The establishments were recognized by Gambero Rosso, an authority in Italian food and wine.
At least 10 Italian restaurants in Kenya have been recognised as some of the top eateries in this year’s Italian Wine Road Show organised by Gambero Rosso, an authority in Italian food and wine.
They were Liv Vin, La Casa Di Nico, La Terrazza, La Salumeria, La Villa, La Dolce Vita, La Cascina, all located in Nairobi with Casa Mia in Diani, Roberto’s and Visiwa located in Mombasa and Watamu respectively.
Establishments such as Pomodoro, Matteo’s, Solo Grano, Mambo Italia, all in Nairobi including Roberto’s and Papa Remo in Watamu were feted as the top Italian pizzerias.
In the top Italian wine bars category Wine and More, Enoteca, Winebox, New Italycor and Liv Vin were named for the best choice Italian wine in the country.
This is the first time Gambero has mapped Italian establishments in Kenya, giving a glimpse of where to get a variety of Italian cuisine, pizza and wine.
“We look for quality. So even if you do 10 different recipes from 10 different regions, it is important that each one encompasses the spirit of that recipe,” Italian wine expert Marco Sabellico said.
“Where it is not possible to achieve the expected culinary strictness of the region, we insist on using mostly Italian ingredients to achieve that desired and exquisite taste and face of Italy,” he added.
Mr Sabellico expressed satisfaction in the passion for Italian wine and traditions in Kenya, noting that there was room for introducing even more culinary varieties.
The event was organized through Vinpodium, a company that links European wine producers with African distributors and the hospitality industry. Featured were 35 top wineries representing 15 wine regions of Italy.
An incomparable opportunity to get a flavour of Italy’s different terroirs and wine denominations, it also featured two wine Master-classes presented by Sabellico and co-presented by
“This is perhaps the best gift we could have given the wine business community in Kenya as we start the year.
“We have a huge percentage of discerning wine lovers in Kenya and who are always keen to sample new grape varietals and wine styles such as the 35 producers who have shown an interest in Kenya through Gambero Rosso,” a Kenyan wine expert and sommelier Victoria Mulu-Munywoki, said.
According to Euromoney’s Passport, as of 2020, between 25 to 30 million litres of wine was sold in Kenya indicating a massive potential for growth of Italian wines in the country and the region.
In tapping into this market Gambero Rosso aims to increase awareness and consumption of Italian wines especially to new consumers and the younger generation.
