The luck of the draw - Villa del Monte co-owner John Overstreet pours for a steady stream of wine walk tasters.
In the four years that Dianne and I have owned and operated Discovery Map, we’ve met, and in some cases, come to know many local winery owners. Particularly Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation winery owners. This we’ve come to learn: many of the 70 plus wineries in the appellation are owned and operated by folks working other full-time jobs. Some of these owners do enormous amounts of the physical labor themselves as a full-time avocation. They suffer from an incurable agricultural-alchemy addiction. They must make wine.
Neil fills the glasses, the tasters fill the cellar with levity
Belly up to the barrel!
Lately, we run into them at wine walks in Los Gatos, Saratoga and Campbell. To me, part of wine walks is discovering new places while discovering new tastes. And it has to be kick for these vintner-owners to pour hundreds of samples in a lingerie store teeming with tasters. And such is the life of these entrepreneurs, working days and nights at their craft, doing everything within reason to have wine lovers taste their fare.
Recently I visited a “by invitation” tasting at the winery. Neil Perrelli, co-owner and co-winemaker, was hosting a group of eleven, all of whom were connected through a school program. As is nearly always the case, with every tasting pass, the conversation and animation elevated, congeniality blossomed, and mirth prevailed. That’s the wonder and value of a well-orchestrated tasting event. They just end up being fun.
Neil poured from half a dozen bottles and a barrel, accompanying each serving with a story about the grapes, the wine, and sometimes, an amusing story, just for the heck of it. There’s definitely an element of theater attached to Neil’s role as host, and he kept the show rolling at a relaxed pace, keeping his Sunday afternoon tasters entertained and giving the group space to chat amongst themselves.
This was a welcome example of good company, good wine and good enough food making for a good time had by all. Interesting how often this is the case at wine tasting events.
