TdB ‘Spill the Tea’ Interview
“Table — Stories of Wine & Food”
Interview by Lyn M. Archer
“It is a space where I explore wine as a cultural and sensory language, through seasonal narratives, photography, and reflections on food, memory, and place.”-Laura Riolfatto
Welcome to Tête de Bulle’s 2026 series ‘Spill the Tea’.
This interview project grew out of a need to give back to the Substack community, which nourishes me as a creative.
The micro-interview platform showcases other Substack creatives covering an array of cultural topics.
Removing the paywall opens these interviews to the entire Substack community, and allows those interviewed to promote freely to their own audiences.
(In essence, ‘paying it forward’ for fellow community creatives.)
Today, TdB’s STT meets up with wine storyteller, sommelier, and photographer Laura Riolfatto of Table — Stories of Wine & Food.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
LMA: What is your Substack site, and what is it about?
Laura Riolfatto: My Substack is called Table — Stories of Wine & Food.
It is a space where I explore wine as a cultural and sensory language, through seasonal narratives, photography, and reflections on food, memory, and place.
I write about Malvasia, Venice, the relationship between landscape and taste, and the way everyday gestures — cooking, tasting, walking, observing — become forms of knowledge and storytelling.
LMA: What’s the impetus behind writing your Substack?
Laura Riolfatto: I started my Substack out of a need for slowness and depth.
In a digital environment dominated by speed and performance, I wanted to create a place where I could think, write, and photograph without pressure, following the rhythm of seasons and research.
Substack allows me to connect directly with readers who are interested in thoughtful, long-form storytelling about wine, culture, and everyday life.
LMA: Any current or upcoming project that excites you right now?
Laura Riolfatto: At the moment, I am working on my book project Memorie Sospese — Venice, Malvasias, and a Sensory Journey through Italy, which brings together research, writing, and photography around the nineteen Italian Malvasia varieties.
At the same time, I continue to develop Malvasia Pop Up, an experiential format based in Venice and travelling to selected locations, where storytelling, tasting, and dialogue come together.
Both projects are deeply connected and feed each other. READ MORE HERE.
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