In what has now become an iconic Italian tradition of style, the 2010 Campari Calendar has been produced. The featured female celebrity in the role of the Campari Woman for this eleventh edition is Olga Kurylenko. Olga Kurylenko came to international fame as the character ‘Camille’ in the most recent James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

“Olga was a natural choice: an international actress, with great charm, grace, elegance and sensuality that represents the perfect incarnation of the Campari brand”, says Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO of Gruppo Campari.

The setting for the shoot is Milan. The photos were taken by the very talented Simone Nervi. They begin in the interior of Milan’s historic 609 tram and the Campari Woman’s journey becomes the basis for each monthly photograph.

Personally, I really like this theme and more sophisticated approach to their calendar production. It is a far cry from the Campari calendars of the early years - which are chock full of monthly photos of naked women in silly and playful poses. Don’t get me wrong - I’m no prude and I love the human body, both male and female. What I don’t appreciate is nudity for the sake of commerce. This year’s calendar speaks to both sexes on an international level. And I can easily see it inspiring someone to want to try Campari for the first time.

Campari is an Italian drink developed in 1860 by Gaspare Campari. The secret mixture of herbs in a base of alcoholic spirits, creates a strong and distinctly flavored drink. It is in the family of drinks known as bitters, because they feature herbs and bark which lend a tangy and enjoyable edge to the flavor profile of the drink.

Previous year’s Campari women include the equally beautiful Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes, Salma Hayek, Martina Colombari, Elena Rosenkova, Carolina Bittencourt, Magda Gomes, Marika Svensson, and Ralitza Baleva.

The calendar has become somewhat of a collector’s item and a limited production of 9,999 will distributed worldwide.

by Donna Petrongolo