The Wirth family has been running luxury hotels for five generations, so Roberto Wirth could be expected to know something about the business. When he wanted to work at the five-star Hotel Hassler when he turned 18 his father was sympathetic – but suggested his younger brother would be more suited to the job. The fact that Roberto had been deaf since birth meant he would find a job that required so much communication very difficult indeed, his father said.
Wirth proved him wrong. In 1982 after Gallaudet College in America (the world's only university for the deaf), the Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and a stint in Honolulu running the Silent Aloha Magazine for the Deaf, he took over the Hassler. He was 32, and the Rome press called him the youngest and hottest manager of a top-class hotel in Italy.
Then in 2001 a palazzo at the foot of the Spanish Steps came up for sale and Wirth recognised it as perfect for realising his dream of opening a fine wine academy for experts and enthusiasts alike. He brought in Hugh Johnson and Steven Spurrier to advise, and the International Wine Academy of Roma opened its doors a year ago. Wirth is now planning the first wine classes for the deaf – who are better equipped than anyone to taste wine. As he says, 'By being hearing-impaired my…senses are more intense.'
In 1993 Wirth set up the Roberto Wirth Scholarship Fund which works toward training teachers and parents of deaf pre-school children. The Fund operates within the Fulbright Commission.
Roberto Wirth talks to Adam Lechmere in an interview conducted entirely by email.
I read in an interview that your father thought your younger brother should take over the running of the Hassler - is this true, and how did you convince him otherwise?
Yes, that's true. In fact, my father and my younger brother had a good relationship. Nevertheless, I told my father that I wanted to become a hotel manager. He replied that this implied a lot of personal communication with guests and also with the staff, and that all these tasks, due to my being hearing-impaired, would certainly be very difficult to handle.
When my father died in 1968, my mother took over and suggested that I continue my education and training in the United States. I was 18 and at that time my life here in Rome was limited in many ways. I decided to follow my mother's advice and it was indeed a good decision, because the stay in the US gave me many new opportunities and opened my mind, giving me the self confidence that I needed, while being able to move around freely.
I really found my identity then and realised that I could make it in the future, without any fear. Then my mother also finally realised that I was in fact the right person to follow in my parents' footsteps.
What sorts of obstacles do you have to overcome as a hearing-impaired person at the top of the hotel trade?
The only true obstacle I find worth mentioning is that I cannot use the telephone, thereby missing out on many opportunities to directly and immediately communicate with friends and others.
Today's technology makes communication for everyone so much easier, and especially for the hearing impaired. When my father had doubts about me becoming a hotel manager, it was because he knew what a lot of communication is necessary in this business. But things have changed, and now the greatest invention in my opinion is being able to send text messages. Obviously e-mail is another very important tool too that I use a lot in everyday life and work.
In the old days I really had to fight to get any message across, but luckily this difficulty is now overcome, as the hearing impaired are now able to use exactly the same modern tools of communication as hearing persons.
However the most important aspect in my opinion is to have self confidence, that once gained, allows one to overcome any obstacle.
What made you decide to set up the Wine Academy?
After a friend's suggestion, I started to think about the idea of creating a sort of wine club for wine lovers and experts. When I was told that there was a Palazzo up for sale just opposite the Hassler, on the right of the Spanish Steps, I knew immediately that it was the right setting for what was to become the "International Wine Academy of Roma".
Is it true that being deaf enhances your other senses and makes you a better wine taster?
It is true. By being hearing-impaired my sight is much more developed and also other senses are more intense.
I understand that you are thinking of beginning wine classes for the deaf at the Academy
At present there are no wine-schools or classes for the deaf anywhere in the world. We will be the first to run them, starting this autumn. I don't think the classes will be too difficult to set up, as they will be structured more or less in the same way as the normal classes, but with the help of international sign language interpreters. We haven't started to advertise yet, mainly because we are waiting to hear if we can get an EU subsidy. So everything is still at an early stage – we don't even know at which wines we'll start with.
Tell me something about your interest in wine. What are your favourites?
Many people think the wines of Piedmont and Tuscany are the best in Italy, but this is not really true. At the moment I'm promoting wines from Lazio (Latium), the area around Rome, as there are a great number of excellent wines. Some of my favourites are Montiano, produced by Azienda Falesco, Vigna del Vassallo from Azienda Colle Picchioni, and Regina Vitae from Azienda Casal Pilozzo.
Would you like to produce your own wine?
I don't own any wine property nor vineyard, but I have in my mind that one day I shall produce my own wine.
Are you interested in vinification, or viticulture – do you want to sit and watch the grapes grow, or do you want to be in the tasting room making blends?
I am actually interested in both, but of course it depends on the time I will be able to spare when my dream comes true. My main interest lies in producing what I consider a top quality wine.
