Cantinetta Antinori in Knightsbridge isn’t just another “fancy postcode” restaurant. It’s the sort of place where the lights are soft, the welcome is warmer, and the staff somehow remember your name even if you only popped in once before. (In my case, twice now. At this rate, they’ll be asking me to do the washing up.)

Tucked just off Sloane Street at 4 Harriet Street, SW1X 9JR, it’s the London outpost of the Antinori family—Tuscan wine royalty since 1385. Yet it feels less like dining at a temple of gastronomy and more like having supper with your most charming Italian cousins. The ones who just happen to have 600 years of wine knowledge and a way with burrata.

On 30 September 2025, I went back for my second masterclass here—this time dedicated to Jermann.

Five wines, five Tuscan bites, and Salvatori—the ever-charismatic Antinori ambassador—guiding the evening with ease. Our “class” was a table of four—me, Alison, and a lovely older couple—which meant fewer PowerPoint vibes, more lively conversation (with generous top-ups, naturally).

Why Jermann, and why here?

In 2021, Marchesi Antinori bought a majority stake in Jermann, Friuli’s star producer. If Tuscany is silk sheets, Friuli is crisp linen: northern precision meeting Tuscan longevity. Two families, one obsession with quality. And if you’re going to taste that story, Cantinetta is the perfect stage.

The line-up (or: five wines I’d happily introduce to my mother)

Sauvignon Blanc, Venezia Giulia IGT 2024
Bright, elderflower, citrus—clean as a freshly laundered shirt. Think New Zealand Sauvignon but with the volume turned down: more chamber music than stadium rock. I’m not much of a white drinker, but this one worked for me. Jermann has been refining this since the 1970s, when they pioneered international varieties in Friuli. Today it stands as a benchmark, proving Friuli can hold its own alongside the Loire and Marlborough.

Vinnae Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia IGT 2023
Friuli’s native pride. Blossom, apple, mineral bite. Half the table loved the Sauvignon’s zip; I leaned Ribolla for its texture, especially with the amberjack crudo. First released in 1983 to honour three generations of the Jermann family (hence the name ‘Vinnae’), it’s bottled under screwcap to protect its delicate fragrance.

Red Angel Pinot Nero, Venezia Giulia IGT 2020
Pale ruby, cherries, roses. An elegant lunchtime Pinot—more whispered compliments than catwalk strut. Its name comes from the vineyards near a historic church known as the Angel, and it remains Jermann’s nod to Burgundy with a Friulian accent.

Vintage Tunina, Venezia Giulia IGT 2022
The icon. A blend that changed minds about Italian whites. Floral, honeyed stone fruit, tension for days. Ages like an opera star. First released in 1975, it quickly gained cult status; critics hailed it as one of Italy’s first world-class whites, and it’s still a collector’s favourite. The name ‘Tunina’ refers to a woman linked to Casanova in Friulian lore, adding a dash of intrigue to the story.

W… Dreams, Venezia Giulia IGT 2022
Yes, inspired by U2. Chardonnay with both pastry-shop comfort and Friulian freshness. With salumi and burrata, it belted out the chorus. Conceived in 1987, its label once played on “Where the Streets Have No Name,” and it remains Jermann’s boldest statement: New World-style polish with Italian soul.

The Antinori touch

Glasses topped, pairings checked, stories shared. Hospitality here is never about hard sell—it’s about making you feel at home, and topping up your glass just before you notice it’s empty.

Why the night stood out (again)

• Intimacy. Four of us, proper conversation, no rush.

• Honesty. We debated corks vs screwcaps and which whites to drink now rather than “save for best.”

• Discovery. Friuli is still underrepresented on London lists. Here, you taste the region’s story in one sitting.

If you go

• Where: Cantinetta Antinori, 4 Harriet Street, Knightsbridge, SW1X 9JR

• Why: True Tuscan hospitality, serious wines by the glass, and events that are actually worth it.

• Tip: Book a masterclass. Generous pours, lively chat, and you leave feeling like part of the family (without the drama). And did I mention they also have the best gelato in London?

Will I be back? Absolutely. Twice in, and it’s already becoming my Knightsbridge “local”—which says something, because I don’t usually use the words “Knightsbridge” and “local” in the same sentence.