Getting to know Andrea Martinisi

Andrea Martinisi is our candidate for New Zealand. Andrea, originally from Italy, is currently Beverage Director at The Grove and Baduzzi Restaurants in Auckland. 

Prior to this Andrea was Head Sommelier at Hotel Terravina owned by the legendary Gerard Bassett MW, MS in New Forest, Southampton, UK.  Before this he was a sommelier at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Restaurant in Bray and was part of the team that moved to Melbourne in 2015 to open the Fat Duck while it was renovated in UK. He then returned to the UK in September 2015 for the re-opening of the Fat Duck.

Andrea holds the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced certification (2016) and WSET Wine & Spirit Educational Trust Level 3 (2016). 

View this interview with Andrea in Antwerp: Andrea Martinisi

ASI Competition Preparation

Andrea has been very busy over the last few months studying and training for the competition. He was fortunate to compete at the Kyoto Asia Oceania Competition which helped get into the ASI thinking. Over the past weeks we have been able to do some practical sessions at the New Zealand School of Food and Wine.

Andrea pours a magnum of Nautilus Method Traditional into 15 glasses in 6 minutes.

Andrea Martinisi is ready for the beverage blind tasting enjoyed in those black Riedel - The Wine Glass Company glasses thanks to Negociants New Zealand. Five mystery beverages.

ASI Certificate Exam Practical

Final practice for Andrea was in conjunction with sitting the ASI - Association de la Sommellerie Internationale certificate exam.

This included a written paper taking 90 minutes + Essay question 45 Minutes + written blind tasting of two wines 20 minutes + 5 beverages blind 10 minutes + decanting 6 minutes + food and wine match 7 minutes + beverages sales 4 minutes.

Decanting and blind tasting with Franck Laruelle, Celia Hay and Jeremy Ellis.

Food and Wine Pairing.