When I came here in the early 1970's and moved into a mansion built by the notorious 18th century pirate Captain Graysmith, I tell people I brought two things with me from Italy - everything I owned and my entrepreneurial spirit. In my case, the 'everything' included shipping out my wine cellar which needed an entire container to itself.
As we had been involved in the hospitality industry in Italy and Europe, my wife Anna Maria and I had always wanted to have our own place, so we began putting our grand plans into action and transforming Graycliff - not just into an hotel and restaurant, but a true destination experience.
I don't know what the locals thought of us back then, but we always made it clear what we were planning to achieve and they've helped us create the elegant establishment and great international reputation we have today.
Over the years, just as my passion for fine wine has grown, so has my cellar, and today, Graycliff is home to 250,000 bottles, with 3,000 different wines from over 400 vintners and 15 countries.
Our restaurants, too, have achieved acclaim as the first in the Caribbean to be awarded five stars. And in 1997, after I had fallen in love with cigars but been unable to find the perfect blend, we set up what has become the award-winning Graycliff Cigar Company.
As well as sharing my life and enthusiasms with the good friends I've made here, in over four decades we've entertained a great many famous guests - royalty, heads of state, British prime ministers and politicians, celebrities, too many to list.
So if you're coming to stay in The Bahamas, call in sometime. You'll be more than welcome to be my guest
Enrico Garzaroli, bon vivant and connoisseur, Graycliff Hotel - Nassau/Paradise Island
