Interview With A Sommelier – Andrea Alvich

The World of Wine is beautifully showcased by an army of talented Sommeliers, who help the consumer discover their next favourite bottle, understand the different regions and pair a delicious meal with the right Glass of Bubbly.

In this feature, I speak with a man who has helped many people to discover the vast world of Wines and Sparkling Wines, his name is Andrea Alvich, let’s find out a bit about his life as a Sommelier.

Tell Us About Yourself

“Greetings to all readers of Glass of Bubbly, I’m Andrea Alvich, I was born in Palermo, Sicily 34 years ago. I am an AIS Sommelier, first for passion and then for work.

I’ve had two lives, the first was in the arts. Where for many years I have been a stage actor. It may seem strange, but I can assure you that wine and art have many points in common, or perhaps I would dare to say: that there is a lot of wine in the theater and there is a lot of theater in wine!

It was an escalation, over time I got closer and closer to the food and wine world, until I became a Sommelier, Master Cheese Taster and Beer Taster.

My desire to learn and know often leads me to expand my interests. This is exactly why I’m working to become a Bartender, a Taster Technician of cured meats, qualify with WSET courses and take part in a Master in Food & Wine Management in the coming months!”

Do You Remember Your First Experience With Sparkling Wine? When It Was And What Kind Of Wine It Was?

“My memories are linked to my childhood, when as a child at my paternal grandmother’s house, New Year’s Eve was celebrated by toasting with a bottle of Champagne or well-known brands of Italian sparkling wines.

I have three well-impressed maisons, which have begun to make me fall in love with the magic of bubbles: Mumm, Moët & Chandon and Ferrari. I don’t remember, however, which was the first ever among the three!

Probably also fascinated by the famous scene in Casablanca, in which Humphrey Bogart offers Cordon Rouge to the wonderful Ingrid Bergman, we have concluded our evenings with this Champagne several times.

Let’s start from the assumption that I love wine in its entirety, but I have a real passion for sparkling wines, which over the years has led me to collect and drink some of the most sought-after and prestigious labels and vintages.”

What Inspired You To Become a Sommelier?

“This is a somewhat particular story, as previously mentioned, I have always had this pleasure within me in drinking well, I want to say that my pleasure stands with the quality and not in the quantity. I would take this opportunity to say to all the young ones and not, that alcohol is not a game and should be drunk in moderation! Drink for the pleasure of discovering new stories, new flavours, and new emotions!

Returning to us, the discovery of different craft beers and therefore the diversification of taste and smell, made a question arise spontaneously: but if all this is possible with beer, what can happen with wine?!

From there my love story with the nectar of the gods started!”

During Your Time As A Sommelier, What’s The Most Surprising & Interesting Thing You’ve Learnt?

“I must say that in this world surprises luckily never end! The beauty of the vineyards by the sea is surprising, the spectacle of the volcanic vineyards, the heroic viticulture that here in Italy is incredible, made up of men who still today, as in the past, carry their crates of grapes on their shoulders!

I must say that speaking of the finished product, probably the most surprising thing is the food-wine pairings, which I would have never even imagined before! And believe me, in Sicily with the numerous varieties, you will find many of these surprises.”

What Sparkling Wine Producing Countries or Regions Hold A Special Place In Your Heart?

“There is a place that first fascinated me and then conquered me, I’m talking about Franciacorta. The discipline is the strictest in the world, even more than that of Champagne, this makes us understand the qualitative level of the Franciacorta products.

We are talking about a wonderful place around Lake Iseo, a unique and fantastic place. I went there a few years ago, I was a guest of one of the most historic wineries in that area, a fantastic experience.

Consider that, I almost missed the plane. I would never have left!”

Where’s The Most Memorable Place You’ve Enjoyed A Glass of Bubbly?

“The most memorable places are where you breathe the history of the sparkling wines themselves. Where passion and human history come together, giving life to these fantastic products that today we are lucky to be able to drink in their best expression.

This is the romanticism of the classic method or as the French say the méthode champenoise: nature, man and the passage of time.

Three elements in symbiosis, which I encountered in Trento, in the historic Ferrari cellars born in 1902, where history and majesty make everything incomparable.

You will visit an underground city with millions of inhabitants, ready to take off to reach enthusiasts from all over the world.

A dive into the past that place, which suddenly transforms into a futuristic immersion when in front of it there are endless stacks of bubbles, which rest in this magical place.

Once the tour was over, I was lucky enough to have a tasting of 3 products, the best of the company. Including a Giulio Ferrari 2007, one of the best bubbles in the world. I believe that such a context, with the beauty of the Dolomites as a backdrop, is priceless!”

Thank you, Andrea, for sharing your words, knowledge and experiences with us and we at Glass of Bubbly wish you the very best for the future!

Images belong to Andrea Alvich. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission, to use them.