Meet The Team: Alobar Downtown’s Star Sommelier
World-class wines are at the heart of Alobar Downtown and the unique collection is the centrepiece of the chic bar lounge. The Financial District eatery was recently awarded the coveted Wine Spectator’s 2024 Award of Excellence and Andrea Calini is the Head Sommelier who puts his knowledge and passion into every pour. To celebrate this incredible accolade, we caught up with Andrea to learn more about the innovative wine program at Alobar Downtown.
Questions: Can you outline Alobar Downtown’s Wine Program?
Answer: The ABD wine program is built with classics and less known labels. My priority is to deliver our guests something unique and fun that cannot be found elsewhere. I relay the story and the style behind the wine guests select for their evening.
Q: How did you become interested in wine?
A: I became interested in wine when I was 18 while working in a kitchen in Italy. A teacher and mentor in High School saw the passion in me, and when I turned 21, I studied to become a Certified Sommelier. I switched careers focusing on the wine world and interacting with guests by being a floor sommelier. Of course, I never lost interest in the kitchen world.
Q: How do you select the wines for Alobar?
A: I select wines based on seasonality and menu changes. It’s my responsibility to adapt the wine program to Chef Patrick’s dishes.
Q: Can you provide some practical tips for people looking to grow their palate and ‘get into’ wine?
A: I always recommend trying everything! Your palate evolves every time you feel and taste something new! I will always suggest starting with grapes that you are more familiar with and then moving into more unknown territory.
Q: Are there tips you can share about the proper way to drink wine or pairing basics?
A: How to pair wine? Learn the basics first, and then with the experience, you can play in different ways! I always find it fun to go outside the box, always with logic behind every sip.