Stefano Villani

Romano, an F.I.S.-certified sommelier and food critic by training. But if I had to describe myself in just two words, I would say: a taste explorer.

For me, every glass has never been about cold technical analysis, it has always been a search for emotional truth. I draw inspiration from Proust and his idea of sensory memory, an approach I further explored on stage through the Strasberg Method. Today, I seek in every glass that vibrant, imperfect soul capable of opening the door to unexplored worlds. I reject polished technical jargon, choosing instead to pursue the truth of each sip.

This drive led me to fall in love with Asia and to specialize extensively in the worlds of sake and shochu through the SSA.

Today, my professional ambition goes far beyond simply educating others. I aspire to serve as a dynamic cultural bridge between Italy and Japan, forging new paths. My goal is not merely to tell the story of a centuries-old tradition, but to create a creative dialogue, uncover new expressions of taste, and inspire contemporary mixology with previously unexplored sensory landscapes.

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