rdilauro – Page 3 – Carpe Vino

December 6, 2019

Joanie

My career path is quite unusual. I studied all kinds of subjects: tourism, translation, geography and more, until I became aware of a greater interest, wine. It may not always have been in the forefront of my life, but always with growing appreciation. In a month’s interval, I earned the certificate of the Court of Master Sommeliers and my certification of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 with Distinction.

Subsequently, I was the first Quebecer to complete the Whisky Ambassador training. We can say that I plunged head first into the fabulous wine world and I’m honored to be part of the specialized wine press. It’s definitely an advantage to push further the sharing aspect of wine writing. I may be the youngest wine writer in Quebec, but I fast became one of the most influential wine writers in Canada. Beside the blog Joaniemetivier.com, I’m in charge of winetoursimmag.com, head writer for one of the most iconic magazine in Quebec (Magazine Vins et Vignobles) as well as collaborator for various other media worldwide.

November 12, 2019

Wine Shopping

My post on Instagram

Wine Shopping. It can be a fun and exciting experience or a scary uneasy experience. To me the key lies with the wine salesman.

I started in wine retail in the beginning if 1970. Along with my 35 years with IBM and retirement I’ve worked at 4 different wine retail shops. One of my hobbies is visiting various wine shops all over the USA. I like to see their inventory, displays but also to watch how salesman interact with their customers.

I’ve seen such varied styles. I can see why some people are intimidated by some salesman. Those types have a “Im smarter than you” and look down their noses at you. They throw out big words and expect you to smell and taste everything they say you should. And when you dont they chuckle. Then there are salesman that will sell you anything that is on sale even if it was not a type you were looking for. We also have the salesman that really doesn’t know wines and should not be doing that task. They are the ones that when you ask if that Red Zinfandel is good. Their answer is “Its the best in the store and very sweet”. All of this just leaves a unhappy customer. What should a wune salesman be like? Knowledgeable, Honest, Communicate at the customers level. And when they dont know an answer, then just say “I dont know but I will get you an answer”

A valuable tool for wine shops is wine tastings. I’ve run so many in house wine tastings. Here are my musts.

1) Do not only taste sale wines.

2). Change the style and type if wine uiu offer frequently

3) Try tasting like grapes or same type if wine from different countries

4) provide the customer with the details,terms, aromas, and taste they should expect.

But also make it light and easy. Letting the customer know its not easy to pick all if that up. Whats important is if the customer likes the wine or if they do not like the wine. My key to success in doing that is having those same customers coming back week after week to see you

November 11, 2019

French Wines –

FRENCH WINES

After reading more of WineFolly’s Magnum Edition, I concentrated on a few countries.
What I found very interesting where the wines from the different French regions that I have had over the years, but for whatever reason, I just don’t see those wines around. I am sure if you go to a high quality wine shop you will find them all.

I set this up with the name or type of wine on the left and the region where it came from on the right. Wines that I was so familiar with years ago, I highlited in GREEN. The wines that I am sure everyone is familiar with I kept in BLACK. The regions I highlited in RED

Name Region

Barsac Sauternais
Sauternes

Paulliac Medoc – Left Bank
Saint-Estephe
Saint-Julien
Margaux
Graves

St-Emilion Medoc-Right Bank
Pomerol

Cote-de-Nuits Cote-de-Nuits
Nuits –St-George
Gevrey-Chambertin
Chamboille-Musigny
Vougeot
Vosne-Romanee
Aloxe-Corton

Mercurey Cote de Beaune
Givry
Volnay
Pommard
Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Chassange-Montrachet

Moulin-a-Vent Maconnais
Chiroubles
Julienas
Fleurie
Morgan
Brouilly
Chablis
Pouilly-Fuse
Beaujolais Villages
Gamay
Macon

Minverois Languedoc-Roussillon
Cote’s du Roussillon
Corbieres

Saumur Loire Valley
Chinon
Muscadet
Pouilly-Fume
Sancerre
Vouvray
Anjou

Hermitage Rhone Valley
Cros-Hermitage
Gigondas
Chateuaneuf-Du-Pape
Cotes du Rhone
Tavel

November 7, 2019December 6, 2019

Sandra

Sandra Lotti

Sandra Rosy Lotti, a native of Tuscany, received her formal culinary training at the Istituto Professionale in Massa, Italy. She is known throughout Italy for her cookbooks on Tuscan regional customs and cuisines and frequently contributes to cooking magazines. In 2002, Lotti has become a contributing editor for Intermezzo Magazine, in the USA and Ireland and she still writes for it. She is the chef owner and managing director of Toscana Saporita Cooking School (estabileshed in 1994) and embodies the essence of the Italian spirit in her zest for life, and her passion for great food. She demonstrates these qualities with her outstanding skills as an ebullient teacher.

