French, born in Italy, Dominique Rizzi can make the wine accessible to everyone. Due to her multilinguistic ability, she can animate tastings of wines in French, Italian, German, English and also Luxembourgeois. A fantastic singularity since the language of wine is very specific.
Brought up to the excellent food of her Italian "mamma," Dominique Rizzi was attracted to gastronomy at an early age and would have liked to become a cook. "There were not many opportunities for women at the time." Her first work would be at the restaurant "Mathes," in Ahn, a famous place located on the banks of the Moselle. "Then my parents thought it was not good enough. ". She joined the Raymond Mondon hotel school in Metz and chose to work " in the classroom." "There was a very nice cellar," recalls the future sommelier, who saw it as a great opportunity to discover wine.
Encouraged by her boss, Gérard Mathes, she attended sommelier classes at the hotel school Alexis Heck in Diekirch.
In 1990, she graduated as a sommelier. Two years later, in 1992, she already won the title of Best Sommelier of Luxembourg. The same year, she qualified for the French sommelier championship (Sopexa) with international wines and competitors from around the world.
Today, Dominique Rizzi is a reference in the world of wine, in Luxembourg and beyond. She participates in international competitions as a jury, lectures, and always comments tastings. She has this talent during tastings, to democratize the wine. Gluttony is an essential vector for her, leaving aside the organoleptic analysis to go on the emotional register.
She is becoming the APPERITIVO embassador using her capacities as a wine sommelier and adapting to beer. Only amazing things can come from such collaboration.
personality of the year
- M&G awards, 2016