinguished Service Hall of Fame. Two Californians--Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio and Corti Bros.’ Darrell Corti--are among the inductees.

Since its mandate is to promote trade and industrial cooperation between Italy and foreign countries, it’s little wonder that the commission has found that focusing on Italian wine is good for business. It is also little wonder that Selvaggio and Corti made the organization’s short list.

Of Selvaggio, Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila wrote, ‘For Italian wines, nobody has a better list than Piero Selvaggio at Valentino. The ever-charming Sicily native has been a tireless advocate for Italian wines at a time when French wines ruled and Italian wines, except for a handful of greats and plonk in straw-wrapped bottles, were hardly known (it’s hard to remember, isn’t it?)...But Selvaggio was on a mission, and he scoured Italy for regional wines and brought them back here to put on Valentino’s commodious list.’

Corti’s pedigree is different, but no less remarkable. Last year Food editor Russ Parsons wrote a profile of Corti after the city of Sacramento revolted at the news that Corti’s specialty shop, Corti Bros. grocery, was threatened with closure. Calling Corti the ‘chief provisioner of the 1970s California food revolution,’ Parsons recounted how Corti was one of the first business owners to round up exotic and gourmet ingredients from around the globe, including a healthy serving of specialty items from, of course, Italy.

The Hall of Fame induction will take place at an awards dinner on Jan. 27 at the Rainbow Room in New York City.

--Jessica Gelt