Submission Deadline
22 Feb, 2024
Judging
Date
18-19 March 2024
Winners Announcement
10 April 2024
4 March 2024
points
points
points
Adriana Valentini is Head of Beverage at Oxford and Cambridge Club in London, UK. Raised in Milan, Italy, she worked for Milan’s top restaurants, the two Michelin starred ‘Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia’ alongside chefs Fabio Pisani and Alessandro Negrini. Her passion and ambition to become one of the top female sommeliers has led her to travel the world gathering experience, from pressing grapes in the Chateau Pommard vineyard, France, to the science of the ‘New World’ wines in Australia and New Zealand.
She has pursued a career in wine because honestly ‘When you have a fond memory of a specific occasion it normally involves a glass of wine and this is what drives me - happy memories’!
As one of London’s leading female sommeliers, her role at Balthazar brings her back to ‘the floor’ where she is working closely with Executive Chef, Robert Redi, sharing her knowledge of food and wine and spirits pairing. She had previously worked for the luxury Corinthia Hotel London as Head Sommelier and Deputy Restaurant Manager and for the most famous Women Club ‘ Grace’ nested in Belgravia as Executive Food and Beverage Manager.
Her professional qualifications do include; the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award in Wines, the ONAF Certificate for Cheese Tasting, and a professional qualification awarded by the Italian Sommelier Association (A.I.S). Her future plan whilst in London is to achieve her lifetime goal of completing her Master Sommelier certification.
She is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, and German. In her spare time, she does embrace the culture of London and attend top exhibitions and shows. She also enjoy masterclasses to ensure that she is continually expanding her knowledge for wine and spirits.