Nina Trinca Wines Dinner at The Rome Edition with Chef Antonio Gentile

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 4/29/2025

Nina Trinca Wines Dinner at The Rome Edition with Chef Antonio Gentile

Some dinners go beyond the expected, transforming into immersive experiences where food and wine become vessels for personal histories, the spirit of the land, and the quiet resilience of dreams. Such was the evening dedicated to Nina Trinca wines at the elegant and contemporary The Rome EDITION. In this refined setting, Chef Antonio Gentile curated a tasting menu that did more than complement the wines—it echoed the soul and vision of those who brought them to life.

Chef Antonio Gentile

Andrea Trinca and Donatella Giovannangeli, the devoted couple behind Società Agricola Nina Trinca, shared their wines in collaboration with Giorgia Sinapi of StappaLa and La Selezione. Each label told a story of sacrifice and revival, rooted in the volcanic soils of Zagarolo and nurtured by a deep love for the land. These stories found resonance in every dish that arrived at the table.

Roast lamb, Roman-style artichoke and mint sauce (top); Panzanella with white shrimp, celery and tomato extract (bottom)

Chef Gentile, celebrated for his thoughtful approach to seasonal ingredients and subtle flavor layering, crafted a menu that moved in rhythm with the wines. The evening opened with Qumì, a crisp and structured Grechetto, followed by Giairo, a luminous Malvasia Puntinata that offered minerality and softness. Talitha, a graceful rosé, danced alongside delicate starters, while Eloì, crafted from 50% Merlot and 50% Sangiovese Grosso aged in steel brought savory depth to the main course. The journey culminated with Dam, a bold Cabernet Sauvignon aged in tonneaux, its complexity matched by the final dishes of the night.

Tortelli stuffed with chicken, peppers, parsley and Gaeta olives (top); Idea of ricotta and sour cherries (bottom)

The Journey Begins

Donatella and Andrea’s story is as much a tribute to resilience as it is to the art of winemaking. She, a DAMS-educated set designer who later built a career in the corporate world. He, a master serciarolo, laying cobblestones across the ancient streets of Rome. Already partners in life, they found their resilience tested during the COVID lockdown, when uncertainty and challenges mounted. With a young daughter, Nina, and little financial security, they turned a moment of despair into a bold, life-changing decision: to invest in a small, struggling vineyard in Zagarolo.

Donatella Giovannangeli and Andrea Trinc

Andrea, with grit inherited from generations before him, took to the soil. Donatella, combining her eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of bureaucracy honed in her corporate life, became the administrative heart of the project. Together, they poured their efforts — literally and figuratively — into what would become Nina Trinca, a winery named in honor of their daughter and their new beginning.

Donatella Giovannangeli, Giorgia Sinapi and Andrea Trinc

Setting up the winery was not a quick process; it took over two years of dedicated work. Today, their vineyards and cellar are certified organic by Suolo e Salute, Italy’s first organic certification body. They entrusted the crafting of their wines to the skilled hands of oenologist and agronomist Alessandro Marotta, ensuring that every bottle reflects both their commitment and the vitality of the land.

The Land and the Vineyards

Just outside Rome lies Zagarolo, a lesser-known yet promising wine region, where volcanic soils tell a story of ancient eruptions and mineral richness. This rugged, authentic territory is alive with heritage, much like the people who cultivate it.

Andrea and Donatella’s vineyard stretches across 2 hectares of these fertile tuff hills, remnants of the Latium Volcano’s ancient activity. The mineral-rich soil imparts freshness, character, and balance to their wines. Annual production is around 10,000 bottles, crafted with care using selected neutral yeasts to preserve the purity and expression of the fruit. Their property includes a hand-dug cave, naturally maintaining a steady, cool temperature — an ideal resting place for their bottles of Metodo Classico. Here, 2,453 bottles lie quietly aging, a testament to the patience, craft, and dedication woven into every label.

Guided by Andrea’s farming heritage and the mentorship of an experienced agronomist-winemaker, the couple transitioned their vines from spurred cordon to Guyot pruning, a careful choice to enhance the expression of their white varieties. Their approach is far from industrial, and far from rushed. It’s slow, attentive, deeply human work — an honest reflection of the land and the lives intertwined with it.

The Wines: Bottled Stories

Each wine from Nina Trinca carries a name drawn from scripture, symbolizing rebirth and spiritual peace.

Qumi Lazio IGT Grechetto 2023
Made from 100% Grechetto and aged in stainless steel, displays a bright straw-yellow color with golden reflections. The nose is refined and delicate, offering subtle notes of white flowers, honey, vanilla, and ripe yet lively pineapple. On the palate, it is fresh and sapid, with crisp fruit-forward flavors and a distinct mineral tension that adds vibrancy. The wine closes with a long, persistent finish marked by a pleasant almond nuance.

Giairo Roma DOC Bianco Bio 2023
Crafted from 100% Malvasia Puntinata and aged in stainless steel, Giairo presents a pale straw-yellow color. The nose is persistent, offering soft floral notes, fresh herbs, and ripe yellow fruits layered with a tropical, almost syrupy richness. On the palate, it is round and supple, with generous fruit flavors and a broad, enveloping mouthfeel. The acidity is softer, allowing a pleasant hint of bitterness to emerge on the finish, alongside lingering notes of chamomile and almond. Expansive and expressive, Giairo is a balanced, gastronomic white wine, distinguished by its complexity and depth.

Talitha Rosato Lazio IGT Bio 2023 & 2024
Crafted from 80% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese Grosso, and aged in stainless steel, Talitha presents two distinctive vintages. The 2023 is delicate with notes of peach, rose petals, and a saline finish that speaks of the land. It shows a more pronounced alcohol and sapid character, with a fresh, clean mouthfeel, reflecting a challenging year and more winemaking intervention. In contrast, the 2024 vintage is fruit-forward, offering vibrant strawberry aromas, with minimal intervention and fully ripened grapes. It’s bright, crisp, and approachable, delivering a clean, fresh profile that showcases a more favorable growing season.

Eloi Lazio IGT Rosso 2023
Eloì, a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese Grosso, is a perfect balance of contrasting elements: rich fullness paired with lively freshness. The wine balances mature fruit, structured tannins, and volcanic sapidity, embodying both harmony and strength. The Merlot and Sangiovese are harvested at different times—Merlot picked earlier, followed by Sangiovese in October—and vinified separately before blending. The result is a ruby-red wine with elegant aromas of underbrush, red fruits, violets, and a hint of rosemary. On the palate, it is full-bodied with persistent acidity and a savory, mineral edge. The tannins are firm, but there’s a refreshing finish marked by rosemary and pine, adding depth and complexity.

Dam Cabernet Sauvignon IGT Bio 2022
Aged for 14 months in new French oak tonneaux, this wine is powerful yet elegant. The intense ruby-red color hints at its depth, almost impenetrable in its richness. The nose is warm, with a complex blend of toasted notes, spices, and ripe red fruit, accompanied by hints of underbrush. On the palate, it is consistent with the nose, offering a full, velvety mouthfeel with a harmonious balance and good acidity. Flavors of black cherries and spices evolve, with an elegant persistence on the finish. "Dam," meaning "blood," symbolizes the wine's depth and intensity.