Drink Italy is run by Donatella Bernstein and Silvio Pierluigi Pezzana.

The charismatic Donatella began her career in the export of Antinori wines in Florence. Her subsequent life path took in a position at the United Nations, a stint on Fleet street, the creation of a theatre agency and finally the establishment of Ethical Edibles, an organisation focused on organic, sustainable and traditional food production from Italy. She read Anthropology at UCL and is a carnival specialist. Her Tuscan mother never drunk a drop of water in her life and she has continued this passion for wine, working only with small and little known wine-makers who "treat their wines as their babies". She is famed for continuing to deliver supplies all across London on her old freight bike.

After a BSc in economics and business administration, the eclectic Silvio began his career in marketing and communication at the Fiera Milano and went on to work at the University of the Arts London as a senior research analyst in the field of the creative industries. But the fruit of the vine was growing in fascination for him. Silvio has a passion for the rich diversity of vines and traditions reflecting Italy's geographic and cultural variety. Hence, he established ITACA Wine Brokerage & Consulting. His love for wine started with his grandfathers: the one from Piedmont, who was a wine producer, and the other from Sicily who was a big wine connoisseur.

Marco Scarpelli (sommelier) has recently joined DrinkItaly as a special advisor. Marco, of Tuscan roots but raised in Milan, moved to London for the second time in '08. He is a qualified professional sommelier with the Italian Association of Sommeliers (A.I.S.). His experience on the restaurants floor stretches from the Oltrepò, to the Baglioni and Gordon Ramsey's Maze in London. He enjoys sharing his passion for good wines and hosting tastings. Unbiased in his assessment of wines from all over the world. In particular, he loves wines from his home country and in general those coming from the regions that were part of the ancient Roman Empire, nowadays referred to as the Old World.

Saverio Grazioli-Venier is a friend and former wine professional who is still very much involved in all things vinous in his spare time. He is greatly appreciated for his invaluable contribution to the Featured Wines section, and we hope to feature his reviews and comments at regular intervals in these pages.