Order of the Knights of the Dal Verme (Worm Family)

 From an idea of some members, gathered to live in a old noble residence in Tuscany during the Fall 2009 meeting of the AICC, and from the pen of a writer of short stories for children, comes the story of our ancestor, between fantasy and reality , for his love of wine and the corkscrew becomes the founder of the noble lineage of the Dal Verme.

The enthusiasm that involved then all members of our Association, are proud to have found an ancestor of this rank, led to formal approval at the next Assembly held in Verona city where wine and nobles are at home, a knightly order Members will be honored if distinguished in more participation in the AICC.
The history of Baron Rubizzo Dal Verme, Vignagranda lived from 1643 to 1738, has thus become the story of us all members of the AICC that cultivate a shared passion for the corkscrew, and that in the spirit of the Latin motto that appears on the coat of arms “in worm fidens “, we hope to enrich our collections and, who knows, maybe to be awarded the Knights ‘Order of the Dal Verme according to the rules of’ Edictus.
EDICTUS x allegato INIZIATIVE
HISTORIA SEMISERIA x allegato INIZIATIVE

Cork…screwing

Since its inception, the AICC has always sent a newsletter to provide its members with information regarding corkscrew collecting. This biannual bulletin published a number of articles, including original research conducted by its members, events as well as news regarding the object of our collections.
The newsletter was not called “CAVAR…TAPPI” (cork…screwing) until the end of the nineties, and only a limited number of copies were printed in black and white as the cost of color printing was still prohibitive. Finally in the year 2000 the bulletin assumed its present day design and colour.

Cork…screwing, 20 years of Italian history

We have a new book that not only talk about corkscrews, but also of “collection of corkscrews, men who, among other passions, have also to collect this wonderful tool that, for centuries, provides access to one of the joys of life” .
This book was created and published by the AICC at the twentieth anniversary of the founding of our association with the contributions of many members.
Thus we can trace the history of the corkscrew and its protagonists, and learn about the museums, and events dedicated to that instrument, and read relevant articles, some even in the original languages, which in time went deeper and exalted aspects of a tool not only useful but often valuable and technically advanced.
Moreover, the book, coordinated by our member Maurizio Fantoni, published a short story unpublished by Paolo De Sanctis and a valuable dictionary in four languages on the terminology of the corkscrew.
The book is available for sale and can be requested from the AICC secretariat (see Section Merchandising)

Annual AICC corkscrew

If they have spoken for many years and, for us enthusiastic collector of corkscrews, the idea of creating something new and customized has always exercised a particular charm.
In the past, many initiatives have been taken, and we must always thank the passion and commitment of many members who have led at times to choose a realization of a few artisans and personalized with the logo of AICC; for a time, there have been contacts with the Association of Sommeliers to facilitate the possibility of creating an original and unique corkscrew, perhaps annual, but the ambitious project never materialized, unfortunately.
It took the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the founding AICC to stimulate the creativity and determination that led us to realize the dream with our own devices.
With “the corkscrew of XX”, created in 2008 and presented to Members at the meeting for the celebration of the event, born the first corkscrew that we can define “official” produced by the association.
The annual corkscrews are available for sale and can be requested from the AICC secretariat (see Section Merchandising)

The meetings of the Institutional Shareholders AICC

The passion for collecting, which binds all members AICC course, finds its ultimate expression in the two annual meetings that are organized, “Spring Meeting”, during which it usually also takes the Shareholders’ Meeting, and “Autumn Meeting” , during which it often takes a corkscrew auction for members.
Each meeting is organized by the Secretariat from time to time taking advantage of the valuable assistance of a “local” Member; which allows you to change every time the venue always going to discover different places around Italy in search of curiosities artistic and cultural heritage, tourism and convivial meetings having as reference the corkscrew and gastronomic culture.
During the meetings the members have the opportunity to bring and exhibit their corkscrew, the latest findings of a passion fruit extending its research in markets around the world and in auctions and exchanges that often cross national boundaries.
Deepen the features, mechanisms, dating, authenticity and provenance of pieces that range from simple tools for quarrying caps to veritable works of art, often valuable in a word: the “culture of corkscrew” .

The book on Italian Corkscrew

Thanks to the passion and the undoubted expertise of some of the AICC members over the years have been written and published a number of books devoted to corkscrews; these publications speak of the history and culture that relates to this useful and often indispensable tool, and illustrate typically, various aspects of a huge production that has developed in many countries of the world.
The research of the different models, from the late seventeenth century to the present day, is relatively easy undertaking in countries such as England and France and, later, the United States, where it has always been the culture of the patent.
Much more complex research in Italy, where historically there has been a corkscrew essentially artisanal production and only in more recent times, the last century, it was possible to attend an industrial production still often continued to underestimate the usefulness and importance of the patent.
Some years now AICC has embarked on a systematic search of the reality of Italian corkscrew, with the help of all members is being done in a photo book and documentary, often supported by discussions on the actual allocation of some pieces that, in the absence of patents or initials and marks, make difficult the identification of the producer and the certainty of dating.
It ‘a long and laborious that, thanks to the enthusiasm and collaboration of some members, and understanding of the AICC will lead to the realization of the first book devoted exclusively to Italian corkscrew.

Bacchus

From the passion of an Italian sculptor, goldsmith artisan in his workshop in Porano, a small town in Umbria, and the support of the AICC, was born “Bacchus”, the corkscrew of the association for 2009.
From a prototype created in the beginning of the year, and subject to verification of members who, during the ‘Spring Meeting in Sarzana have contributed ideas and suggestions to define some minor changes, was prepared the final version submitted to the’ Meetings’ Autumn in Siena.
This is a corkscrew “table” of artistic quality workmanship, which is produced in limited numbers, with numbered series, and fused the two versions in bronze or silver, each piece is signed by the artist Antonio Barocci and returns obviously membership of the AICC.

The annual corkscrews are available for sale and can be requested from the AICC secretariat (see Section Merchandising)