Facebook
    Trending
    • A Symphony of Stars: The Reunion 3.0 Delivered Culinary Excellence at Signature Bangkok
    • Culinary Maestro Nobu Matsuhisa: From Beverly Hills to Global Icon
    • The Pinnacle of Innovation: Inside the BYD Yangwang U9’s Tech-Driven Luxury
    • Nai Lert: Bangkok’s Original Visionary and the Dynasty That Still Shapes the City
    • Avani+ Hua Hin: Where Contemporary Elegance Meets Coastal Escape
    • Nobu Bangkok: A Culinary Ascent Above the City’s Pulse
    • HOME OF THE MONTH – A Masterpiece of Luxury Living in Bophut Koh Samui
    • Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Triumphs in Historic Russia Debut
    View Complete Issue Catalog
    Facebook
    Hot Magazine
    • Home
    • Events
      1. Upcoming Events
        • Hua Hin Events
        • Bangkok Events
      2. Past Events
        • Hua Hin
        • Bangkok
        • Pattaya
        • Phuket
      Featured
      April 28, 2025

      Beach Polo 2025: Asia’s Largest Beach Polo Tournament Returns to Hua Hin

      Recent
      May 29, 2025

      A Symphony of Stars: The Reunion 3.0 Delivered Culinary Excellence at Signature Bangkok

      April 28, 2025

      Beach Polo 2025: Asia’s Largest Beach Polo Tournament Returns to Hua Hin

      February 28, 2025

      HOT Magazine’s 12th Anniversary Gala: A Night of Glitz, Glamour, Recognition, and Compassion

    • Restaurants
      1. Hua Hin Restaurants
      2. Bangkok Restaurants
      Featured
      May 29, 2025

      Nobu Bangkok: A Culinary Ascent Above the City’s Pulse

      Recent
      May 29, 2025

      Nobu Bangkok: A Culinary Ascent Above the City’s Pulse

      April 28, 2025

      Crystal Grill House at Asiatique: A Feast for the Senses in Bangkok

      April 28, 2025

      From Journalism Student to Culinary Icon: Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij Makes History as World’s Best Female Chef 2025

    • Yachting
      1. New Yachts For Sale
        • Aquila
        • Beneteau Powerboats
        • Beneteau Sailboats
        • Bluegame
        • CNB Yacht Builders
        • Fairline
        • Lagoon Yachts
        • Sanlorenzo
      2. Pre-Owned Yachts For Sale
      3. Yachting In Hua Hin
      4. Yachting In Pattaya
      5. Yachting In Phuket
      Featured
      April 28, 2025

      Singapore Yachting Festival 2025 Concludes with Record Success

      Recent
      April 28, 2025

      Singapore Yachting Festival 2025 Concludes with Record Success

      January 27, 2025

      Waves of Luxury: The Thailand International Boat Show 2025

      November 28, 2024

      Our Pick Of The Top Yachts For Cruising Thailand’s Turquoise Waters

    • Hotels
      1. Bangkok Hotels
      2. Hua Hin Hotels
      3. Pattaya Hotels
      4. Phuket Hotels
      5. Samui Hotels
      6. International Hotels
      Featured
      May 29, 2025

      Avani+ Hua Hin: Where Contemporary Elegance Meets Coastal Escape

      Recent
      May 29, 2025

      Avani+ Hua Hin: Where Contemporary Elegance Meets Coastal Escape

      April 28, 2025

      A New Crown Jewel: Aman Nai Lert Bangkok Elevates Luxury in Thailand’s Vibrant Capital

      March 28, 2025

      Andaman Elegance: The Ultimate Ritz-Carlton Experience in Langkawi

    • Faces
    • Places
      Featured
      November 28, 2024

      Discovering Hanoi: A Journey Through Time and Beauty

      Recent
      November 28, 2024

      Discovering Hanoi: A Journey Through Time and Beauty

      October 30, 2024

      Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s Resilient Capital Where Past Meets Present

      August 28, 2024

      Kuala Lumpur: A Vibrant Tapestry of Culture, History, and Modernity

    • Pageantry
    • Property
      1. Home Of The Month
      2. Property News
      3. Featured Developments
      4. Hua Hin’s Best Buys
      Featured
      December 29, 2024

      Asia’s Property Elite Shine at Prestigious PropertyGuruAsia Property Awards Grand Final

      Recent
      May 29, 2025

      HOME OF THE MONTH – A Masterpiece of Luxury Living in Bophut Koh Samui

      April 28, 2025

      HOME OF THE MONTH – Luxurious Coastal Living: A Crown Jewel on Phuket’s Skyline

      March 28, 2025

      HOME OF THE MONTH – A Pristine Sanctuary in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai

    • More
      1. Aviation
      2. Beauty
      3. Lifestyle
      4. Motoring
      5. Spas
        • Bangkok Spas
        • Hua Hin Spas
      6. Spirits
      7. Style
      Featured
      May 29, 2025

      The Pinnacle of Innovation: Inside the BYD Yangwang U9’s Tech-Driven Luxury

      Recent
      May 29, 2025

      The Pinnacle of Innovation: Inside the BYD Yangwang U9’s Tech-Driven Luxury

      April 28, 2025

      Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Triumphs in Historic Russia Debut

      April 28, 2025

      Time of Prestige: Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025

    Hot Magazine
    Faces

    Let’s Meet, Thierry Berno

    July 28, 2022Updated:July 28, 20225 Mins Read

    What is your full name and Job Position?
    My name is Thierry Berno but you might also call me T-Bone, Tight T or Tigrou depending on how and where we met. I am the new Branch Manager for Italasia Hua Hin.

    How long have you been with the company?
    The team of Italasia welcomed me a couple of months ago. After a short training in BKK I moved to Hua Hin.

