From Vineyard to Wine List: The Story of Sommelier Giulio Lelli
Interview with sommelier Giulio Lelli
Wine is no afterthought at The Lobby. Here, wine is part of the full experience. A guide, a conversation starter, sometimes even a time machine. And no one embodies that philosophy better than Giulio, sommelier at The Lobby Nesplein. With roots – quite literally – in the Tuscan countryside, a wine list full of personal favorites, and a nose for hidden gems, Giulio brings wine to life.
And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Lobby Nesplein recently received the prestigious Wine Spectator Award. A reward for a year of hard work, bottle by bottle, decision by decision.
“Wine has been in my hands since I was a kid”
“Before I learned how to ride a bike, I was already driving a tractor through my grandparents’ vineyards,” Giulio laughs. He grew up in Tuscany, surrounded by vines, with his hands in the soil and his feet between the rows. “Wine was as normal at home as bread.” Not expensive bottles, but honest, homemade wine. A part of daily life, of culture, of memory.
The bottle that changed everything
Wine became a true passion with one particular bottle: Piccolo Derthona, 100% Timorasso from Piedmont. “A forgotten grape that was brought back to life by Walter Massa. That was the spark for me.” Today, that same wine is on the list at The Lobby, a tribute and an invitation for guests to taste beyond the obvious.
For the curious drinker
Giulio’s love of wine knows no borders. French, Spanish, South African. He tastes everything and encourages guests to do the same. “Do you usually go for Pinot Noir from Burgundy? Try a Spätburgunder from Germany. Or a Frappato grown on volcanic soil in Sicily.”
Bottles that tell a story
Some wines shift your entire perspective. For Giulio, that was Soldera Case Basse, an iconic Sangiovese from Tuscany. “Cocoa, leather, tobacco, but so elegant. It changed the way I saw wine.”
Another favorite: Vega Sicilia’s Tempranillo No. 5. “It ages for five years before it’s released. And you can taste that depth. You don’t even need to pair it with food. The wine is the moment.”
Champagne after service? Or… beer?
After a long shift, Giulio’s go-to drink is surprisingly simple. “After ten hours of talking about wine? I just want a beer.” Still, his heart belongs elsewhere. “Champagne. If I had to drink only one wine for the rest of my life, it would be that.”
Wine without snobbery, with soul
Guests don’t need to be wine experts. “I always start by asking, how are you feeling today? Do you want comfort or excitement? That’s how I help choose the wine.” Giulio’s goal is to make wine easy to approach, without pretense or pressure.
One of his personal favorites on the Nesplein list? Le Ragnaie Rosso di Montalcino. “It’s not expensive, but it has real character. Every time someone orders it, it honestly makes my day.”
Hard work, richly rewarded
The Wine Spectator Award didn’t come easy. “We put sweat, time, and corks into this project,” Giulio says. “We tasted every bottle, considered every decision.” And you can taste that care. The wine list isn’t a catalogue. It’s an invitation.
Feeling inspired?
Let Giulio be your guide. From Tuscan roots to unexpected treasures. From forgotten grapes to world-class wines. And who knows, you might just go home with a new favorite you never saw coming.
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