When did you first become interested in wine?
I first became most interested in wine while studying abroad in Italy my junior year of college. We had wine at both lunch and dinner and I became fascinated by the culture of food and wine in Italy.

What brought you into the wine business?
After working in a bookstore for a year after college trying to write the great American novel, I realized talent might be needed for such an endeavor whereas to be in the wine business all you needed was two hands and a good palate. Within a year I was working harvest in Napa Valley, getting my hands dirty and my palate trained.

Do you have a favorite varietal or region?
I don't actually favor one varietal or region over another. I import Italian wines and love them but couldn't live without the French and Austrian and German wines I sell as well. Red, white and every color of wine in between are my favorites.

If you don't order wine at a restaurant or bar, which beverages do you choose?
I only order wine at a restaurant but if I am not eating I will sometimes order a cocktail or two. I have one wine, a Barolo Chinato, (that is a Barolo wine that is mixed with botanicals or herbs such as quinine) that goes great as a substitution in any cocktail calling for bitters. But I am also somewhat of a frilly drink fan and love a good Cosmpolitan.

What's your least favorite drink?
Beer

What's your best wine-drinking memory? What was the occasion?
I have too many "best wine-drinking memories" to count. Too choose one at random would be a memory of having a friend cook me a fantastic meal and opening a few bottles of B.V. Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon from my birth year, 1968. It always is a great way to think of the past and what was going on then while also looking towards the future.

In your opinion, which country, other than the U.S., makes the best wine? Why?
There is no country that makes the "best wine". Each country and each region in that country makes wine that is unique to the place and time in which the grapes were harvested, crushed, fermented, aged and bottled. Each is as good as the next.

Are there any recent trends within the industry that you think are particularly good or bad?
I love to see wine bars popping up all over America's cities. The culture of good wine has never been stronger and to have all these new outlets for these wines makes my heart sing.

What is the first thing someone learning about wine should know?
"De Gustibus Non Est Diputandem" means "Concerning taste, there is no argument." Which in my mind becomes, don't let anyone tell you what is good and what isn't good. Make up your mind for yourself.

What are some of your favorite food and wine pairings?
My favorite right now is off-dry Riesling with spicy Thai curries. The slight sweetness softens the hear from the chilies in the curry and the refreshing acidity wipes your palate clean getting it ready for another bite of food.

Do you think any rules should be adhered to when pairing?
There are no rules, so just go for it. Whatever works for you works for you. I personally don't like high alcohol wines with spicy food as I think that the high alcohol amplifies the heat in the food, making it impossible to taste the food, but others may differ on that.

What are some of the benefits of drinking wine?
Too many to count. Better physical and mental health from moderate wine drinking can't even be debated any more. You body and mind become relaxed when drinking wine and I truly believe this is only for the best.

What wines should no home be without?
The wines I import and sell? Just kidding. As I said above, there are no hard and fast rules. I have lots of wines from all over the world in my house and I think you should too, but beyond that, you are on your own.

Do you have any favorite wine gadgets?
Nope. All you need is a corkscrew and a glass and you are set.

What are your three best tips, tricks or techniques for wine lovers?
My best advice for people looking to get into wine or who are looking to deepen their knowledge of wine is to find a good wine store and a good clerk in that wine store, give them your likes and dislikes and start buying a little wine with their recommendation. You will find that a good wine clerk can really guide you to some amazing wine discoveries and open your eyes to little known and emerging bargains as well as finding you the benchmarks. Now go drink some wine!