San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2021
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Current

Employment History

• Principe Cerami, Taormina, Sicily, Italy; Notting Hill  Brasserie, London, UK; Santucci Restaurant, Gerrards Cross, UK

Education

• WSET Trust London

Birthplace

• Linguaglossa, Catania, Sicily, Italy

Languages Spoken

• Italian, English

Alessandro Malfitana was born in Catania, Sicily, and grew up in Linguaglossa, a small town on the slopes of Mount Etna surrounded by vineyards. Vine plants coloured his childhood, where wine was a family affair and the moments of grape harvests were considered among the most convivial and expected of the whole year.

After school he decided to leave for London to learn English and found a job in a fine dining restaurant in the heart of Notting Hill. Here, he developed a talent in recognizing and raising awareness for fine wines. In recognition of his abilities, the restaurant management invited him to study enology at the prestigious WSET, The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which provides global qualifications for professionals and enthusiasts. During the classes, his natural predisposition was refined by technical studies that allowed him to be appointed to the role of Head Sommelier at the same restaurant that had trusted him.

After two years in the same role, Alessandro also earned the position of "wine advisor" for the other seven outlets of the same group, which was very rewarding.  After six years Alessandro returned to his native Sicily, where he regained his roots and brought home all the knowledge he had acquired abroad. In 2012, he became Head Sommelier of Principe Cerami, the award winning restaurant of San Domenico Palace. A few years later, when the restaurant closed for renovation and a change in ownership, Alessandro dedicated himself to pursuing some personal projects with the intention of returning to Principe Cerami, which for him had become a symbol of home and excellence.  San Domenico Palace’s signature restaurant reopened in July 2021 with the same name but under the Four Seasons brand, and Alessandro returned to his position of Head Sommelier,  managing a list of national and international wines that boasts 800 labels.