Interview With A Sommelier – Veronica Guiducci

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 woman from Italy, who has helped many people discover the vast world of Wines and Sparkling Wines, her name is Veronica Guiducci, let’s find out a bit about her life as a Sommelier.

Tell Us About Yourself

“My name is Veronica Guiducci, I’m 23 years old and I’m originally from Riccione, a small city in Emilia-Romagna and I am currently a sommelier at the Ornellaia Winery in Bolgheri, Tuscany.

I started my journey to become a sommelier at the age of 19, completing the 3 necessary levels of the Italian Sommelier Association, after which in 2022 I decided to start the master’s degree in communication, management and marketing of wine at ALMA, the international cooking school in Parma.”

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

“One of the first times I consciously tasted a sparkling wine was at the beginning of my journey to become a sommelier. It was a bubble that I still consider to be a great wine, Nicola Gatta, a small producer in the Franciacorta area who decided to leave the production consortium. A visionary who stands out from the crowd, just the way I like them.”

What Inspired You To Become a Sommelier?

“The thing that most pushed me to become a sommelier is the unconditional love I feel for my land and the countryside. I love everything that comes from the earth and wine is a special gift that comes from one of the most resilient and incredible plants that exist and there is nothing better than appreciating a good wine and telling it to other enthusiastic people with a great desire to learn.”

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

“The thing that surprised me most and still continues to surprise me is the variability of the wine world. How a single variety can have hundreds of different expressions depending on where it is grown or the soil in which it is planted, or how it can change based on winemaking and aging techniques. it’s something that still fascinates me so much and stimulates me to want to discover more and more about this infinite world.”

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

“Well, the vocation for sparkling wines of some historical areas such as Champagne, Franciacorta and Trento DOC is certainly undeniable, but I must say that Marche, a small region exactly under Emilia-Romagna famous mainly for the production of ‘Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi’, will always remain in my heart. it is precisely this native variety that some producers are experimenting with the production of sparkling wines from Verdicchio.”

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

“I don’t have a specific physical place where I have enjoyed a glass of bubbles. The best moments, however, are certainly those in which I shared a sparkling wine that I love with people I care about, my family or my partner and enologist Matteo, with whom I share and carry forward passion and projects in this beautiful sector.”

Thank you, Veronica, 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 Veronica Guiducci. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission, to use them.