MELANIA BATTISTON
21st of October 2021
A rising star in the UK sommellerie world !
Melania is the Head Sommelier and wine buyer at “The Medlar Restaurant” in Chelsea – UK. She arrived in the UK from Piemont to study Business & Marketing but, thankfully, ended up starting a career as a Sommelier at the great London bar 28-50 under the management of French Master Sommelier Clement Robert. She is today an advanced Somm' from the CMS.
Performing incredibly at The Medlar for more than 4 years, Melania was elected last year by the iconic drinks Magazine Imbibe the “Personality of the year”! The same year, she also won the Gerard Basset Trophy, rewarding the best young sommelier at the blind tasting competition.
Watch out guys! Someone is just starting her trophy collection..!
Name : Melania Battiston
Nationality : Italian
Birth year : 1996
What region would you pick for a bottle of your vintage ? Piedmont
What's for your favorite grape varietal ? and why ? Nebbiolo, the perfumes, the lifting sensations, the harmony and the complexity this grape can deliver is unique and inimitable.
Any varietal you don’t get along well ?
Carmenere, I tend to dislike the overly pyrazine character it shows.
What do you drink when you don't have a glass of wine in your hand ? I love green tea such as Kukicha or matcha or a flat white from one of my favourites coffee shops.
Let's say you are alone, at home, what's your favorite casual food and wine pairing for dinner? I would do my favourite Jerusalem Artichoke, mushroom and truffle soup with a generous, round, rich, slightly aged Chardonnay.
What is your favorite wine region, not to drink, but to visit ? I love visiting Champagne, my dream is Alsace and also Burgundy. Although Piedmont is always splendid.
If you had to save one bottle from your cellar being on fire, which one would it be? Chablis 1er Cru Sechet Dauvissat Camus 2010
Do you/Did you have a role model/a mentor in the wine/sommelier world? If so, who ? Yes, still is, Clement Robert MS. He believed in me since day 1.
Best advice you ever received? The only things you can control are your voluntary actions.
Imagine you have been cursed !! You are only able to drink 1 red wine and 1 white wine until your life ends. What would it be? It would definitely be Hermitage Blanc Chave 2012 for white and for red I would pick Barolo Colonnello, Aldo Conterno 2010. Happy to be cursed in this case.
What is your next step/objective in the wine/sommelier world? I would like to become the first Italian female MS and UK Sommelier of the Year 2022.
Champagne, Cava or Franciacorta? Champagne, always.
In London, what is your favorite place to shop for a nice bottle of Champagne or any other wine? I adore Sip Champagne, also Noble Rot when I want to find great deals
