Good wine reminds...
Last night we hosted Betty’s cousin from Seattle, Lisa Dupar, and her husband Jonathan Zimmer.
They own and run a successful catering and restaurant business there, where their customer list includes the big shots (even the biggest of shots) at Microsoft. Needless to say, we were thrilled to give them the run of the kitchen, and Jonathan brought along his knowledge and ample samples of wine and cheese expertise.
We talked branding, their company’s organizational structure, wine values, the difference between searing and grilling, digital photography, religion, family, community property, sharing home chores, Joni Mitchell and, believe it or not, a lot more I can’t remember now. I’m always impressed by friends who have a broad knowledge base in things that seem like hobbies to me, but to Jonathan wine is much more than a hobby. He’s far from a wine snob, but being around him reminds me (1) why I like wine so much (It’s the drinking) and (2) that there’s so much I don’t know and can’t remember about such things.
I am also reminded of a guy named Jon Fowler, a former client when he was president of a small RTA (ready-to-assemble) furniture company called Doxey. The July 3 issue of Furniture/Today carried the news of Jon’s death at age 68.
Jon was a great guy, knowledgeable about so much, but especially, I remember, about wine. Doxey held a reception every furniture market where he served as host and sommelier, and he did with style and panache...right down to the little tool sommeliers wear around their necks for doing their own tasting.
Jonathan Zimmer (“JayZ,” as we’ve grown to call him this visit) doesn’t wear the little taster (what the heck do you call it?). But he could get away with it.
Saturday, July 8, 2006