Luca Luise is a wine distributor, founder of Amorosso Fine Wines. Originally from Venice, Italy, Luise has been in the food and beverage industry for most of his life - one that has led him to brushes with British royals during his stints at ritzy venues in London like Annabel's, a hangout for blue bloods. Since relocating to Hong Kong in 1991 for his wife of 27 years, Luise has specialised in importing wines after long tenures at beverage distributers such as Jebsen Fine Wines and Watson's Wine.
The delightfully frank Italian shares his thoughts on the casualties of Hong Kong's wine bubble and its abolition of wine tax.
Where did your passion for wine originate?
My grandparents had a little winery in Veneto. Everyone in the region made wine in their garden. We would harvest the grapes every year; the best part was picking the grapes. My uncle used to call me out all the time because I would pick the grapes from the vine and eat them instead of using it for the wine. It was all part of the fun. We made fragolino and grinton. Then I got into F&B [food and beverage] because it was the closest thing.
What was the turning point that led you to wine importing in Hong Kong?
I had been in the restaurant business for 20 years before I went into the wine industry. I worked in famous restaurants in Venice and London, like Cecconi's and Annabel's. Annabel's was one of the finest clubs where famous kings and queens would go.