Glass of Bubbly Interview With Fernando Cubas: The Beverage Manager at InterContinental London Park Lane

The World of Wine is presented to the hospitality world by talented Beverage Managers, whose mission is to help the consumer discover their next favourite glass of bubbly by choosing from a perfectly crafted wine list.

In this feature, I speak with a man from London, England, who has helped many people to discover the vast world of Wines and Sparkling Wines, his name is Fernando Cubas, let’s find out a bit about his life as a Beverage Manager.

It’s Great To Meet You, Fernando Cubas, Could You Tell Us About Yourself?

Sure, after finishing a degree in hospitality, I initially built a career in a hotel multinational that took me to a few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean; my last role in South America was as Maître d’ and deputy F&B Director for a restaurant project at the Le Cordon Bleu Lima.

Only when I moved to the UK for a postgraduate course, I got into wine by chance. I had a speedy start on the subject, and I moved from WSET level 1 to level 4 Diploma in about four years; in 2013, I competed for the ‘Best ASI Sommelier of the World’, and I spent the last decade doing some wine research trips around the globe.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I got into wine investments, specialising in Italian wines; I also had the opportunity to read more about the spirit market. This year, I finished the prestigious Italian Wine Scholar certification (IWS)

As The Beverage Manager at InterContinental London Park Lane, What Do Your Day-to-Day Operations Entail?

Those who work in hospitality know every day is different, especially in a hotel where, in addition to interacting with our hotel F&B service facilities, I deal with other tasks related to our hotel residents, such as amenities and minibars. I don’t have a routine; however, I do a few things regularly, such as dealing with suppliers, preparing reports, training, working on some activations, revising stock, etc. I am also the head of wine for the hotel, which is part of the job that excites me the most; I enjoy all processes of the wine trade, from sourcing the products and logistics to introducing them to our clients.

For Anyone Looking To Explore The Incredible World Of Sparkling Wines At InterContinental London Park Lane, What Can They Look Forward To Discovering?

We have a great selection of non-vintage Champagne and prestige cuvées from some of the most distinguished houses. We also promote and organise wine dinners and other activities with local and international sparkling producers. During December, for example, in our Arch Bar and Wellington Lounge, we have partnered with Champagne Lanson and Exmoor Caviar to offer a delightful pairing of the Lanson ‘Le Black Reserve’ and some of our chef creations with Exmoor caviar. Prosecco ‘Della Vite’ will join us for many events, such as a wine pairing dinner session, a signature menu in our Theo Randall restaurant, and a curated cocktail offering across our outlets.

Also, in our specialty Italian restaurant, in addition to our Franciacorta and Prosecco selection, we have introduced the Lambrusco series to our main listing.

Lambrusco has a long winemaking history, and Emelia-Romagna and Lombardia producers are keen on showcasing the different styles of this fascinating and versatile red-sparkling wine.

When It Comes To Sourcing The Drinks For Intercontinental London Park Lane, Are Things Like Being Local And Sustainable Important To You?

The definition of sustainability is evolving, to say the least; I am pragmatic in this regard. I define it as being careful when using our resources so they can continue without running out.

Sourcing our beverage products from local companies when possible and companies with responsible and sustainable practices are significant to me. For example, most of our wine listings are from organic/biodynamic producers or wine from low-intervention sustainable certifications. We have also implemented an in-house water bottling plant, a myriad of wine preservation system and a bar minimum wastage code of practice to reduce our carbon footprint.

InterContinental London Park Lane, as part of the IHG Hotels and Resorts group, has set up a clear agenda aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is a 10-year plan that we call the ‘Journey to Tomorrow’ that focuses on people, their communities, and the conservation of our planet; I am excited to be part of this project.

Thank you For Taking The Time To Speak With Us At Glass of Bubbly, To Finish The Interview. Could You Tell Us About The Most Memorable Experience You’ve Enjoyed With A Glass of Bubbly?

I have had lots of memorable experiences drinking bubbles. I treasure them as the people, friends and family with whom I share those memories; it will be unfair to pick and choose one of them, but I can tell you it is always exciting travelling and visiting all these wine regions that produce sparkling wines.

Thank you, Fernando, 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 Fernando Cubas. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission, to use them.