Cecilia’s Journey to Wine Expertise
If Venice is a painting, wine is one of its richest brushstrokes. For Cecilia Sitran, a Venetian sommelier and expert in the city’s culinary traditions, wine is more than a drink—it’s a story in a glass, connecting past and present. I first met Cecilia during an online event about cicchetti (pronounced “chi-KEH-tee”—the “ch” is like a “k”), Venice’s irresistible small bites often paired with wine. Two years ago, I returned to Venice with my 9-year-old grandson, Sebastian. Cecilia created a private cicchetti tour just for us—thoughtful, delicious, and full of the city’s magic. Cecilia connects easily with people of all ages—she made Sebastian feel welcomed, introducing him to her Venice with warmth and enthusiasm.
Now, I’m thrilled to feature Cecilia in my “Conversations” series—a perfect opportunity to introduce you to someone who embodies how travel becomes a journey of discovery, hidden gems, and lasting connections.
From Economics to Wine Expertise
Cecilia’s path to becoming a Venetian sommelier didn’t start in a vineyard. With an economics degree specializing in art and management, she planned to work in Venice’s cultural events scene. But paid jobs were scarce. A lifelong curiosity about wine led her to enroll in an evening sommelier course, where she was the only woman in her first-level class. “It was completely different from what I was studying,” she recalls. “We’d meet once a week for tastings and lessons, and I loved it.”
After two and a half years of study and earning her sommelier diploma, fate stepped in. Walking near the Rialto Bridge, she entered a historic wine shop, started a conversation with the owner, and was offered a job. That shop became her training ground, the owner her mentor, and the foundation for her career leading private wine tours in Venice and sharing her deep knowledge of Italian wines.
Why Venice Shapes Her Tours Differently
Venice has no cars—only legs or boats for travel. A unique way to cross the Grand Canal is by traghetto, a traditional gondola ferry used by locals. This encourages the city’s slower, more social rhythm, where daily life centers around gathering in a bacaro (plural: bacari)—Venice’s informal wine bars. Here, locals meet for wine and cicchetti before heading home. “After work, we stop for a glass of wine and cicchetti before going home,” Cecilia says. “It’s not a happy hour—it’s a ritual.”
Wine’s roots in Venice go back centuries. With fresh water historically scarce, merchants often relied on wine as a safe alternative. Food and wine evolved together, creating traditions that are still alive today in every bacaro (pronounced “BAH-kah-ro”) and on every plate of seafood risotto.
Designing an Authentic Cicchetti Tour
Cecilia’s Venice cicchetti tours stand apart because she crafts each experience to be truly local and personal. Unlike mainstream, crowded tours, Cecilia’s intimate approach introduces guests to hidden neighborhoods and family-run bacari she personally frequents, ensuring each tour reflects genuine Venetian life and connections. “I want guests to feel like they’ve stepped into my Venice,” she says. “Google Maps can take you anywhere—but it won’t tell you which tiny doorway hides the best glass of Prosecco.”
Hidden Gems of Venetian Wine Culture
On her tours, guests learn the real story of Prosecco in Venice, including how to spot authentic bottles from overpriced imitations. Cecilia notes, “Most people think they know Prosecco, but only about 10% have truly tasted the real thing made in the traditional way.”
Cecilia encourages guests to try uniquely Venetian dishes, like spaghetti al nero di seppia—pasta made with black cuttlefish ink sourced from the Venetian lagoon. “It looks intimidating,” she admits, “but the flavor is delicate and tastes like the sea. It’s 100% Venetian.”
When Clients Become Friends
Because Cecilia offers only private wine tours, she can form lasting connections with guests. One couple from the USA visited so often that Cecilia ran out of new places to show them—now they meet to share meals, cook, and enjoy each other’s company as friends. Many have returned several times, joining her for meals, cooking, and online wine tastings during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s about connection and friendship,” she says.
A Personal Toast
If you could raise a glass with your guests to celebrate Venice, which local wine would you choose?
While Prosecco remains close to her heart, Cecilia’s favorite is Incrocio Manzoni, a crisp white wine created in the 1930s in Treviso by Professor Luigi Manzoni. He developed it by crossing Pinot Bianco and Riesling, resulting in a wine that pairs beautifully with Venetian seafood, such as grilled shrimp, spaghetti with clams, and eel. “It’s not widely known, but it’s one of our most interesting summer whites,” she says.
Connect with Cecilia Sitran: Your Private Venice Cicchetti and Wine Tour
Ready to discover Venice like a local? Reserve your private Venice cicchetti tour with Cecilia Sitran for a personalized experience tailored to your interests: Connect with Cecilia Sitran, Enjoy exclusive access to authentic wines, secret bacari, and neighborhoods off the tourist map. Reach out to Cecilia for a truly personalized, welcoming experience—she delights in guiding guests to the hidden stories and tastes that make her tours unmatched.
Final Sip
Venice’s treasures are not just in its canals and palaces—they’re in its people. When you raise a glass in Venice, may it be filled with the warmth, knowledge, and stories of a sommelier who truly knows the city. Here, every sip is an invitation to discover Venice’s true spirit—one that lingers long after the last drop, leaving you with a deeper connection to its magic and its people.
Once Venice has captured your heart you may also enjoy my feature on Rome, a city where history comes alive at every turn, or discovering the hidden beauty of the Northern Lakes Region of Italy, a place of tranquil waters and timeless charm.