Giorgio De Maria was born in Torino, Italy and graduated with a degree in Agriculture.

He has worked in hospitality since 1995, has studied wine and wine-food matching and holds an Italian Sommelier Certificate. He has worked in Italy for Slow Food, in Dublin at the one-Michelin-star L’Ecrivain Restaurant and in Tokyo at Ristorante La Barrique (Best Italian Restaurant in Tokyo 2008).

In Tokyo he gained experience in organic and biodynamic wines and developed an interest in old, rare, indigenous Italian varietals.

Since 2009 he has worked with Andrew Cibej at Vini and is now manager and sommelier of 121 BC (awarded Best Wine Bar in Time Out Sydney’s 2012 Bar Awards). He is also a director/co-owner of Vini Wine Importers, importing and distributing Italian wines from small, family-run vineyards that use mostly natural production methods.

He was named Sommelier of the Year 2012 by Australian Gourmet Traveller.

Visit www.121bc.com.au for more information.

Giorgio is presenting the wines at a Sydney Seafood School class with Alessandro Pavoni on 19 June 2012. View more details >