Meet Danielo. Sommelier par excellence. An expert on Italian and French wine, he patrolled his kingdom — the restaurant — with a sense of urgency, and his passion for his craft was quickly apparent. That is the true mark of a good sommelier. The ability to interact with the guests to find their unique tastes for the fruit of the grape. Why is it that those that are passionate about their work always shine through? Brilliance and passion can be a unique combination.
Danielo took me for a private tour of the wine cellar at the St. Regis Hotel in Florence, Italy, one of the finest hotels in the world — but more on that later in the week. The private tasting room that we toured had played host to some of the biggest celebrities from Hollywood. He dropped names with the nonchalant air of familiarity, as if it was part of the territory. He clearly was the master of his domain. The wines sat silently in their shelves, waiting to be the life of the party.
He spoke with a flair of knowledge that was genuine, and his selection of a fine Meritge for my palate was right on the money. He poured the wine for me to taste, with the dexterity of an artist. I was equally amused and impressed. Note to self: take my wine more seriously, and time to read up on the “good stuff.”
I am still sipping the last of the wine as I write. If my words don’t make sense today, blame it on the vino. Salute!
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