FOODIES can learn more about wine, spirits and food pairing as a city restaurant organises events which will take place across Worcestershire.

Gianluca Austin-Rizzo, manager at Benedictos and co-founder of The Wine & Spirit Club, said the events will bring something fresh to Worcester.

The Wine & Spirit Club was launched in April and has visited a host of venues across the UK, including Benedictos Italian Restaurant.

It specialises in holding wine dinners events, wine tastings events, cocktails dinner events, team building activities all based on wine and cocktails. 

Mr Austin-Rizzo said: "I believe I am bringing fresh ideas to Worcester and set them to the highest level in a very informal setting.

"Most of our monthly events up to now have been hosted at Benedictos Restaurant in Worcester where I have been the manager for approximately two years.

"This is a very informal but informative experience to learn a bit more about wine, spirits and most of all food pairing."

Mr Austin-Rizzo is a professional sommelier by trade, working for over two decades in top UK at top restaurants like Bray for Michel Roux and Simpsons Restaurant in Birmingham.

As well as Benedicto's, other events have been held in the county in Malvern and Ombersley, with more events on the horizon.

Mr Austin-Rizzo said: "Since we launched, we have gone from strength to strength, and I am expanding the club and taking bookings for wine dinners in different locations, such as Ombersley, Malvern, Birmingham and Kent."

Gianluca Tilotta and Gaetano Cinao, the owners of Benedictos in Worcester, and Florent Riviere, assistant manager at Benedictos, also help run the events.

Some of the upcoming events include a Wine and Cheese Night at Omberlsey Village Hall on Thursday, November 23, and a White Truffle and Piedmont Wine Dinner at Benedictos Italian Restaurant on Wednesday, November 29.

In Solihull, the club will also be hosting a collaboration event with Stuart Deeley, the winner of Masterchef: The Professionals in 2019, on Wednesday, December 13.

For more information on the upcoming events, you can visit the Benedictos Italian Restaurant website at https://benedictos.com/index.php/thewineclub/.