Barbara D.: Adventures in Wine
Q1: Where did you grow up?
A1: Southern United States.
Q2: What was the first time you remember drinking wine?
A2: Cheap mimosa on New Year's Eve as a teenager. First taste of decent wine was KJ Chardonnay in my very early twenties, back when it was more apple/buttery, and less tropical fruity.
Q3: When did you start to like wine?
A3: I'm still relatively new to wine.
Gradually moved into it when I moved into working in upscale dining; made acquaintances who also love wine. (Maybe the pivotal point was two years ago.) Went through Gallo's wine tutorial; studying for the CMS introductory sommelier exam.
Q4: Where do you drink wine mostly?
A4: At home.
Q5: What are your favorite types of wine? Varietals? Regions?
A5: Cabernet sauvignon is my all-time favorite.
I also enjoy Taylor Fladgate's 20-year aged tawny. Rum raisinish with caramelized sugar.
Q6: What are your favorite kinds of food?
A6: Anything intensely flavorful and/or well balanced. Sort of like I prefer my wine, I guess.
Q7: What are your favorite restaurants?
A7: I've worked at too many to appreciate them all that much anymore.
Q8: What is your favorite wine and food pairing?
A8: I've recently discovered that savory, tangy foods go well with Beaujolais-Villages. (Dolmas, muffalettas.)
Q9: Do you cook? If so, what kind of food and for whom?
A9: I cook mostly American foods. Lately, for my roommate.
Q10: If you were stranded on a desert island, what one type of food/wine would choose to have?
A10: Indian food and cabernet sauvignon. Never mind that they don't pair incredibly well.
Q11: What are your favorite wine memories?
A11: Incredibly good dates. (I guess now you know how to charm me.) Drinking with my closest friends.
Q12: Do you have any wine-related disasters?
A12: I once broke a cork at a table. My manager was furious with me when they asked for another one. >:/
Q13: Which are your favorite Bottlenotes wines?
A13: Guess I'll find out.
