(25 Nov 2008) SHOTLIST
AP Television
Rome, Italy, 25 November 2008
++NIGHT SHOT++
1. Wide exterior of Rome's Hotel Exedra, venue of truffle auction
++INTERIOR SHOTS++
2. Official bringing into room a box containing Italy's biggest white truffle 2008
3. Various of box being opened and truffle in basket being taken out of it
4. From left, councillor for agriculture of Lazio region, Nicola Cavaliere and truffle auction organiser, Giselle Oberti holding truffle
5. Close-up of the large white truffle, being sniffed and passed round
6. Mid of Oberti explaining the auction programme
7. Close-up of young white truffle
8. Mid of truffle on display, with officials standing behind it
9. SOUNDBITE (English): Giselle Oberti, International truffle auction organiser:
"It is a kilo and eighty grams. It was found in Molise, a region in central Italy, which is a very important region of truffle hunting. It was found two days ago. It was donated by Mr. Di Iorio and family, who found the truffle. They are very happy to participate in this event which is 100 percent for charity."
10. Mid of Oberti smelling the truffle
11. SOUNDBITE (English): Giselle Oberti, International truffle auction organiser:
"We need winter, we need cold, we need humidity to grow this beautiful piece of truffle. With the summer like this in Italy which went on until October, it was not good. So there are less truffles, and everyone wants to buy them and that's why the price is higher because we have less truffles and more people around the world would like to taste it."
12. Wide shot Exedra hotel lobby
BIGGEST TRUFFLE DISPLAYED
The biggest Italian white truffle of the year 2008 went on display in Rome on Tuesday, ahead of the first international auction of the precious and aromatic culinary ingredient.
The truffle, which weighs 1.08 kilograms (2.38 pounds) was found in the Molise region, central Italy, near Frosolone village, auction organiser Giselle Oberti said.
Last year, at the international auction of the Tuscan truffle, a truffle weighing 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) was sold for 330-thousand US dollars, to the Chinese magnate Stanley Ho.
This year truffles from the Italian regions of Piedmont, Sicily, Marche, Umbria, Molise and Emilia Romagna will be sold alongside Tuscan truffles, therefore the event is being termed the first international auction of the 'Italian' truffle.
White truffles from Tuscany have been auctioned for five years.
The auction will be held simultaneously in Rome, London Abu Dhabi and Macao on Saturday, November 29, at 1300 GMT.
All proceeds from the auction, organised under the patronage of the Italian ministry of agriculture, will go to charity.
Rome's auction will fund Telethon, London's will help the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Abu Dhabi will support the Emirates Foundation, while Macao's will help the local Caritas.
The four locations will be connected via satellite and 200 people in each city will compete to buy the best truffles.
Rome's auction will be organised by Sotheby's, while Christie's will lead Abu Dhabi's and Macao's ones, in order to have a fully legal auction process.
Oberti, presenting the white truffle to the media said Tuesday that the demand for white truffles has not diminished despite the worldwide financial crisis.
She said due to unfavourable weather this summer, the production had been low, which would ensure a good price for the truffle.
Oberti described it as a "luxury" product comparable to Ferraris, for which the demand would always be there among the very rich.
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