Cabernet, Syrah, Pinot, Nebbiolo, and almost anything from the Veneto

1949 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon (Thanks Jack)

I'm not sure if it was when I was taught how to open a bottle of Champagne the proper way when I was 14 or visiting old Italian wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains with my parents that got me hooked? But I fell in love with wine when I moved to Napa Valley in 1993 and I have never looked back. I started my "official" wine career at Oakville Grocery as the assistant wine buyer in 1994, eventually becoming the wine buyer. Wonderful seeing the Valley grow and change right before my eyes. In 1998 I spent 2 1/2 weeks in the Rhone Valley and Piedmont. Later I hit the streets of Napa Valley selling wine for a prominent wine distributor to some of the area's finest restaurants and retailers. This is where I was fully immersed in the wines of Spain, Italy, France, Australia, Germany, Chile/Argentina and many others. Okay, there has been the occasional Beer, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, Vintage Armagnac/ Cognac, but I'm not telling WINE that!!