From vineyard tales to ballroom toasts, meet the Sommelier behind Corinthia Bucharest’s wine story
An interview with Octavian Gruianu, our Sommelier
A spark in Montevideo
Octavian’s love affair with wine began in an unexpected port of call. Working aboard the Queen Mary 2, he joined a vineyard visit in Montevideo, Uruguay. “They paired an asado barbecue with local wines,” he recalls. “It was mind-blowing. Right there I thought: Yes, this is what I’m meant to do.” That moment set him on a course that would take him across continents, curating cellars at sea and shaping award-winning wine lists back home in Romania.
Bottles with character
Among the 380 labels in his care, Octavian admits to indulgences and surprises in equal measure. His guilty pleasure is Château d’Yquem, Bordeaux’s legendary sweet wine touched by noble rot. “It is decadent, versatile and for me, the king of sweet wines.” Yet he delights just as much in introducing guests to unexpected discoveries - a Spätlese Riesling from Mosel, for instance, “a plot twist in a glass,” perfect for those exploring the delicate balance between sweetness, acidity and surprise.
Romanian wines also hold pride of place in his list, with nearly a fifth of the cellar dedicated to local producers. If Corinthia Bucharest were a bottle, he likens it to Gramma Fetească Neagră: “difficult to reach, highly profiled and something you wish would last forever.” For international visitors discovering Romanian terroir for the first time, he begins with Carassia Brut. “What better welcome than a glass of stars?”
Wine Nights at Corinthia
This passion for local wine comes vividly to life during Corinthia Bucharest’s Romanian Wine Nights at Boulevard 73 - a series of intimate evenings that showcase the country’s finest vineyards and vintages. Guided by Octavian, each dinner pairs seasonal menus with carefully chosen labels, turning the spotlight on Romania’s diverse terroirs and winemakers. “These nights are about more than tasting,” he explains. “They’re about celebrating the craft, sharing stories and discovering just how far Romanian wine has come.”
Stories of romance and secrets
Beyond pairings, Octavian is a romantic. He recalls taking his future wife to a winery near Auckland. “She didn’t drink white wine but I gave her a Sauvignon Blanc. After the first sip she paused, smiled and it became her favourite. That memory is still with me.”
As he prepares to host a series of wine dinners this season, Octavian is less concerned with lectures than with laughter. “Wine is about sipping, savouring and telling stories. Every room has its own energy and my job is to read it.” And if Grand Hotel du Boulevard’s walls could join the conversation? Octavian laughs softly. “They’d keep our secrets, of course. The golden rule is: you don’t share what happens in your own house.”
Quick-fire round with Octavian
- Red or white?
White before 5pm, red after - Old World or New World?
Old World when I’m paying; New World when it’s free - Most overused wine term?
“Classic”, “fresh”, “crisp” - A wine everyone should try once?
Tokaji Essencia - One food you’ll always sneak a glass of wine with?
Spaghetti aglio e olio with peperoncini - Decant or straight from the bottle?
It depends on the wine - Desert island wine?
Blandy’s Malvasia Madeira - A wine that feels like Bucharest?
Burgundy Pinot Noir - complex and challenging, but once discovered, unforgettable - Best toast you’ve ever heard?
“To old friends, because I’m too lazy to make new ones”
