In Your Shoes - Laura Raimondi

La Sicilyana Wines is an independent fine wine company that brings the best of Sicilian wines to our customers. Our passion is sharing award-winning wines with wine lovers in the UK.
I am Laura Raimondi, proud Sicilian, owner and driving force behind La Sicilyana Wines. If you want to experience the unique taste of Sicilian wine, I am delighted to be your guide.

We deliver a truly original tasting experience to discover, taste and enjoy exquisite wines that are exclusive to the UK market. Whether you are looking to entertain friends and family at home, or clients and your team at work, we promise you a truly memorable experience.

I am proud to be an ambassador of my beautiful Sicily and its wines. It is a pleasure to introduce you to a new world of flavours and grapes with the best wines that Sicily has to offer. The reality is that you wont see many Sicilian wines in wine shops. As wine goes, it is relatively unknown here in Scotland. I want to change that. I want people to experience Sicilian wine for themselves so that they can taste the difference.

That is what drives me and that is why La Sicilyana exists.

 

SENDING WINE SAMPLES

Having spent the last few weeks in Sicily visiting my wine suppliers, looking for new labels and tasting new wines it will soon be time to travel back to Scotland.

Wine is my passion, not just a job. I always look for the best quality, trying to find something unique for my clientele. I import my wine direct from the passionate owners of Sicily’s award winning wineries.Being an independent wine company means I can be very selective about the wine I sell. In other words, if I sell it, it is a wine that I personally love, it is my guarantee of quality.

Lots of new samples to send over which I have arranged with my courier. I hope to receive the bottles in one piece. Unfortunately, accidents do happen!

A GOOD CUP OF TEA

Ok, I am in Sicily and the weather is soo warm (22°C) but I can’t say no to a nice Earl Grey and a slice of home made cake. Working at my Mac, listing my wine suppliers, checking emails and replying to wine event enquiries. I work most weekends, when everyone else is having fun, but I love it, it feels like partying with new friends all the time.

A last minute problem to solve, one of my clients has ordered her favourite wine but, unfortunately, the vinery has yet to bottle the new vintage. Checking my wine stock, I need to find a superb substitute for her party!

Getting updates from builders for my new upcoming Italian Café and Winebar, soon to open in Scone, lots to do there…

FINALLY PACKING

I have been away for two months and I am leaving Sicily tomorrow morning, looking forward to coming back to Scotland, my second home. Packing my luggage trying to stay within the airline allowance (not easy…). What will I forget this time? My favourite shoes, my passport? Certainly not one of my favourite bottles of wine, a multi award winning white from a superb vinery located in Western Sicily. I have made some space in my case for this bottle of Sicilian nectar, looking forward to enjoying it with my husband over dinner and some fish! My flight is scheduled tomorrow at midday, but I have planned to get at the airport quite early so I can sit and relax in the lounge.

SCOTLAND, I AM BACK!

After a day traveling and some retail therapy at Gatwick Airport, here I am, finally back to Scotland! At Edinburgh airport, waiting for my husband to pick me up, I haven’t seen him for the last 9 weeks. To my surprise, the weather is glorious, I must have brought the sun with me from Sicily. Frantically opening my case to make sure my surprise bottle of wine is still in one piece! A candle light dinner with hubby and favourite wine is saved.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFULL WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE

My wine tasting events are always unique, as is my clients and I love meeting new people. The tasting experience is at the heart of my business, it is fun, educational and unpretentious.

I am a perfectionist, I prepare my events with punctiliousity. The list is long: wines, glasses, score cards, pens, order forms, agenda, wine board, Sicilian map, card reader…

I must confess, I am always nervous before an event, but fortunately this sensation changes with enthusiasm and excitement for the evening ahead!

The event went very well, my guests have all discovered new grapes and wines which they have never heard of. It gives me a sense of pride, everytime.

I LOVE GARDENING!

Gosh, I have suddenly noticed that my garden is in such a state! My husband and myself are not so green fingered, but we do our very best to have a pretty front and back garden. A few hours of hard work digging, planting and cutting, trying to restore some beauty in the landscape.

Some of the plants haven’t made it through this bad winter, so driving to the nearest garden center to introduce some colour. After such hard work, we deserve a nice glass of Sicilian wine, watching a movie on tv and charging my batteries for the week ahead!