Sips and secrets from The Goring’s cellar

Wine can be a complex topic, we’ll admit, but our sommeliers make it exceptionally easy for us to enjoy the world’s best drink (wine), with no question too silly. We put this to the test with our Head Sommelier Fabrizio Pini.

At a guess, how many wines are on The Goring wine list? 

Our list currently features 500 labels ranging from classic Old World producers to little-known vineyards. This means we really do have something for every occasion, whether the evening calls for a Grand Cru Burgundy or simply a glass of something lovely before dinner. We don’t believe wine should sit around becoming valuable. Wine is for drinking. Which is why we have three different vintages of one of the world’s greatest wines – Petrus – at current market prices exactly for this reason: not to be admired, but to be enjoyed.  

Why have I never found The Goring’s wine cellar?

You may not have noticed the entranceway which we keep rather tucked away, but we can confirm that there is a discreet, temperature-controlled wine storage beneath the hotel, where bottles are kept in ideal conditions before making their way to The Dining Room. It's not a grand château-style cellar, but a meticulously-ordered space where the wines are kept at their very best. 

What is your favourite wine and why?

That's like asking me to choose my favourite child (we all have one, but we would never say). If pushed, I’d pick a cold glass of mature white Burgundy. I like mine with a bowl of prawn cocktail crisps. I genuinely believe we have one of London's fairest-priced selections of white Burgundy. A great example is our 2011 Corton-Charlemagne from Bonneau du Martray, which is a wine of exceptional pedigree and maturity at excellent value. 

Talk us through a little-known gem on the wine list. 

One of the hidden gems on our list is an Etna Rosso from the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. It's a wine we love pouring blind because it takes the ceremony out of wine tasting, which should only be great fun. Many guests assume they're tasting a fine Burgundy, even a Grand Cru, thanks to its perfume, elegance and silky texture. Then you reveal it's from Sicily, and it's always a wonderful raised-eyebrows kind of moment. 

Tell us about your favourite food and wine pairings in The Dining Room.

One pairing we always recommend is our Mas d'en Gil Priorat from Spain with our halibut. The wine has wonderful freshness and texture, complementing the richness of the fish while lifting the dish beautifully. For our famous Beef Wellington, the perfect partner is a robust Hermitage from Ferraton – its layers of black fruit and spice goes splendidly with the depth of the beef and pastry.

Wine etiquette – the do's and don'ts.

The most important thing is not to feel intimidated – we think wine is a gift to be enjoyed. There’s no snobbery in The Dining Room. If you think a wine is corked or faulty, don't be embarrassed to mention it; we’ll be delighted to open another bottle for you. And please don't worry about pronouncing every château correctly. A flawless French accent is not mandatory at The Goring.

Has a guest ever enjoyed the wine list a little too much? 

We couldn’t possibly say. We've certainly had some memorable moments over the years, like couples celebrating their engagement then coming back a decade later to open another vintage from the same producer for their anniversary. And then there’s the gloriously spontaneous evenings when a guest decides to choose something really special – like a Petrus 2000 – one of the most expensive wines on the list. Those are the moments that remind you wine is really about the shared memories, not just what's in the glass.

If you’d like to enjoy a wonderful dinner with a sommelier-selected wine pairing, please reserve your table in The Goring’s Dining Room.