Vakkaru Maldives is pleased to offer a taste of Tuscany to the island paradise in January with an ultra-exclusive wine supper on 22 January 2023, in conjunction with the legendary Banfi winery, one Michelin star Chef Domenico Francone, and Di-vine Cellars Maldives.

Chef Domenico will design a five-course dinner featuring the finest of Italian flavors, along with a handpicked selection of wines from the Banfi portfolio, for the one-night-only dinner at Isoletta beach.

Banfi was created in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani. Banfi has created a successful and distinguished history over the last 40 years by focusing on four essential pillars: pioneering, research, innovation, and sustainability. These pillars have helped form the company’s story and contributed to its success. The Banfi is undoubtedly the most well-known of the brand’s Italian wineries. It is located just outside the hilltop hamlet of Montalcino in one of the world’s most famous wine-producing areas, Tuscany, and produces world-class Brunellos, Rossos, and Super Tuscans. Banfi also has additional farms in Tuscany and Piedmont that produce red, white, and rose wines.

The beautiful, walled and turreted 13th-century castle, Castello Poggio Alle Mura, is the centerpiece of their large vineyards in Tuscany. It contains a hotel, a glass museum, the Enoteca, and two restaurants, notably the one Michelin-starred La Sala dei Grappoli – Chef Domenico Francone’s realm.

Domenico Francone is the Executive Chef at La Sala dei Grappoli, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Castello Banfi. He worked at a number of prominent Italian and foreign restaurants, including Heinz Beck’s Apsleys in London. Chef Domenico will bring his culinary skills and unique Tuscan flavors to Vakkaru, ensuring that visitors have an exceptional dining experience.

“I am amazed by the natural beauty of Vakkaru island and all the wonderful experiences it offers. I look forward to enjoying them when I am on the island. I am thrilled to bring the authentic flavours of Tuscany to Vakkaru and to share my passion for Italian cuisine with the guests,” he says.

“The combination of my signature dishes such as the ‘Tortelli like Eggplant Parmigiana’ and the ‘Tenderloin, artichoke, vegetables caponata and Brunello di Montalcino Jus’, and the exceptional wines from Banfi will create a truly unforgettable dining experience.”

Speaking about the upcoming dinner, Iain McCormack, General Manager, Vakkaru Maldives, says: “We are always looking for ways to enhance the guest experience at Vakkaru and give them elevated culinary offerings. Thanks to Di-vine Cellars, this collaboration with Chef Domenico and Banfi allows us to do just that. We can’t wait for our guests to experience the authentic Italian taste and exceptional wines at Isoletta.”