Emilio Del Fante is a judge at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).
Emilio Del Fante
Emilio Del Fante entered the hospitality industry in 1970 upon graduating with a diploma “Federale di maître d’hôtel” from Switzerland. He was the maître d’hôtel and head sommelier for the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano for over 20 years, and was named Best Sommelier of Switzerland 2001.
Between 1974 and 1986, Del Fante worked seasonally between the five star Palace Luzern and the Hotel Seehof Davos, first as chef de rang and then as maître d’hotel, with occasional work/study breaks in the UK and a year-long stint aboard the Royal Viking Star. He then spent six years as the maître d’hotel and head sommelier at the Michelin-starred Santabbondio Restorante (Martin Dalsass) before taking on his role at the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola. In 2003 he received his professional sommelier diploma from the Italian Association of Sommeliers.
Emilio is now collaborating with wine producers in the Lugano region.
In 2015 he was awarded the Brevet Federal as Sommelier.
See more judges for 2024 DWWA.
