Vineyards Magazine

 

Ristorante Ornellaia opens its doors today to the public just off one of the world’s most luxurious and exclusive streets, the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, with the entrance in Sankt Annagasse 2. The celebrated Bolgheri-based wine estate, founded in 1981 has opened its first restaurant with Bindella, its life-long importer and ambassador in Switzerland, renowned also for its expertise in gastronomy.

Celebrated Swiss Architect Tilla Theus has sought to create a taste of Ornellaia and the unmistakable atmosphere of Tuscany; a landscape of people, food and wine, while such an innovative project required a chef of the same calibre. Italian Giuseppe D’Errico after working alongside maestro Gualtiero Marchesi at Alma and developing his considerable talents alongside Michel Troisgrois at the three star Restaurant Troisgros in Roanne, France was the perfect choice. D’Errico’s cuisine is a restyling of classic Tuscan cuisine that uses the same audacious spirit and vision as Ornellaia itself.

“My own personal style relies on simplicity, fine taste, and tradition. Michel Troisgros taught me the values that a dish should exhibit: beauty, goodness, and simplicity. I derive my inspiration from various sources—people I meet, respect for raw ingredients, traditions linked to my own origins, the flavours of what the earth yields. I approach food, just as I do wine, with enormous respect and a hunger to learn. Ornellaia enjoys an unmistakable bond with its growing area; a magnificent, refined, and harmonious corner of Tuscany. All my dishes have this as their starting point.”

GIUSEPPE D’ERRICO, CHEF RISTORANTE ORNELLAIA

Ristorante Ornellaia is a small plot of Bolgheri in Switzerland. Wine, is the focus, but together with the character of every single creation by the team. D’Errico’s guiding hand reveals the rich flavours of a wine-growing paradise, and his sensitivity is obvious in dishes embodying the spirit and philosophy of Ornellaia.

Ristorante Ornellaia is a very special place for Bindella as it continues to strengthen the bond with the Estate.  The expertise in fine wines and hospitality will be on full display, as well as the stunning beauty of Bolgheri’s landscapes, so that the whole becomes an expression of artistic beauty. This fine restaurant is further enhanced by the works of two swiss artists; the outstanding painter Cuno Amiet, and sculptor Hans Josephson, whose talents have won international recognition.

“We wanted to create a superb venue for Ornellaia’s wine since we have been their ambassador in Switzerland right from the first vintage, 1985. The venue reflects the audacious spirit of Ornellaia and the wine list boasts older vintages and rarities from the ‘Ornellaia Archivio Storico’, as well as large-size bottles that one can find only in international auctions. The bond between Bindella and Ornellaia is also obvious by the inclusion on the wine list of a selection of wines from Vallocaia, our own winery, which also first emerged in 1985.”

RUDI BINDELLA

Architect Tilla Theus designed the restaurant with a special focus on native Tuscan materials, such a travertine, famous for its use in historic churches and buildings in Florence.  

“My visit to Ornellaia renewed my memories of Tuscany in a very positive way. The experience of an unforgettable atmosphere; the landscape is beautiful, and the hospitality is without peer. It was that atmosphere – combining landscape, people, food and wine – that I wanted to capture and recreate in Ristorante Ornellaia. Therefore, the travertine used in the interior of the restaurant comes from Tuscany. I remodelled the grey granite stone-front of the building in Bahnhofstrasse 53 inside the restaurant using the warm-coloured travertine stone, together with a classic Tuscan wood ceiling. The more than 100 different lights appear as single spot and call to mind the starry firmament. They also draw attention to the impressive ceiling height. This novel atmosphere is completed by the bronze replica of an oak on the ceiling that recalls the impressive oak at Ornellaia. The interior design is complemented by bronze art-pieces by Josephson as well as art in the traditional Tuscan colours by Cuno Amiet”.

TILLA THEUS, ARCHITECT

Ristorante Ornellaia owes its existence to a desire to combine world-class wine with the highest expression of Italian cuisine, as well as to provide way, even at such a distance, of feeling oneself actually at the winery, in Bolgheri and sharing the philosophy of those who strive each day to respect an area’s genius loci so as to bring forth its finest possible expression.

“Wine summons up emotions, and every visit to our vineyards and the cellar is a unique expression, with that pleasure repeated and renewed with every vintage. We opened Ristorante Ornellaia because we wanted people to enter our world and experience the passion and excellence that are innate in Bolgheri—even when one is physically distant from the Estate. This year, we are celebrating the 30^th vintage of Ornellaia and the 10^th annual Vendemmia d’Artista, which coincides as well with 30 years of collaboration, and friendship, with Bindella. The offspring of this perfect marriage has been this restaurant, which we would not have wanted to do with any other partner.”    

GIOVANNI GEDDES DA FILICAJA, CEO ORNELLAIA