This summer in London the greatest athletes in the world will have a place to relax and feel a bit at home: Nike VIP House. After introducing him at the Beijing Olympic Games, Nike has confirmed that the eclectic Italian Chef Nicola Batavia will run their “made in Italy” kitchen.
Speaking with him one can sense his strong emotion for all that concerns food, wine and the world that revolves around it. “Casa Nike is a charming place, where you can find gold medal winners from every sport and specialty. But it is also a place where these great personalities can relax and breath freely; it is an amalgam of cultures, colors, languages, a world which inspires strong feelings, ”declared the Chef. “To be among them is a privilege, and a stimulation for my passion: la cucina.”Chef Batavia’s cucina is an intricate blend of Italian flavors and aromas, which, with its inherent simplicity, has conquered the palates of these great sportsmen. It is with tradition and Italian tipicity in mind that Chef Batavia will cook for the athletes and their guests, making Made in Italy once again the flagship symbol of quality, health and well being in sports as well as in everyday life. This excellent cuisine must have an appropriate partner with Made in Italy wine, a pairing that is inseparable in Italian tradition. From this inspiration was born the partnership with Castello Banfi, who for this special occasion will present a selection of its most prestigious bottlings. Among these will be wines that best express the sense of Montalcino terroir and which are the symbols of Castello Banfi around the world: Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2007 and the very special FloruS Moscadello di Montalcino 2010 Late Harvest, flanking the iconic Banfi wine of Piedmont, Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui. Castello Banfi, immersed in the extraordinary Tuscan countryside of Montalcino and dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, produces wines with a character deeply rooted in this special place. Castello Banfi, the benchmark for Brunello di Montalcino, was founded in 1978 by the Mariani family, who determined to make this corner of the world a center of excellence for fine wine and tying it closely to the territory and its development. Located on the southwestern slopes of the township of Montalcino, the estate is made up of 2,830 hectares (7,100 acres), one third of which is dedicated to a constellation of single vineyards. The balance of the estate is planted to fruit orchards, fields of grain, and natural woodland.