Every Friday TheChampagneSommelier will ask 5 questions about 5 coeur de bouteilles to friends and Champagne lovers from near and far. This week we had a bubbly chat with sommelier & restaurant manager of ★★★ star Piazza Duomo in Alba – Vincenzo Donatiello.
BIO
Vincenzo Donatiello: of the Lucanian region, sommelier, born in 1985, is Restaurant Manager at Piazza Duomo in Alba, three-Michelin starred, the realm of the chef Enrico Crippa.
He was ‘Best Junior Sommelier’ of Italy in 2004 and ‘Best Sommelier of Romagna’ in 2010, ‘Sommelier of the Year’ 2013 for Italia a Tavola Magazine, ‘Best Restaurant Director’ 2016 for Touring Club Restaurant Guide and ‘Maitre of the Year’ 2018 for L’Espresso Italian Restaurant Guide. In 2020 he has been awarded with the Hospitality Award – ‘Le Soste’ and for ‘The Best By-The-Glass wine list’ with Coravin in Europe by The World of Fine Wine.
He’s a judge at the Vinitaly-Five Stars Wine and at Decanter World Wine Awards. He’s also author of the book, self-published, Smile – A Modern Dictionary for Waiters.
Which Champagne would You treat your parents or in-laws?
‘I would treat my parents with something special and rare to thank them for all they have done for my growth. Hence, the thoughts turn to a superb magnum of Blanc de Blancs 2008 Salon.’
Which Champagne would You treat your lover?
‘She’s sommelier and Champagne & Wine lover too. I would treat her with Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2002 Pol Roger. I’m sure that she never had that bootle, so I would like to let her try one of the best bottle I had in my life.’
Which Champagne would You treat your boss?
‘Enrico Crippa, chef and co-owner of Piazza Duomo, the restaurant where I work, is a huge Pinot Noir lover. So, my idea is to treat him with Champagne 1er Cru Brut Nature Expression 2014 of my friend Fréderic Savart.’
Which Champagne would You treat yourself?
‘A difficult choice, I have never actually counted my tastings but I think I have tasted about 5,000 different champagnes in my life, I have transversal tastes. But if I think of a bottle that can be also a cuddle for me, I say Clos du Mesnil 1990 Krug.’
Which Champagne would You treat a dream guest, and why?
‘My dream guest is th Pope Francis: I don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic but of Pope Francis I am attracted by modern thought and attention to humanity. I’d like to treat him with a magnum of Dom Perignon 1985: I had one for my 30th Birthday and I think it’s a good proof that God exists!!!‘
What piece of music would you listen to drinking wine in question 5 ?
‘Soundtrack? Obviously Hallelujah of Leonard Cohen!’
Read more in the series ‘5 bottles & 5 questions’
