Edinburgh’s Bar Prince at The Balmoral is serving up something seriously playful this summer – a limited-edition wine and gelato pairing menu in collaboration with iconic St Andrews spot, Jannettas Gelateria.
Running from 25th August to 7th September, the menu takes inspiration from a dining trend that’s been gaining traction in New York, Paris and London: pairing artisan gelato with fine wines and Champagne. The idea is simple – and genius. Each tasting includes two scoops of gelato matched with either a glass of wine or Champagne, with the full line-up created by Bar Prince’s Giovanni Cassino and Stefano Pinna.
So, what’s on the menu? There’s a Tahini gelato made just for this collaboration, paired with crisp Sancerre; Sicilian Pistachio gelato with Charles Heidsieck Champagne; a locally grown Tayberry gelato paired with Charles Heidsieck Rosé; and a rich Chocolate Sorbet that meets its match in a glass of fruity Valpolicella. Prices start at £21.50, or you can try the full experience of all four pairings for £50.
“Lots of us have fond memories of visiting Jannettas in St Andrews, so it felt like the perfect fit,” says Assistant Bar Manager Stefano Pinna. “It’s been great fun exploring how these unusual pairings bring out new flavours in both the gelato and the wine.”
For Jannettas, a fifth-generation family business that’s been making gelato in St Andrews since 1908, the collaboration is another chance to spotlight Scottish ingredients alongside traditional Italian techniques. Co-owner Lewis Hazel explains: “Our tayberry gelato, for example, has a unique sweet profile that works beautifully with certain wines – and the berries are grown by a family friend just down the road.”
The setting couldn’t be better. Bar Prince, with its cornflower-blue leather seating, marble bar and adjoining library, already feels like one of the city’s most elegant hideaways. Add gelato and Champagne into the mix, and you’ve got one of the most indulgent pop-up menus of the season.
The details
The wine and gelato pairings will be available at Bar Prince from 25th August – 7th September, daily from 12pm–9pm. The full tasting menu (£50 per person) must be booked via the Bar Prince website.
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