From the great dynasties of Italian wine to the names that have marked the history of national enology. The wine list designed by Daniele Cernilli for the Hotel d’Inghilterra’s Cafè Romano transforms the concept of aristocratic hospitality into a journey through noble labels, tradition and prestige.
The Starhotels Group, Italy’s largest player in the hotel industry, entrusted me with the creation of a series of wine lists for the restaurants of the hotels it directly manages. The most famous and historical one is the Cafe Romano restaurant of the Hotel d’Inghilterra, in the heart of Rome. I therefore thought of aristocratic wines.
The philosophy of the hotel, among the oldest in the city, which has hosted nobles and crowned heads since the early 1900s, is to offer an “aristocratic” welcome. Somewhat in the tradition of the hotel, which has been completely renovated, and which is intended to be not only comfortable and luxurious, but also somehow traditional, true to a timeless and classic elegance.
A blue-blooded wine list
Therefore, I thought that the wine list should also be inspired by a similar principle. Moreover, in our country, of wineries owned by aristocratic families. there are many and in all the major wine regions.
That said, I tried to compile a list characterized precisely by the fact that all the wines had to be produced by “aristocratic” wineries.
Italian wine dynasties
They were spoiled for choice. The names are those of the Antinori, the Frescobaldi, the Guerrieri Gonzaga, the Incisa della Rocchetta, the Marone Cinzano, the Tasca d’Almerita, the Planeta, the Cataldi Madonna. Also, of the Corsini, the Ruspoli, the Boncompagni Ludovisi, the Pallavicini.
In short, a charter that will include labels that are for the most part legendary, which truly represent spearheads of Italian vitienology, alongside wines that are more accessible in price but no less representative.
The aristocracy of the chalice
The list is almost ready and I am not aware of any similar ones in the international restaurant and hotel industry. I thought it was an original idea, perfectly in keeping with the style and history of this beautiful Roman hotel and its restaurant.
In the opening image, a detail of “Le Déjeuner d’huîtres” by Jean-François de Troy, 1734.
