Pours at Prestige Events…

Quid Pro Quo – Hannibal Lecter to FBI agent Clarice Starling..

After attending innumerable tasting events, where sometimes you take the required sip and lunge for the spit bucket, to the sublime pours, where you wish the guy or gal behind the table would pour a little more, one wonders, what is the Quid Pro Quo at wine and food tasting events?

Does money talk and any winery, no matter how dreadful, get to pour if they pay the fee? Or do prestige wineries buy a booth to showcase their wines to discerning sippers who would appreciate and buy their wines after having a sip? It’s a mystery that I could care less about as long as I get to have way more of the subtle wines than the spit kind. (By the way, there’s an actual wine out of Portugal called Quid Pro Quo, a very decent table wine under $15.)

So where am I going with all this? Well, while keeping my eagle eye on the wine scene I saw that Rutherford Ranch Winery was pouring at the recent San Diego Wine Fest and would be pouring at the Boca Rotan Fest (Jan 17- 19) so I got in touch with the winery. Nick Berube, Director of Marketing, got back to me and we had mucho agreement about what a great tasting event the SD is. “You’re kidding, that was your first big fest too? I got my start there as a volunteer and fell in love with it. First time I’ve missed it in a while, but our rep down there, Jamie did a fine job manning the booth. Our Winemaker Marc Zaccaria is going to be pouring for us in Boca Raton so let me hook you up with him. 

Hookup ensued – Marc and I had a ball and a bunch of laughs doing the NSI quiz and by the end were hoping to hook up in Boca Raton & Napa Valley Vintners’ Artisans of Wine and Food weekend on January 17-29, 2025. Cheers and enjoy…

What was last night’s dinner? Dinner with the wife at Los Agaves. Fantastic fried beef, beans and rice. Nice mole, tequila and red wine.

What’s your favorite music? Used to be into all those alt/rock bands but as I’m getting older I find myself listening to podcasts about financial advice.. sad isn’t it.. he said with a big laugh.

What’s  your favorite drink? Oh man, I’m all over the place on that one. Depends on what’s in front of me, basically. Love smooth tequila, well-made craft beers and of course, red and white wine. They’ve all got their place and I love em all.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Napa? I like a bunch, but if the wife and I are going to have special night out, we like Cole’s Chop House. Great food, terrific atmosphere and service. Just a great night out there.

What do you love most about living and working in Napa? The scenery and atmosphere. Man, when I’m driving to work in the early morning and the sun is just hitting the fields, the colors and the mist, just so beautiful.

What makes a great wine? In a word: purity. Being the winemaker you want to take yourself out of the equation as much as possible. If someone can taste the terroir and enjoy it to the fullest without thinking the winemaker had something to do with it, then you’ve done your job. 

Any brush with celebrity? I got to hang with chef Michael Chiarello a bunch of times and he always treated me great when I dined at Bottega.

Any wine, meal or trip on your bucket list? My boys are only 4 and 2, so this is def in the future, but would love to take them to Champagne, France when they’re old enough and give them a great tasting experience.

Final thoughts? Ah, well this has been interesting and fun. Haven’t done a wine interview like this ever. But you know your stuff… hope to get a round of golf in while I’m there, looking forward to pouring our wines for the folks in  Boca Raton and I hope to see you there. Cheers…