- Details
- Written by Secret Sommelier Secret Sommelier
- Published: 12 May 2019 12 May 2019
Matteo Montone is theHead Sommelier and the Wine Director at London Edition Hotel. In this interview with Secret Sommelier he touches on what is new and exciting in wine tasting, what regions are exciting him, what taste characteristics customers are seeking out, and which English by-the-glass-bubbly he has just added to his list.
Secret Sommelier: Can you talk a bit about the range of wines at The London EDITION Hotel and any particular regions that you stock more of than others?
Matteo Montone: Bordeaux and Burgundy are definitely most represented on the list and this is reflected in what people are buying. They are classic wines and very familiar to our clientele. But our wine list is VERY diverse – we have wines from Brazil, India, Israel, that we’re always keen for guests to experiment with!
Nick Breeze: Can you identify a more traditional region that particularly excites you and say why?
Matteo Montone: Barolo is by far my favourite wine region – to visit, and to drink wines from! The wines are unique and the area of Langhe is stunning. The gastronomy in the region is incomparable and the wines definitely reflect this... when I drink the wine, I am transported back immediately and would encourage everyone to go there. I myself visit the region at least once a year, for the last 10 years.
Secret Sommelier: Can you give a particular example of a more traditional wine on your list and tell us what excites you about it?
Matteo Montone: Trimbach Reisling, Frederic Emile – the precision, depth and the complexity of the wine is rarely found in other Reislings. But from this producer, that consistency is always there, even with the vintage variations.
Secret Sommelier: When customers are asking for wines, what is the proportion of those asking for wines from emerging regions, compared to traditional regions, and is there a factor that influences customer choices?
Matteo Montone: We are a modern British restaurant and classic wines will always match very well to this kind of fare. However, recently, we have noticed that guests are willing to experiment with the unusual - under the guidance of our strong sommelier team, and we’re always happy to help.
Secret Sommelier: Can you identify one or two emerging regions that particularly interest you and identify an example of a wine that you recommend to customers from these regions?
Matteo Montone: Definitely English sparkling wines!
Secret Sommelier: There is a rise in vegetarianism and veganism. How do you approach this from a food and wine pairing perspective?
Matteo Montone: It’s never been difficult to match wine with vegetarian dishes. But now vegetarian food is so much more interesting than it used to be, with bold flavours and personality, so it’s a pleasure to pair wines that work well with these – you can get a bit more creative with the pairings. For example, with natural wines, you can add an extra layer of flavour.
Secret Sommelier: Can you give a particularly good example of a vegan dish that pairs well with Cabernet Sauvignon, or a full-bodied Shiraz, for example?
Matteo Montone: Definitely a gnocchi, as it’s so weighty – to pair with a full-bodied Shiraz, maybe with aubergine and black olives, to compliment the flavours of the wine.
Secret Sommelier: What winemaking techniques are you aware of currently that you find really interesting and say why?
Matteo Montone: There are a handful of orange wine producers that I really like, and I find the whole process interesting – when it works well, the results are stunning.
Secret Sommelier: Is there a particular taste characteristic that you see customers are excited by?
Matteo Montone: Guests have recently starting enquiring about the minerality and ‘earthiness’ of the wines on the list.
Secret Sommelier: And finally, what do you see as the biggest trend that is emerging now and that you have to respond to as a sommelier?
Matteo Montone: As I mentioned before, there is much curiosity and interest around English sparkling wines – which is one of the reasons I added Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2013 by the glass to our list.
[End]
Interview conducted by Nick Breeze for Secret Sommelier
Matteo Montone was crowned Young Sommelier Of The Year 2019 (GB) by the Chaine Des Rotisseurs.
Follow us on social media:
Climate change podcast
Discord in Odesa; pruning at Shabo goes on!
Last week a picture was posted on Twitter of vines in Shabo, a large estate that lies to the west of Odesa on southern Ukraine’s Black Sea coastline. The image seemed benign at face value but the reality, of course, is that the city of Odesa has been bracing itself for attack by Russian forces.
An aperitif by the coliseum
As COVID-19 conspires with the grimmest of winds and rain to force a societal retreat behind our own front doors, the word ennui springs to mind. The muddle of displeasure is pierced when Natalia hands me a large bulbous glass of a liquid I do not recognise.
Artichoke pasta and very fine Pigato
Britain’s lamentable exit
On the eve of Britain’s official departure from the EU, my partner and I decided to explore a small town on the Italian Riviera where thewintry cold doesn’t feel so much like cold war bite.
I had warned my significant other that I would be having an inverse departure party, a release of the sanity valve if you like!
Soave: volcanic wines with elegance and longevity
Sitting inside the ancient castle walls inside the town of Soave, a short drive from Verona in northern Italy, the unique slightly almond aroma of the indigenous grape, Garganega, rises gently from my glass. The castle sprawls up the side of an extinct volcano that gives the region its variant soil structures that mark out the better quality of Soave wines.
An American In Paris; Tanisha Townsend (@GirlMeetsGlass) discusses podcasts, Paris wine bars, & what she's drinking at the moment
Tanisha Townsend decided to move to Paris 4 years ago after regularly passing through the city en route to the world’s most famous vineyards. In fact, it was about 2 years ago at the Printemps de Champagne Bouzy Rouge tasting in Reims that I saw (who we shall now refer to as) GirlMeetsGlass chirpily speaking to her web followers on Snapchat.
Wine tasting in Galicia: The pilgrims search for Albarino
The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James, rises out of the landscape, infested with antiquity. The rambling steep streets give way to shafts of dramatic light, emblazoned chapels, and tightly packed tapas bars, dusty, as old novels pressed together in antiquarian bookshops.
