Pairing the very best gelato with the finest wines is reportedly the coolest dining trend in New York, Paris and London – and it has now arrived in Edinburgh via a special menu at Bar Prince within the Balmoral Hotel.
The upmarket bar has teamed up with St Andrews family-run Jannettas Gelateria to launch an exclusive wine and gelato pairing menu available from 25th August til 7th September.
The Bar Prince staff have worked with Jannettas to select four gelato flavours for the pairings, including one created exclusively for their menu.
Led by bar manager Giovanni Cassino and assistant bar manager Stefano Pinna, the team has selected two wines and two Champagnes to complement the four flavours, with each pairing including two scoops of gelato and either a 175ml glass of wine or a 125ml glass of champagne.
Jannettas’ tahini has been created especially for the occasion, blending toasted sesame seed paste with rich cream for a balance of savoury and nutty notes with a smooth finish, paired with Sancerre.
Pistachio gelato is paired with Charles Heidsieck Champagne, as is the tayberry flavour.
The chocolate sorbet is paired with Valoplicella, enhancing the chocolate with fruity notes.
Pinna said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Jannettas. Lots of us have fond memories of visiting their shop in St Andrews, and as a family-run business with Italian roots, it feels like the perfect fit.
“It’s been such fun exploring how these unusual pairings bring out new flavours in both the gelato and the wine.
“Each one has been expertly paired to create a truly experiential tasting, and has been great fun, challenging our expertise into something so playful.”
Co-owner of Jannettas, Lewis Hazel, added: “This collaboration is a special one to us and a true milestone since taking over from the previous generation.
“The idea of pairing gelato with wine and Champagne opens up exciting possibilities for flavour. Our tayberry gelato, for example, has a unique sweet profile that works beautifully with certain wines and it comes from berries grown by a family friend just down the road.
“We’ve grown up in this business,” added Hazel. “It’s not just about making gelato; it’s about continuing something bigger than ourselves, something our family has built for over a century.”
It was also noted that The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel with 124 years of history, shares Italian heritage with Jannettas Gelateria, also a family-run business that has been serving authentic gelato and sorbet in St Andrews for 117 years.
Founded in 1908 by Benedito Jannetta, Jannettas is a family-run business now led by fifth-generation brothers Lewis and Ross Hazel.
Every generation has upheld ‘a legacy of craftsmanship’, using traditional Italian techniques and high-quality ingredients including local Fife berries, Sicilian pistachios, and rich Scottish dairy.
