Piero Antinori is Gault&Millau Ambassador

The Marchese was honoured by Martina and Karl Hohenlohe at a festive gala in the Cantinetta Antinori in Vienna.
 

Vienna, Sept. 19th 2024: With over 2600 hectares of vineyards, Antinori is not only the largest private wine-growing company in Italy, but can also look back on over 600 years of history. It is documented that Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the guild of Vinattieri, the wine tasters, in Florence in 1385. Since then, the Antinori family, now run by the 26th generation, has characterised the wine world. In Austria, there is hardly a well-stocked wine list that does not include wines from Marchesi Antinori. Piero Antinori's personal influence is still decisive today.

Over 50 years ago, when the two vineyards Tignanello and Solaia were only known regionally, Piero Antinori revolutionised the Italian wine world. For his reinterpretation of Chianti in 1971, Antinori used only Sangiovese and dispensed with the original Chianti cuvée, in which white grape varieties were prescribed. A veritable sacrilege in Italy's traditional winegrowing culture. As a result, the now legendary Tignanello had to be marketed as a simple table wine. He later added Cabernet Sauvignon and some Cabernet Franc and matured the wine in French barriques. This marked the birth of the so-called Super Tuscans and led to an economic miracle for Italian wineries. This was followed by Solaia, which consisted mainly of international varieties, with Sangiovese playing only a minor role. Both wines became global successes, and the mere sound of ‘Tignanello’ and ‘Solaia’ sends shivers down the spine of wine lovers.

Culinary Export
 

However, the Antinori family not only brought high-quality wines to Austria, but also a passion for good food - epitomised by the Cantinetta Antinori in Vienna's city centre. For almost three decades, Italian cuisine has been celebrated here at the highest level, today decorated with two Gault&Millau toques. The Antinori family was also behind the celebrated Procacci, which brought the Italian way of life to the capital for many years.

The collaboration between the Antinori and Morandell families is a fine example of long-term fruitful cooperation. Just last year, the Tyrolean wine merchant celebrated the 60th anniversary of its partnership with Italy's most famous wine family. Peter Morandell was present in person and recalled the beginning of the collaboration with Antinori. His father bought a 300-litre barrel of Chianti Villa Antinori over 60 years ago. It was bottled in Austria, as the duty on bottles was very high. Sales were rather slow at first, until Meinl legend Helmut Touzimsky ordered 60 bottles. ‘That's how this wine became known in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and that was the beginning of a success story,’ Peter Morandell recounted.

Martina and Karl Hohenlohe were deeply impressed during the award ceremony and the achievements of Marchese Piero Antinori as Ambassador: ‘It is incredible how much Piero Antinori has achieved in his long career. We are grateful that Austria has always been at the centre of the Antinori family head's attention. With the Cantinetta, he brought Italian cuisine to Vienna, which then as now is far too rare due to its authenticity.’

 

Peter Morandell, Agnes Schaumann and Piero Antinori
© Barbara Ster

 

Great appreciation
 

Piero Antinori expressed his gratitude at the award ceremony on 18 September at the Cantinetta Antinori in Vienna: ‘I am delighted and honoured to be awarded such an honourable title. It makes me happy for several reasons: First, Gault&Millau is the world's most renowned and respected publication for food and wine. Second, the city of Vienna is particularly close to my heart. I really appreciate its tradition, history, art and people. The award also coincides with a special anniversary - 50 years ago we launched the first Tignanello on the market. That was the beginning of a new wine era in Italy and a milestone for our company.’

Daughter and successor Allegra Antinori paid tribute to her father: ‘The award is well deserved after such a long career spanning 60 years. Thank you to dad for the fantastic years and for everything you have left us - me, my sisters and your grandchildren. You have shown us how to be successful in the long term if you respect the country and the people.’

Johannes Kattus presented Piero Antinori a magnum of Laurent-Perrier champagne, which he distributes in Austria, and was extremely appreciative of Antinori: ‘As a fifth-generation winemaker, I have the greatest respect for a family in which the 27th generation is already working. Working for such a legacy has great value. Antinori is an international icon, and this success story is a great motivation for me personally.’

 

Gottfried Helnwein and Karl Hohenlohe
© Barbara Ster

 

Austrian hospitality 

When the Cantinetta opened in Vienna, Austrian gastronomy was still searching for its identity. Today, it has long since reached top international standards, complemented by the warm hospitality that also delights international guests.

"Austria's cuisine has the potential to cause even more of a stir internationally. That is why we at the Austrian National Tourist Office are focusing our new culinary positioning on emphasising those aspects that distinguish Austria from other countries: our originality and our topography. A partnership with the Gault&Millau Ambassador is an essential key for us to communicate the relevance of cuisine as a core element in promoting Austria as a tourist destination to leading opinion makers," says Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, Managing Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office.

Long-standing partnerships
The high-quality glass culture of Josephinenhütte emphasised the dignified setting of the gala. Glass designer Kurt Josef Zalto was present in person and was delighted with how well the Antinori family's wines were presented in the mouth-blown glasses. To round off the evening, the guests met for a cup of coffee from Nespresso and a glass or two of wine at the bar.

 

Mario Pulker, Arabella Kiesbauer, Amra and Rainer Deisenhammer
© Barbara Ster

 

About Gault&Millau Austria

Gault&Millau is Austria's most important restaurant guide, and the toques awarded are the most recognised awards in Austrian gastronomy. The guide, which first appeared in France in 1969, is now published in 15 important culinary nations. Since the first Austrian edition in 1980, it has had a decisive influence on the gourmet scene in this country.

Today, the editors Martina and Karl Hohenlohe also publish a hotel guide, a wine guide and a mountain hut guide. The website gaultmillau.at reaches up to 123,000 users every month, while the weekly newsletter is sent to around 18,000 subscribers. The Facebook page has over 43,000 friends and the Instagram page has over 26,000 followers.

 

Piero Antinori and Peter Morandell
© Barbara Ster