Solo Vino and African Wines
Damiano and Belinda D'Alba of Solo Vino give you a taste of the good life
A born entrepreneur sees opportunities and seizes them. Damiano D'Alba is just such a person. With nine catering businesses and two wine importing companies, he and his wife Belinda are always thinking about the next step. "It's good to keep innovating"
DATE
30 April 2023
TEXT
Annerieke Simeone
IMAGE
Brian Mul
Solo Vino and African Wines
Damiano and Belinda D'Alba of Solo Vino give you a taste of the good life
A born entrepreneur sees opportunities and seizes them. Damiano D'Alba is just such a person. With nine catering businesses and two wine importing companies, he and his wife Belinda are always thinking about the next step. "It's good to keep innovating"
Gevers Deynootplein, ten o'clock Friday morning. The water jets from the fountain are already happily spewing up in front of wine bar Solo Vino. Overlooking the Kurhaus, Belinda D'Alba has picked a sunny spot on La Galleria's terrace. "Cappuccino, water?", she asks as we perch beside her. The colourfully dressed entrepreneur tells us she is still recovering from a busy week. "We had a wine tasting with professionals, a car rally, a consumer tasting." In the hospitality industry, it is often hard work. She has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, together with her husband Damiano D'Alba. "Damiano started at La Galleria on Kurhausplein in 1981. Together with partners, we gradually grew further."
Damiano and Belinda D'Alba, together for more than 35 years.
Under the umbrella name Entrada Group, they operate no fewer than nine businesses: La Galleria (two in Scheveningen, one in Noordwijk), Steam (Scheveningen and Noordwijk), Solo Vino by Gusto, Trattoria La Riva, Blaze & Co and Solo Vino Wine Bar.
'He is still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know'
There are also two wine import businesses, but more on that later. "Damiano is a pedigree entrepreneur," she continues her story. "He always sees opportunities." She looks back briefly at her husband, who is in Solo Vino Winebar, adjacent to La Galleria. "He's still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know."
Johannesburg
Unlike her husband with southern Italian roots, Belinda D'Alba grew up in The Hague. Though her mind was often with South Africa. "My parents, sisters and brother lived there for 15 years. They told me the most wonderful stories. About the nature, the freedom, the outdoor life. But because of my father's health, they returned to The Hague. From a detached house in Johannesburg, they went to a flat three stories high at the back in the Laakkwartier. They had to leave everything behind. Three years later I came."
'Why don't we start importing South African wines?'
When Belinda planned to visit South Africa, she took her eldest sister with her. "She was always homesick for her birthplace. Her childhood home, still built by my father, we visited then. At the door, she did shed a tear. And me? I thought: I am home. I want to come here more often." Grinning: "Well, Damiano is not the type to travel a lot, so I had to think of something to get him to come along. I said: 'Why don't we start importing South African wines?' That piqued his interest."
African Wines
During their first trip, the two found plenty of gems. "In the Netherlands, the big brands are represented, also because they have a lot of marketing budget. While there are so many beautiful niche wines from independent makers." Under the name African Wines, they now represent more than 30 South African winemakers. "In the Netherlands, we are a very big player when it comes to African wines."
Social responsibility
Damiano D'Alba, just finishing his phone call, caught his wife's last sentences. "We actually have too much wine," jokes the Italian. Belinda: "Apart from making good wine, we also want the makers to do something for nature or for the community. In a country like South Africa now, you can't help but take social responsibility.
At Solo Vino Winebar, ruby colours are interspersed with peacock fabric sofas and an art deco motif on the walls.
Young wine drinkers think the same way. I see it in my youngest son, who lives in Berlin: he eats vegan and is really very aware of the changes in the world. 'Mum,' he said a few years ago, 'plastic straws really can't be done any more.' His generation wants to know where a product comes from, how it was made. It's good to keep innovating. Say, shall we go inside? Then you can see some of the new decor too."
