A week-long luxury shopping festival that pairs the world of haute couture with fine wine, fine food and fancy cars opens in Italy’s fashion capital Milan today.

Now in its seventh edition, La Vendemmia combines style with the art of savoir vivre and unites luxury brands with the most important players in the world of wine for a “unique and engaging experience”.

The festival is centered around an area locally known as il quadrilatero della moda (the Quadrilateral), which encompasses Milan’s premier luxury shopping street Via MonteNapoleone and its branches Via Verri, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Santo Spirito, Via Borgospesso and, this year, also via Bagutta.

La Vendemmia kicks off the city’s Fall-Winter shopping season and is organised by the MonteNapoleone Association, which represents 140 luxury brands.

German luxury carmaker Audi is the festival’s main sponsor.

Events will take place in some of Milan's most prestigious locations including historic palazzos, boutiques, restaurant and hotels until October 9.

"With this event, which brings together the world of luxury with that of winemaking, we want to highlight the meaning and the values of a high-quality cultural and entrepreneurial system," says MonteNapoleone Association president Guglielmo Miani.

The streets of the Quadrilateral will come alive throughout the week with the window displays decked up in the colours of autumn, showcasing the latest luxury goods and vintage offerings.

Throughout the week, visitors and residents will be able dine at some of Milan’s most renowned restaurants, which will be offering a ‘La Vendemmia’ menu at special prices.

In addition, some of the most exclusive five-star luxury hotels in Milan are offering special packages that give VIP passholders access to the week’s scheduled events.

On October 6, boutiques will offer selected guests an exclusive tasting of some of Italy’s finest wines. The same day, Christie’s will hold a charity auction of fine wines at Palazzo Bovara’s Sala delle Colonne. The proceeds of the sale will go to Dynamo Camp Onlus, a free therapeutic recreation camp for children with serious illnesses.

La Vendemmia will also host a business roundtable on October 7. Held under the theme ‘Untaggable’, the meeting will be attend by influential businessmen and will focus on outstanding Italian companies.

Also, a ‘Shopping Experience’ on October 7 and 8 will offer discerning shoppers access to exclusive services such as personal sales assistants, the ability to have purchases delivered directly to their door, and special openings on request.

VIP passholders will be offered winery tours and also will be able to participate in a white truffle hunt in Alba, a town famous for its white truffle, peach and wine production and also home to a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The hunt is titled ‘In Search of Alba’s White Truffle’ and is organised by the Ente Fieristico, partner of the Milan event as part of the 86th Annual International White Truffle Fair scheduled from October 8 to November 27 in the city.

As the main sponsor of the event, Audi will be showing off its super sports car R8 Spyder and the new Audi Q2, which made its debut during Milan Design Week. - TradeArabia News Service