Pascal Tinari, sommelier and maître of Villa Maiella, a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant, was recognized as Italy's Best Sommelier in 2020 and included among the under-35 winners in the Best Maître and Sommelier category by Food&Wine in 2022 for his passion and expertise in the field of wine.
Pascal Tinari is the maître and sommelier of “Villa Maiella,” a family-run restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Star in Guardiagrele, Chieti. Born in 1989 in Abruzzo, Pascal explains, “I entered the world of wine through the world of beers, and my passion for wine comes from the awareness of all the work behind it.”
From the sacrifice of the producer to the importance of factors such as time, territory, and the vineyard, which are fundamental to the product's yield, the sommelier makes the territory the key point of his philosophy.
He was introduced to the wine scene by a great sommelier and friend, Manuele Menghini, who, during a tasting, meticulously noted the details of the tastings with a glass in hand. This practice particularly fascinated the young Tinari and pushed him to take an increasing interest in the world of sommellerie.
“It simply means being ambassadors of a product,” he explains. “Whatever it is, from wine to spirits, we have a very important role: we are the guarantors for our guests at the table, they trust us, and consequently, we must accompany them on a journey that, through the glass, can also take them to the other side of the world.”
In 2020, he was awarded the title of Italy's Best Sommelier by the Espresso guide, and in 2022, he was also included among the under-35 winners in the category of Best Maître and Sommelier by Food&Wine.
