A drink with... Isa Bal
Born in Turkey, Isa Bal MS began his career as a commis sommelier at The Vineyard at Stockcross. He was Best Sommelier of Europe in 2008 and became a Master Sommelier in 2009. Head sommelier for The Fat Duck Group for more than 12 years, he now co-owns one-star Michelin restaurant Trivet with fellow Fat Duck alumnus, chef Jonny Lake. Bal has been named winner of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland’s Sommelier Award 2022.
‘I was not born into wine. In fact, I didn’t drink any wine until I was about 19, I think. I always had a keen interest in nature – how things happen, when, and why – especially seasonal produce and grapes were always a favourite. At The Vineyard at Stockcross, Edoardo Amadi, then the F&B manager, gave me my first wine job and I never looked back.
‘I think UK customers are some of the most open-minded in the world when it comes to wine. We have zero resistance from our customers who visit Trivet.
‘The Fat Duck [in Bray, Berkshire] always had very precise flavours, clean and not muddled up. So, generally speaking, matching that food with a drink was easy. The dish that challenged me the most was the Mock Turtle Soup. It was a hard dish to find a match for. I finally paired it with a vintage Verdelho Madeira.
‘I am really enjoying a variety of different wines and regions at the moment. I love Cabernet Franc. For me, Chardonnay is the white grape variety par excellence. Other than that I’d like to see Portugal do better in terms of recognition . It is a fabulous wine country. I am also watching eastern Mediterranean and Caucasian countries with interest.
‘I think it is very important and encouraging that a guide like Michelin is starting to look into different aspects of dining other than the food and chefs, always the main focus. It is important to recognise different professions that complete and complement the dining experience. I am grateful to be selected as the recipient; there are many worthy individuals out there.’ To read the full interview by Chris
Losh, visit decanter.com