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Aristocratic wines

I vini Aristocratici, 1734 Le Dejeuner d'Huitres di Jean Francois de Troy

From the great dynasties of Italian wine to the names that have shaped the history of Italian winemaking. The wine list curated by Daniele Cernilli for the Café Romano restaurant at the Hotel d’Inghilterra transforms the concept of aristocratic hospitality into a journey through distinguished wines, 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

Le Déjeuner d'huîtres by Jean-François de Troy, 1734
“Le Déjeuner d’huîtres” by Jean-François de Troy, 1734 (a detail shown in the opening image)

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 “Aristocratico” wine list is ready, and to my knowledge, there are no others like it in the international restaurant and hotel industry. It struck me as an original idea, perfectly in tune with the style and history of this splendid Roman hotel and its prestigious restaurant.

The new wine list will be presented this afternoon, September 24, at the Hotel d'Inghilterra in Rome. with an invitation-only tasting of some of the prestigious wines selected, attended by the aristocratic winemakers.

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