Prato-born Fabrizio Ialini first approached wine as a hobby, but his passion turned into a job once he became an accredited sommelier in 2001. Since then, he’s worked on cruise boats, in Michelin-starred restaurants and at leading wine events. Lately, he’s been collaborating with the Tuscan brand Mi Garba, which has recently set up a store in New York’s East Village neighbourhood.
The Florentine: For Mi Garba, you’ve selected some very exclusive, small wine producers…
Fabrizio Ialini: When I first met Andrea Tempestini [the owner of Mi Garba] we talked about the spirit of the company, the desire to bring ‘authentic Tuscany’ to an American audience. So, I started suggesting small, high-quality winemakers that, to me, represent true ‘Tuscanness,’ those kinds of companies passed down from father to son that are about more than just cultivating the earth—they’re about the culture of good wine.
TF: You’ve started out with just two producers, and will be introducing more soon. Representing Chianti, you’ve chosen Terre di San Gorgone: what’s this producer’s hallmark?
FI: Terre di San Gorgone is a true family-run Tuscan producer that makes wine the way our grandparents did. It’s artisanal, without the use of much technology… When it’s harvest time, the whole family pitches in to pick all the grapes by hand; it’s one big party. These are wines that are born on the vine, that are completed in a natural way, with minimal intervention in the cellar.
TF: Another producer you’ve chosen is Casa di Terra from Bolgheri—is that area well known in America?
FI: No, Bolgheri and its wines are not well known in the US, despite the fact that this area has recently seen major investments in the construction of multi-million euro wineries. This is where Sassicaia is made, one of Italy’s finest and most famous wines. For Mi Garba, I’ve chosen Casa di Terra, which borders Sassicaia territory, so of course they produce excellent wines! They make a range, from white to rosé to full-bodied reds, which is useful when creating a wine list that pairs with a menu. Fine Tuscan wines for fine Tuscan food.
TF: One tip for summertime drinking of Tuscan wine.
FI: Tuscan wine is not necessarily bold red wine. At Mi Garba we have a selection of whites and rosés that are very refreshing yet elegant, perfect for the summer months. I’d like to leave you with a saying: ‘If you want to make a friend happy, offer him something to drink; but if you want to make him happy for his whole life, teach him how to drink.’ The stories behind the wine and the people who make them, the many subtle tastes in these Tuscan wines, this is part of an all-important wine education that we at Mi Garba feel strongly about.