Solo Vino Winebar
Since last September, Solo Vino Winebar's restyling has been completed. "We have been here since 2005, so we were ready for something new. Back then, we were one of the first wine bars in the Netherlands." It has all become more cosy, according to Belinda, who came up with the design. The ruby colours are interspersed with peacock fabric sofas and an art deco motif on the walls.
'He is still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know'
The bar has been given a more central place in the restaurant, so people can now eat at it. "Look." Belinda points to the back. "How many wine bars do you know with their own pizza oven? Eye-catcher, right? Our pizzaiolo is a professional idiot. He experimented for many weeks, just until the dough was perfect. Pizza plays an important role in this wine bar."
'Our pizzaiolo is a professional idiot. He experimented for many weeks, just until the dough was perfect'
Besides the wine bar here in Scheveningen and the one at the Plein, there is also an import business under the name Solo Vino with wines from Italy. Damiano: "As the number of restaurants grew, I thought: why don't we actually do it ourselves? And I'm talking about about twenty-five years ago."
Puglia
Especially autochthonous grapes are his preference. "The wineries are scattered all over Italy, but these days we get most of it from Puglia, my native region." As does his latest acquisition: Produttori di Manduria, a cooperative of four hundred individual farmers who collectively own a thousand hectares of vineyards.
Damiano's latest acquisition: Produttori di Manduria, a cooperative of four hundred individual farmers who collectively own a thousand hectares of vineyards.
"They are known for their red grapes, such as Primitivo and Negroamaro, but we also have beautiful white wines from that region. One of my favourites is Alice, a fresh, refined wine made from 100 per cent Verdeca grapes. Delicious with freshly baked sea bass or vitello tonnato."
'One of my favourites is Alice, a fresh, sophisticated wine made from 100 per cent Verdeca grapes. Delicious with freshly baked sea bass or vitello tonnato'
While uncorking a bottle of Alice for the photo: "All the wines from Solo Vino and African Wines can be bought here just down the road at Palaceplein 13. In front of the door, you can easily load boxes. That's quite special in Scheveningen." The Italian sniffs the wine for a moment and nods in agreement. "We don't only serve our wines in our own restaurants.
'Shall we toast to that?'
Customers from The Hague include La Passione, Publique and The Wine House. But we also supply the two-star restaurant Fred in Rotterdam. How come? The better restaurants have sommeliers and they are always looking for the best wines." He raises his glass in the air to his wife: "Shall we toast to that?"
text Annerieke Simeone image Brian Mul
Gevers Deynootplein, ten o'clock Friday morning. The water jets from the fountain are already happily spewing up in front of wine bar Solo Vino. Overlooking the Kurhaus, Belinda D'Alba has picked a sunny spot on La Galleria's terrace. "Cappuccino, water?", she asks as we perch beside her. The colourfully dressed entrepreneur tells us she is still recovering from a busy week. "We had a wine tasting with professionals, a car rally, a consumer tasting." In the hospitality industry, it is often hard work. She has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, together with her husband Damiano D'Alba. "Damiano started at La Galleria on Kurhausplein in 1981. Together with partners, we gradually grew further."
Damiano and Belinda D'Alba, together for more than 35 years.
Under the umbrella name Entrada Group, they operate no fewer than nine businesses: La Galleria (two in Scheveningen, one in Noordwijk), Steam (Scheveningen and Noordwijk), Solo Vino by Gusto, Trattoria La Riva, Blaze & Co and Solo Vino Wine Bar.
'He is still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know'
There are also two wine import businesses, but more on that later. "Damiano is a pedigree entrepreneur," she continues her story. "He always sees opportunities." She looks back briefly at her husband, who is in Solo Vino Winebar, adjacent to La Galleria. "He's still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know."
Johannesburg
Unlike her husband with southern Italian roots, Belinda D'Alba grew up in The Hague. Though her mind was often with South Africa. "My parents, sisters and brother lived there for 15 years. They told me the most wonderful stories. About the nature, the freedom, the outdoor life. But because of my father's health, they returned to The Hague. From a detached house in Johannesburg, they went to a flat three stories high at the back in the Laakkwartier. They had to leave everything behind. Three years later I came."
