Italian Sommelier Shares Wine-pairing Culture

(Zhang Xiaoyi)

Dario Schiavoni, a 26-year-old Italian sommelier, came to Shenzhen for the first time when he was appointed as manager of the Italian restaurant Paletto in The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen, in May last year.

"I love wine pairing. I love to laugh and to talk," Schiavoni said. "And I like making friends with guests and sharing hospitality with them." That's why Schiavoni chose to start his career in the luxury hospitality industry seven years ago. Over the past year in Shenzhen, what Schiavoni found in this brand new market is that Chinese clients' palate for wine is growing. Now one of his goals is to share wine-pairing culture in the city.

Whenever clients ask for wine, Schiavoni says he will recommend wine that goes with the food, instead of the wine clients would like to order first, and then explain the history and pairing philosophy to them. "For example, if you choose a rich wine to go with fish, the wine will cover the taste of the food," he said. "And the Chinese market is mainly into French wine. But I tell the clients, "Try a wine you never tried before, and tell me how you feel about it. " They end up being happy.

Schiavoni said he renewed Paletto's wine list, which now categorizes a selection of wines in terms of regions, years, grapes and prices. He also created brand new cocktails based on clients' tastes or using their favorite ingredients. And occasionally Schiavoni leads his clients into Paletto's wine cellar, which stores over 400 kinds of wines. "Dining is all about experience," he said, and even started a leisure event in order to bond with customers regularly.

To lead fine-dining culture in the city, Schiavoni said the restaurant was planning to throw a bar competition in September. "The contest will call for bartenders from five-star hotels and independent bars to participate. We will give them a brand of alcohol and some elements to create a new drink and tell the story behind it."

A graduate from Associazione Italiana Sommelier, Schiavoni said he entered the luxury hospitality industry in 2009 in the Three-Star Michelin restaurant La Pergola in Rome, Italy. Later he became the sommelier at the One-Star Michelin restaurant Apsleys in London. Before he came to Shenzhen, Schiavoni was the manager of Heinz Beck Restaurant in Japan.