Born in Wales to an Italian father and English mother, Nina was brought up surrounded by her Italian family who had emigrated to Wales in the 1900s. Nina’s great grandparents ran a much-loved Italian restaurant in their home-town of Bardi and, after arriving in Wales, her grandfather and then father and uncle carried on the tradition, opening two renowned restaurants in Cardiff.

As with most Italian families, food was central to family life and, after meeting Nina in 2003 James, already an established foodie and wine-lover, also fell in love with Italy and its food culture. They married on the island of Ischia in 2011, spending many years both before and after, travelling (and eating and drinking!) extensively in Italy. After living in London for 20 years, Nina and James moved to Lisbon in 2021 with their two daughters.

Inspired by Nina and James’s passion for Italian food and hospitality, Enoteca Diciannove embodies everything they love about the relaxed Italian attitude to cooking and eating – bringing people together with delicious, simple plates, shared over an aperitivo or glass of wine.