Luca’s journey is marked not only by wine, but by beer too, and by water and tea. In 2009, he won the title of Best Sommelier in Europeby espousing, among other possibilities, a particular type of mineral water to accompany a dish.
In 2010, when he was required to suggest pairings at a meal for a hypothetical abstinent fellow diner, he proposed a sequence of four teas, and won approval.
His conviction that traditions are the key to the final form of anything new and novel was borne out in one of his latest creations, a wildly popular feature of the summer just past, the Perlè Zen, a cocktail Luca created that combines the glorious harmony of Ferrari Perlé with the natural qualities of ginger and a touch of liquorice.
As far back as the 11th century herbalists recommended mixing ginger into wine for a tonic, and Luca heard them. He completed their creation by adding a touch of liquorice:
Gardini ha completato l’opera aggiungendo per l’appunto la liquirizia:
« With the addition of just a hint of liquorice I wanted to add a pleasantly bitterish note that completed the recipe. ».
Perlè Zen, created to offer wine in an “aperitif mode,” reflects the vision of its creator, who believes that wine is a powerful means for increasing conviviality, social interrelationships, and exchanges of sentiments.
