Bar Prince at The Balmoral has joined forces with the iconic, family-run Jannettas Gelateria of St Andrews to launch an exclusive wine and gelato pairing from 25th August – 7th September. The menu will celebrate the pairing of artisan gelato with fine wines and Champagne, inspired by the growing dining trend in cities such as New York, Paris and London.
Bar Prince has worked closely with Jannettas to select four gelato flavours for the pairings, including one created exclusively for this menu. Led by Bar Manager Giovanni Cassino and Assistant Bar Manager Stefano Pinna, the team has carefully selected two wines and two Champagnes to complement the four distinct gelato flavours on the tasting menu, with each pairing including two scoops of gelato and either a 175ml glass of wine or a 125ml glass of champagne.
Tasting menu:
Tahini – £24.50 (paired with Sancerre)
Created especially for this occasion, this gelato blends toasted sesame seed paste with rich cream for a refined balance of savoury and nutty notes with a smooth finish.
Pistachio – £26.50 (paired with Charles Heidsieck Champagne)
Made with pistachios from Sicily, this flavour is deep, earthy and subtly sweet. The pairing with Champagne highlights its creamy texture and delicate taste.
Tayberry – £28.50 (paired with Charles Heidsieck Rose Champagne)
A tart sweet gelato made with tayberries, a blackberry and raspberry hybrid, grown locally just fifteen minutes from Jannettas. This flavour celebrates the best of seasonal Scottish produce. Fruity notes are complemented by the bubbles, creating a refreshing pairing.
Chocolate sorbet – £21.50 (paired with Valoplicella)
Rich and indulgent, made with high-quality cocoa. The pairing with Valpolicella, a red wine from the Veneto region of Italy, enhances the chocolate with fruity notes.
Stefano Pinna, Assistant Bar Manager, said,
“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Jannettas. Lots of us have fond memories of visiting their shop in St Andrews, and as a family-run business with Italian roots, it feels like the perfect fit. It’s been such fun exploring how these unusual pairings bring out new flavours in both the gelato and the wine. Each one has been expertly paired to create a truly experiential tasting, and has been great fun, challenging our expertise into something so playful.”
Lewis Hazel, Co-owner of Jannettas added,
“This collaboration is a special one to us and a true milestone since taking over from the previous generation. The idea of pairing gelato with wine and Champagne opens up exciting possibilities for flavour. Our tayberry gelato, for example, has a unique sweet profile that works beautifully with certain wines and it comes from berries grown by a family friend just down the road.”
“We’ve grown up in this business,” says Lewis Hazel. “It’s not just about making gelato; it’s about continuing something bigger than ourselves, something our family has built for over a century.”
The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel with 124 years of history, continues to be an iconic part of Edinburgh’s culture and hospitality scene. This collaboration celebrates the shared Italian heritage with Jannettas Gelateria, also a family-run business that has been serving authentic gelato and sorbet in St Andrews for 117 years.
Founded in 1908 by Benedito Jannetta, Jannettas is a family-run business now led by fifth-generation brothers Lewis and Ross Hazel. Every generation has upheld a legacy of craftsmanship, using traditional Italian techniques and high-quality ingredients including local Fife berries, Sicilian pistachios, and rich Scottish dairy. Gelato is made fresh year-round by the family and their team of skilled gelato makers.
Bar Prince offers an extensive drinks selection, from Old and New World wines to French Champagnes, providing the perfect menu, team and setting to create inventive gelato pairings. Stylish, yet relaxed, the bar features comfortable cornflower-blue leather seating, a long marble bar and a cosy fire in the adjoining library. Finishing touches like gleaming copperware and fresh garnishes create a welcoming atmosphere.
Guests will be able to order gelato pairings directly from the menu or can choose to book a full tasting experience of the four flavours on the menu matched with selected wines and champagne. The full tasting menu, priced at £50 per person must be booked via the Bar Prince website here and will be available from 25th of August- 7th of September.
Timings:
Monday – Friday: 12pm-9pm
Saturday – Sunday: 12pm- 9pm
Bar Prince at The Balmoral
Address: 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Phone: +44 131 556 2414
Email: barprince@roccofortehotels.com
For media enquiries, images or interviews, please contact:
Emma McVeigh on emma@soundbitepr.co.uk / Abie Dobie on abie@soundbitepr.co.uk / Gemma Robertson on gemma@soundbitepr.co.uk
Images HERE.