About
Originally from Sicily, now in the Norwegian fjords
Love brought me to Norway…
I moved to Norway in January 2011, to pursuit my love story with the woman which today is my wife, Vigdis.
Since the move I worked in the hospitality industry, since I grew up in a family connected with this world, and in 2014 I took my sommelier pin at NSU.
In 2016 I started compete in booth national and international competition for sommelier, and today I can count 2 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold in the competition Best Sommelier of Norway, the title Best Sommelier of the Nordics won in 2018 and a bronze in the Ruinart Nordic Challenge 2018. My last achievement was the title of 16. Best Sommelier of the World in 2023.
In 2018 I started also my path to the Master Sommelier title, obtaining my Introductory and Certified pin in February 2018 and my Advanced sommelier pin in November 2019. Today I will attend my second attempt in August 2023 to achive the Master Sommelier Diploma, after passing the practical part in October 2022.
My interest in wine started at the age of 17, when I tasted my first “eureka” wine. I still remember the setting, out eating dinner with my father, and the wine will always be with me as a milestone for my interest which grew into my career.
Beside wine I am a family man, enjoying time with my wife and with our daughter Anna and our cats Cesar and Diana. And I am as well a big football enthusiast, with AC Milan as favorite team, and a history lover, with the Roman Empire time as a favorite topic.
Work
Daily job
Wine Director at Ambassaden, Oslo, Norway
Norway’s best Wine List 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021
Scandinavia’s best Wine List 2019
Wine List of the Year 2020 - World of Fine Wine
Best Long Wine List of the World 2020 - World of Fine Wine
Champion’s League Best By The Glass Wine List of the World - World of Fine Wine
3 *** World of Fine Wine
2 Glass Wine Spectator
Previous work and projects
Wine Director at Park Hotel Vossevangen in Voss
Wine Director at Colonialen Restaurant in Bergen
Master blender Edel Sider
Master blender Merand Kaffe AS
Wine Judge “Wine Pinnacle Award 2019” - Singapore
Judge for “Årets Sider 2020” - Oslo
Accomplishments
16. Best Sommelier of the World 2023
Best sommelier of Norway 2020
Best sommelier of the Nordics 2018
Advanced Sommelier - Court of Master Sommelier