Wine Walkabout: Sommelier Sandi Paris

Sandi Paris, lead sommelier and beverage manager at Valamar, and his team passionately promote wines with a distinctive character. Accent is placed on wines that come from unique grape varieties, such as Istrian malvasia, teran, Momjan muscat and plavac mali. The wine lists at Valamar’s establishments are all masterfully curated, with a carefully chosen selection of wines by the glass. The idea is to showcase a myriad colours, aromas and tastes. No wonder Paris has received a number of professional awards and recognitions for the passion that has marked his long career.

Paris and his team think of everything. From the way the morning coffee is made and served, to the perfect cocktail for languid afternoons and which wine to serve at dinner. Seasons are hugely important. In summer months, sparkling and white wines flow really well; wintertime is more suited to red wines.

Taste the destination by tasting its indigenous wines.

Whites are perfect for summertime. Make sure to taste malvasia and muscat in Istria, žlahtina on Krk island, malvasia on the island of Rab, and pošip in Dubrovnik.

“Our beverage offer is for the most part standard and tailored to suit each guest. With every season, we introduce new things and change our standards, adapting to the latest trends”, Paris explained.

“These days it’s essential, as wine culture closely follows table culture. Malvasia’s aroma is reminiscent of the locust tree blossom and goes best with fish dishes. Teran has lively fruity aromas and pairs well with game, while the Momjan muscat boasts an intense smell of wild carnations and goes best with desserts”, says Paris. 

“All the wine lists have been adapted to suit every guest, depending on their tastes and purchasing power. They have been compiled to include wines from all the regions in Croatia as well as a handful of foreign wines.”

Valamar’s sommelier team devotes special attention to wine and food pairings recommending the perfect wine to go with the guest’s dish is one of their most important tasks.

Alongside white and red house wines, four-star hotels offer a selection of 65 wines, 12 of which are served by the glass. V Level restaurants and Valamar Collection hotels have a more complex wine list featuring 110 wine labels, 15 of those served by the glass. On the other hand, because of its typical Italian cuisine, Trattoria La Pentola offers wellknown, distinctive Italian wines.

Bars at five-star or Valamar Collection hotels also boast a top-quality offer, as do the beach bars and clubs. The Beat Bar in Rabac is a great example of a varied drinks list. Among other drinks, Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel in Dubrovnik offers 15 different gin brands, 20 whiskies varieties, four tonics and six different cognacs. Think Japanese whiskey, Guatemalan rum and gin from Martinique – all are part of our premium drink segment.

DRINK THE DAY AWAY:

A GUIDE TO TOP CROATIAN WINES

MORNING
Try top Croatian sparkling wines.

Misal Prestige

Tomac Classic

Kabola Re

Franc Arman Perla Bianca

DAY
Go for roses and whites.

Rose Galić

Malvazija Damjanić

Pošip Čara

Zlatna Vrbnička Žlahtina

EVENING

Pick aged white and red wines.

Dingač Skaramuča

Amfora Kabola

Krauthaker Chardonnay

Gran Teran Coronica