Lotti has showcased her culinary expertise as she hosted luncheons and dinners at The James Beard House in NYC. She has also presented demos at The French Culinary Institute, at CIA Hyde Park, at La cucina Italiana in NYC, at The Italian Culinary Institute, at Eataly NYC and at Eataly Chicago, at Degustibus at Macy’s and at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo Florida.

Lotti is the author of L’Anno Toscano, Sapore di Maremma, A taste of Tuscany and co-author of Dolci Toscani, the definitive compilation of Tuscan dessert recipes. Her last cookbook La cucina della Lucchesia has been on the best seller’s list in Italy since it’s release. When not traveling or teaching classes at Toscana Saporita, Lotti can be found giving private cooking lessons in English and Italian as well as doing research for her next cookbook.

TOSCANA SAPORITA COOKING SCHOOL was founded in 1994 by Anne Bianchi and Sandra Rosy Lotti. The school is located in a beautiful agriturismo (Agriturismo Casa Rossa) by the Lake Massaciuccoli which has also hosted the composer Giacomo Puccini. The school offers a great basic culinary program for beginners and food lovers and a much more advanced one for chefs and welcomes students from all over the world.

November 5, 2019December 6, 2019

Chris

C hef C hri s Covelli

Chef Chistopher Covelliis a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City where he was trained by world-renowned chefs including Andre Soltner, Jacques Pepin and Alain Saihac. His background, training and living experiences have enabled him to speak five languages and specialize in Classic French, Italian and Spanish cuisine as well as American Haute Cuisine.

Chef Covelli’s cooking expertise earned him invitations as guest chef for four James Beard Foundation Dinners. Until recently, he was owner and chef of L’Uva Restaurant on Cape Cod, MA. Chef Covelli has earned five Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence among other numerous cooking awards.

Currently Chef Covelli is the senior chef instructor at Toscana Saporita Cooking School in Lucca, Italy. He serves on the Board of Directors for Florida Wine Fest. He has demonstrated products on HSN and ShopNBC. Chef Covelli has been featured in numerous publications and periodically writes a cooking article for Living on the Suncoast magazine. He serves as Research and Development Chef for Naturally Gourmet Products. Chef Covelli has been seen on a number of TV shows around the country, including ABC 7 in Saraso

November 5, 2019December 6, 2019

WineCountryChick

Kristen is a Minnesota-raised, California-based wine lover who can’t live without Cabernet Sauvignon, trips to wine country, and cheese. She’s passionate about sharing her wine adventures, discoveries, and inspirations on a daily basis.

She is a very active member on Instagram
( therealkristenmarie ). Just reading a couple of her blogs and its easy to see just how passionate Kristen is about wine and just about anything associated with wine.

You don’t need to be a sommelier to live your best Wine life. Wine Country Chick is a website designed to make wine fun – not intimidating. Here you will find wine, food, and entertainment inspiration. This website will provide you with all the information and inspiration you need from picking up your next wine for a party to planning a trip to wine country. Enjoy!

November 4, 2019

Retail Wine

Reply made to one of Madeline’s WineFolly Youtubes

Madeline

I was just watching your youtube on retail. This has always been close to me. I started in wine retail in 1969. Spent 5 years there learning from a sommelier and focusing on French, German and Italian wines. I also spent some time with a distributor and a wholesaler. This gave me a better understanding of the entire industry. I left that industry and spent the next 35 years with IBM. But i stayed close to wines. Running private wine tastings and working part time to run wine tastings for a retail shop. Then when I retired from IBM I went back into retail as a wine consultant. Some much has changed since 2000. Companies like Barefoot selling every type of wine from different countries and explaining they do not make their own wines .

Then 90+ came out that explained to the consumer that they basically had someone make their wines from different countries and sold it under there label. A much better product then Barefoot. This provided and easy method for retailers Sell and customers to purchase. EasyBreezy. But the better shops made sure the big names were there. For US, it was Mondavi, Wente, Silverado and tons more. Then add all the international wines.

For a novice consumer wine buying can be very scary. Thats why a good retail person makes all the difference. I’ve tried to expand on this on my blog, which is in my bio. I just have to tell you in the 40+ years in this business, reading dozens of books, attending countless seminars,etc. your approach is the MOST REFRESHING, FUN, EASY TO UNDERSTAND and DETAILS about WINE

November 3, 2019November 3, 2019

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