As a writer and Sommelier, adding a new perspective to the 8,000-year history of wine is a daunting task, but one that is fueled by an abundant source of inspiration that has come before me. I am a humble drop in the ocean of wine, a mere Sommelier who adores and respects the 250 + Master Sommeliers in the world, with a full appreciation of what is required to become a Master. As challenging as becoming a physician or an attorney.
My unique place in the universe of wine
My place in the universe of wine, and what I love to write about, is the intersection of wine and sensory delights. Wine for me is an irresistible magnet that, once implanted in the psyche, presents an energy field that is impossible to reverse.
My stories are about the emotion of wine, the sensations wine creates, oozing from the tapestry of flavor, the vivid palette of hues, the magnificent senses of place leading us to the verdant valleys, the high deserts, the steep shale cliffs, and the foggy bottoms that all contribute our luscious narratives.
Join the Ride
I will immerse you and transport you to a dreamy wonderland of wine, with graphic descriptions, culinary pairings, creation stories, and environments in which wine is imbued. practical advice on how to select, curate, and pair wines. If you love to get your imagination turned on, then come with me on this ride!
My first real bottle of wine, not counting kosher wine at Passover served four times in tiny port glasses, was a Chateau St. Georges, a modest St. Emilion Merlot blend that I ordered at the Old English Room in Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee Wisconsin, taking my older sister for dinner when I was 15 years old. Asking for proof of ID in Wisconsin in the 1960’s was just not a thing, there wasn’t really a drinking age in Wisconsin at the time.
Old English was a classic dark leather, red carpet, mahogany joint, perfect for a 15 year-old and his sister. I think I even lit up a cigar. I picked the wine because a sommelier recommended we pair St. George with our Beef Wellington, and the label looked authentic but I had no idea if this was a good wine or not. Chateau St. Georges pretty good St. Emilion wine and the experience itself was thrilling.
Napa Boondoggle, Age 20
As the editor of my Hotel/Restaurant University at Michgan State I convinced my Dean to send my friend Kelly, and me to Napa, in 1976 to explore the emerging wine region. Shit, wish I was smart enough to understand the importance of that moment! We had dinner at Chandon while it was still under construction and raining hard. Explored BV, Heitz, Montelana, Mondavi - jewels of the moment. Those experiences were/are indelibly etches in my mind, fanning wafts of joy and reflection. With decades of wine experiences, hundreds of producers, hundreds more wine tastings, and professional credentials as a Sommelier, I love sharing with new friends.
Executive drowning in creativityMy career has found me to be responsible for igniting creativity and innovation at large companies, such as Levi’s, Banana Republic, Hyatt, Hershey’s, Stoller Wine, and others. Was a cool career, triggering senses, leading to new thinking, collaboration, innovation, joy and a more attuned perception of the future. Yes, a link.I loved deploying the tenents of neuroscience in search of ways to inspire creativity, fully understanding the role of sensory stimulation related to happiness, while collaborating with musical partners such as Peter Himmelman and Big Muse, Midnight Texas, and a lady from Peru who played a digital violin with a glass sphere and laser beams.
Roots, mon
Now I am back to my roots, having I am heading back to my roots, on the path to becoming one of the masters, years ahead on the horizon time standing still, a microcosm of 8,000 years before me.
You’re invited to the C’EST WHAT? experience
Welcome to C’EST WHAT? Wine and Sensory stories. Join fellow wine lovers in a weekly immersion of stories about the sense of place, reviews of specific wines, regions, producers, and culinary pairings as well as the bizarre conversations that emerge when, eh, you and friends are drinking wine.
Love Chalky?
I love gathering five wines together in a theme, region, emotion, style, or graphic representation. For example, love the Andre Clouet Chalky Champagne, a snow-white bottle and box that is named after the chalk soil that grapes that are grown in the Champagne region.
See You Soon!
Join me once a week for an easy-access ride into the love of wine, different from other wine sites because I am focused on the creativity of wine, the connection between wine and sensory delights, and the link to the future. With inspiring and practical advice on how to select and pair your wines. Subscribe today and see you soon!
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