About KnowVino

The KnowVino Story

It’s a dream job for any wine lover: spending the day tasting and talking about wine in Verona Italy, attending dinners with the winemakers, then finding the after parties where the conversations continue.

What the uninitiated don’t understand is how grueling this can be, especially by the third day. That’s not a complaint and I get no sympathy anyway when I tell the story of attending the international wine event known as Vinitaly.

Our first appointment is at 10am, but we’re at the gates at nine, to get our start at the Franciacorta exhibit. Fine sparkling wine is the only way to begin a sensational day of wine tasting.
Then it’s one wine meeting after another until 5pm. The Exhibition Halls are huge, spread out over 11 acres. Dinner is at 8pm; goes to about eleven. Someone asks “Are you going to the after party? Sure, I’m almost used to the jet lag.

Is the arduous journey worth it? Absolutely! Vinitaly takes place in a city with a soul, where the wine community gathers to taste the best Italian wines in the world and to passionately converse about the business of wine.

KnowVino was developed to bring you stories of wine that will move you forward on the path to knowing more about wine.

To read the details of how wine professionals prepare for and attend Vinitaly, I’ve included an article I wrote about the adventure that was published in the Somm Journal.

Read the Full Article

The Sommelier Story

Being a sommelier at one of San Francisco’s finest restaurants, during the heyday of restaurants, had its benefits. Jerimiah Tower’s Stars restaurant was the toast of the town but closely rivaled by Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio. Since I was the sommelier at Aqua, I got to know the somms at these and many other restaurants where wine was taken seriously. We'd often cross-pollinate - visiting each other's cellars to taste, discuss, and deepen our wine knowledge.

I’m often asked by aspiring sommeliers how I learned so much about wine. I listened and asked questions of my colleagues, the vendors and those who make the wine, along with tasting – a lot of wine tasting.

KnowVino was developed as a way to bring wine knowledge to those who have the desire to know more about wine.

Advanced wine enthusiasts who are interested in how somms geek out on wine can access an article I wrote for the Somm Journal on the Portugal producer José Maria da Fonseca, producer of amazing wine Moscatel de Setúbal.

Read the Full Article

The Small Print

KnowVino does not represent any winery, wine producer or distributor. Any wine recommendations to you are made with your taste and budget in mind. If a wine blog or a wine tool is recommended it’s done to advance your wine knowledge or enjoyment. There’s no compensation for any endorsement.
KnowVino works for you.

The motivation of KnowVino is to equip you with the knowledge you need to confidently buy wines that you enjoy and that meet your budget.