The 51st F.I.C.B. International Congress in Italy is cancelled because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The 51st Congress of the F.I.C.B. was to take place in Alba and the Piedmont region from June 4 to 10, 2020. The organizers, the Order of the Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba and Langhe-Experience Tours&events, had put together a very attractive program allowing to discover their beautiful region and their prestigious wines (Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco in particular) under exceptional conditions.
The COVID 19 pandemic had meanwhile hit the whole of humanity and the Congress could not take place on the scheduled dates. The organizers and the F.I.C.B. executive committee therefore decided to postpone the Congress for one year (from June 3 to 9, 2021), with the same program and financial conditions.
Unfortunately, the situation of the pandemic worldwide is not improving as we all hoped and the prospects remain uncertain, with the spreading of variants and the slow deployment of the vaccines. Consequently, the necessary logistical, sanitary and safety requirements to go ahead with the organization of the event are not met.
With the current restrictions, the Congress spirit of sociability, conviviality, togetherness and cultural exchange would be lacking. In a civil and moral responsibility perspective, the Order of Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba, the Langhe Experience – Tours & Events tour operator and the FICB executive committee have together decided, after years of commitment and dedication to this project, to cancel the event.
Starting from Monday 8th March, the Langhe Experience – Tours & Events tour operator will send an e-mail to all registrants with the alternative of :
– either, as already agreed, receive a refund of 80% of the fees paid (less bank costs)
– or transform 100% of the fees paid into a credit to experience an individual trip (minimum 2 people) in Piedmont before the end of 2022.
The organizers thank all those who have worked hard to organize the Congress, who believed in this project and who registered to take part in it, and hope to welcome F.I.C.B. and its members soon in the beautiful Langhe hills, which are getting brighter and more brilliant every day with the spring colours.
F.I.C.B. has decided to give the priority to the Knights of Alba to organize an F.I.C.B. Congress in 2024 or 2025, to be confirmed not later than the 2022 F.I.C.B. General Assembly.
The next scheduled F.I.C.B. events are therefore the following :
– The 2nd F.I.C.B. International Wine tasting and rating Challenge to take place in Hungary from 2 to 7 June 2022 in the Eger and Budapest regions, organized by the Ladies of Pannonia,
– The International F.I.C.B. Congress to take place in Portugal from 24 to 30 May 2023 in the region of Porto and Douro, and in the region of Lisbon and Alentejo, organized by the Portuguese wine brotherhoods.