'Why don't we start importing South African wines?'
When Belinda planned to visit South Africa, she took her eldest sister with her. "She was always homesick for her birthplace. Her childhood home, still built by my father, we visited then. At the door, she did shed a tear. And me? I thought: I am home. I want to come here more often." Grinning: "Well, Damiano is not the type to travel a lot, so I had to think of something to get him to come along. I said: 'Why don't we start importing South African wines?' That piqued his interest."
African Wines
During their first trip, the two found plenty of gems. "In the Netherlands, the big brands are represented, also because they have a lot of marketing budget. While there are so many beautiful niche wines from independent makers." Under the name African Wines, they now represent more than 30 South African winemakers. "In the Netherlands, we are a very big player when it comes to African wines."
Social responsibility
Damiano D'Alba, just finishing his phone call, caught his wife's last sentences. "We actually have too much wine," jokes the Italian. Belinda: "Apart from making good wine, we also want the makers to do something for nature or for the community. In a country like South Africa now, you can't help but take social responsibility.
At Solo Vino Winebar, ruby colours are interspersed with peacock fabric sofas and an art deco motif on the walls.
Young wine drinkers think the same way. I see it in my youngest son, who lives in Berlin: he eats vegan and is really very aware of the changes in the world. 'Mum,' he said a few years ago, 'plastic straws really can't be done any more.' His generation wants to know where a product comes from, how it was made. It's good to keep innovating. Say, shall we go inside? Then you can see some of the new decor too."
Solo Vino Winebar
Since last September, Solo Vino Winebar's restyling has been completed. "We have been here since 2005, so we were ready for something new. Back then, we were one of the first wine bars in the Netherlands." It has all become more cosy, according to Belinda, who came up with the design. The ruby colours are interspersed with peacock fabric sofas and an art deco motif on the walls.
'He is still in call with South Africa for a while. But you can ask me some questions in advance, you know'
The bar has been given a more central place in the restaurant, so people can now eat at it. "Look." Belinda points to the back. "How many wine bars do you know with their own pizza oven? Eye-catcher, right? Our pizzaiolo is a professional idiot. He experimented for many weeks, just until the dough was perfect. Pizza plays an important role in this wine bar."
'Our pizzaiolo is a professional idiot. He experimented for many weeks, just until the dough was perfect'
Besides the wine bar here in Scheveningen and the one at the Plein, there is also an import business under the name Solo Vino with wines from Italy. Damiano: "As the number of restaurants grew, I thought: why don't we actually do it ourselves? And I'm talking about about twenty-five years ago."
Puglia
Especially autochthonous grapes are his preference. "The wineries are scattered all over Italy, but these days we get most of it from Puglia, my native region." As does his latest acquisition: Produttori di Manduria, a cooperative of four hundred individual farmers who collectively own a thousand hectares of vineyards.
Damiano's latest acquisition: Produttori di Manduria, a cooperative of four hundred individual farmers who collectively own a thousand hectares of vineyards.
"They are known for their red grapes, such as Primitivo and Negroamaro, but we also have beautiful white wines from that region. One of my favourites is Alice, a fresh, refined wine made from 100 per cent Verdeca grapes. Delicious with freshly baked sea bass or vitello tonnato."
'One of my favourites is Alice, a fresh, sophisticated wine made from 100 per cent Verdeca grapes. Delicious with freshly baked sea bass or vitello tonnato'
While uncorking a bottle of Alice for the photo: "All the wines from Solo Vino and African Wines can be bought here just down the road at Palaceplein 13. In front of the door, you can easily load boxes. That's quite special in Scheveningen." The Italian sniffs the wine for a moment and nods in agreement. "We don't only serve our wines in our own restaurants.
'Shall we toast to that?'
Customers from The Hague include La Passione, Publique and The Wine House. But we also supply the two-star restaurant Fred in Rotterdam. How come? The better restaurants have sommeliers and they are always looking for the best wines." He raises his glass in the air to his wife: "Shall we toast to that?"