    What do you like most about your job?
    I love people and I love wine. I get to hang out with both in this job. Of course there is a reasonable amount of pressure associated to the position but for the most part it suits my personality very well.

    Who or what led you to the wine industry?
    I started in this industry in South Korea with my mentor Kwak Dong Young. She is an incredible woman, she’s the first Korean recipient of the French BP sommelier, and she still leads her company to success. I helped her build the first Korean importing company of Organic, Biodynamic and Natural wines, and as a result I was exposed to this style of wines early on and developed a fondness for them. However I appreciate traditional wines as well and I am willing to taste anything.
    Another person that mattered to me was the legendary chef Pierre Gagnaire whose passion transpired into me when we worked together on some projects in Korea. He is a force of nature in the kitchen and an incredibly gentle human being.

    What are the current market trends in wine?
    The market is just recovering from a devastating blow in the past 2 years so it is still hard to decipher the general trends. We continue to see a push towards more premium products and we are slightly moving back from Off-trade to On-trade as people resume going out. It also seems that the RTD category (Ready-To-Drink) is popular with young Thai consumers who are attracted to the sweet and fruity flavor profile and the colorful packaging.
    Interestingly we have local trends as well and in Hua Hin we can see some categories stand out. The wines from Puglia, and especially the Primitivo, are very strong and so are the bold wines from Veneto that use the appassimento method such as Amarone or Ripasso.
    Finally, and probably due to the strong European community in Hua Hin, we have a lot of connoisseurs of white wines from Northern Italy and Austria.

    Your Hua Hin store has hundreds of different wine brands, which ones do you think are the hidden gems, not yet generally discovered?
    The wines of Alois Lageder are of fantastic value and it is a good example of a wine maker that can assemble traditions and modernity. We also have some 2007 San Giorgio by Lungarotti that requires a bit of decanting but is absolutely outstanding for the price.

    Outside of wine, what will the first-time visitor to your store be surprised to find?
    We actually carry a complete solution for the Food and Beverage business. We have Illy Coffee, Monin Syrup, San Benedetto Water, Chinaware and Stemware. I suppose a first-time visitor would be most surprised to find out that we distribute Plant-Based Milk with the brand Orasi.
    How many locations does Italasia have in Thailand and do you have other locations in Hua Hin?
    We have 9 branches apart from Bangkok and we expanded the number of showrooms to 24. 13 in Bangkok and 11 upcountry. In Hua Hin we have the Showroom in Sundance and a warehouse on Phet Kasem road. We plan on having some pop-up stores around the city this year as well.

    What are your favorite wines and why?
    Wine has the surreal ability to bring back some memories of places and people. I remember getting emotional just by sniffing on a Leon Barral Valinières. I hadn’t been home for a long time and the notes of Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender, Earth and Pine sap reminded me vividly of my beloved hills in Provence. More recently the Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs and the Alois Lageder “AM Sand” Gewürztraminer blew me away. And by the way, both can make an interesting pairing with Thai Food’s bold flavours.

    What advice do you have for someone who wants to increase their wine knowledge?
    Get yourself a crew of like-minded people to taste with. You will need to try a lot of wines on your journey to extend your palate and it is always easier to do so when you have people to share it with. Always welcome different opinions and stay open minded.
    If you feel shy at first, join an introduction class. You will naturally meet up with your classmates and grow together.

    What do you like to do in your free time and why?
    I play the bass with various bands. I could find analogies between wines, music and cuisine all day. They are all a language in a way and the more you practice it, the more you become fluent in it.
    By the way we have a project this year to open a place in Hua Hin that will appeal to all senses so stay tuned.

    Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?
    My Granduncle was a popular writer and one of his book received a cinema and a TV adaptation. First on the Rope (Premier de cordée) by Roger Frison-Roche.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Culinary Maestro Nobu Matsuhisa: From Beverly Hills to Global Icon

    Nai Lert: Bangkok’s Original Visionary and the Dynasty That Still Shapes the City

    From Journalism Student to Culinary Icon: Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij Makes History as World’s Best Female Chef 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Latest Issue
    Subscribe to Receive Every Month

    Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription.

    About
    About

    HOT Magazine is a Thailand based luxury lifestyle magazine connecting with Asia’s wealthy, brand-conscious, high net worth individuals, through their chosen lifestyle activities. These include polo, boating, spas, luxury automobiles and extreme sports. HOT Magazine also spans every relevant luxury segment, such as Travel, Fashion, Art & Design, Food, Shopping, Wine & Spirits. The magazine is rounded out with interesting interviews from the likes of Billionaire Bill Heinecke to Philip B whose hair care products are found in Royal households around the world as well as used by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Madonna & Sir Richard Branson. Although all materials are published in good faith.

    Recent Posts
    • A Symphony of Stars: The Reunion 3.0 Delivered Culinary Excellence at Signature Bangkok
    • Culinary Maestro Nobu Matsuhisa: From Beverly Hills to Global Icon
    • The Pinnacle of Innovation: Inside the BYD Yangwang U9’s Tech-Driven Luxury
    • Nai Lert: Bangkok’s Original Visionary and the Dynasty That Still Shapes the City
    • Avani+ Hua Hin: Where Contemporary Elegance Meets Coastal Escape
    • Nobu Bangkok: A Culinary Ascent Above the City’s Pulse
    • HOME OF THE MONTH – A Masterpiece of Luxury Living in Bophut Koh Samui
    Advertise here!
    Sidebar Ad

    Contact Us for ad prices.

    Copyright © Hot Hua Hin 2014 - 2021. Powered by DEEPMIX MEDIA.
    Copyright © Hot Hua Hin 2014 - 2019. Powered by DEEPMIX MEDIA.
    • Home
    • All Issues
    • About
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.