Billy B.: Adventures in Wine
Q1: What was the first time you remember drinking wine?
A1: I was in college, with four other guys living off campus. We had a 5 bedroom farmhouse and used to cook all kinds of groovy tofu laden meals. They were mostly crunchy cats. Carlo Rossi and large jugs of Concho Y Toro were all the budget allowed, but they preferred wine over beer (for the Neanderthals).
Q2: When did you start to like wine?
A2: Wine came with marriage. Beginning in April ’98, we started spending most of our nights at home alone. I slowed down and so did my zest for huge buzzes. The more our income went up, the better the wine.
Q3: Where do you drink wine mostly?
A3: Always when out to dinner with friends or just together. But we also enjoy a glass (maybe 2) once our children are in bed which means after 8pm
Q4: What are your favorite types of wine? Varietals? Regions?
A4: Love simple Napa cabs mostly. But I had a “Montrue” by Franco Martinetti when I was covering the Olympics in Torino, Italy. It was awesome…I was told to let it breathe for 2 to 3 hours. Amazing. It’s there that I fell for the Piedmont region and their barbarescos and Barolos.
Q5: What are your favorite kinds of food?
A5: Fresh Italian cuisine is the best. I also love sushi. That said, I’ll never complain with a carb light steak and salad.
Q6: What are your favorite restaurants?
A6: Madeo in Beverly Hills is my favorite restaurant. The service is only outdone by the authentic, fresh food. Every ingredient is fresh that day…family owned and operated. Not cheap but awesome every time.
Q7: What is your favorite wine and food pairing?
A7: A great fresh primi piatti of Bolognese or Penne Arriabiata with an Italian Barolo will make me go topless by desert. So good.
Q8: Do you cook? If so, what kind of food and for whom?
A8: I do love to cook. This past 4th of July I cooked ribs, (slowly in the oven for 30 minutes on 350 then transferred to grill with bbq sauce for 5 minutes per side), fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus for some friends. We had 8 people on our deck in Park City, Utah…we watched the fireworks and sipped on the Niebaum Coppola Altamura…big wine.
Q9: If you were stranded on a desert island, what one type of food/wine would choose to have?
A9: I would only need cheese, fresh bread and wine. The French have survived centuries this way and remained fairly fit and pleased. I might bring a case of 2000 Bordeaux and hope they found me after a week.
Q10: What are your favorite wine memories?
A10: I was visiting an uncle of mine and he laughingly broke out an 800 dollar bottle of Cabernet…it was a gift. We all got one glass and I’ve been trying to replicate that wood burn in my nostrils ever since. The rack of lamb jumped to life because of the wine and I drank it slower than anything ever done before.
Q11: Do you have any wine-related disasters?
A11: Recently at the Cannes Film Festival in France, I went out with about 20 co-workers and after dinner we danced like crazy. Our wardrobe stylist, a great friend, decided that leaving her glass of red behind was too much to ask, so she took it with her. And as it is when driving a motorcycle, it’s always the other guy. Some dude bumped into her and her wine went all over my new beige Calving Klein suit…lavender shirt and suit jacket destroyed. I went to the bathroom and put on my camera man’s black undershirt…hello Crockett! I returned to the floor to dance for tips.
Q12: Which are your favorite Bottlenotes wines?
A12: Every one I get in the mail.
