'When I traveled throughout Italy by train, I did it to understand the flavors and to experience as many restaurants as I could. What I didn’t anticipate was that Italians completely embraced me and my goal to immerse myself in their food culture, even as a foreigner. The gracious hosting which I enjoyed while catching up with old friends, making new ones and experiencing Italy’s welcoming hospitality which is so embedded into their cultural fibers of life.

There was one word that touched me because it was always associated with warm hospitality: ‘gradito!’ Meaning ‘welcome!’ Whether it’s ospite gradito – a welcome guest – or cena granita – a welcome dinner – it represents everything we love about Italian wine and food culture in just one word. That feeling of gradito made every meal taste like a Michelin star experience.

- Founder Sean Kommer