Up at 7AM for a nice long run this morning, and after returning emails and getting myself together Mom and I met Rik in the lobby. Off to Naples again. Nancy decided to indulge in the shops along main street as Rik and I met up with another Premier Beverage representative, Larry Trautschold.
First stop was at one of our longest standing accounts, Pazzo Italian Cafe. Pazzo is just one restaurant owned by Skip Cowen. He owns five others in the area, including landmark Chops Steak House. He's been generous enough to put Ponzi wines (multiple listings) on every single list. We were fortunate enough to steal a few minutes with Skip on his way to a meeting. With one hand on his coffee, the other managed a wine glass allowing him to taste our lastest release of 2008 Tavola. A true professional - it was all of 10AM. We also met with his Bar Manager, Kendra Rizzi, who was engaging and friendly. Skip has been a huge fan of ours for years and it seems as though he remains one. Very grateful.
Lunch today was especially fun. We found Nancy amongst the shops and met at The Jolly Cricket. This absolutely packed lunch spot was bustling with folks escaping the unusually chilly weather outside. We had the privilege of dining with restaurant owner, Jane Wood, another British export, mother of five who runs another three cafes with her husband. Jane is beautiful, brilliant and absolutely hilarious. We had a lively conversation discussing the comics involved with the restaurant business. She remarked her book would be filled of true stories, placed in the fiction section. Nancy and Jane got along famously. She picked up our Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and lunch tab.We traveled uptown to visit Jim Anderson of The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. How folks in Florida decide which country club to join is beyond me. So many! Jim was great as he kept asking questions -- about the wine! The quizzing got me back on my game. Interested and knowledgeable, Jim is my favorite kind of buyer. He already has the wines, but is taking more. Thank you, Jim.
We moved onto our final call for the day. An elaborately designed Asian restaurant, Azn, is situated within the Mercato development. Restaurant owner, Raymond Hsu, has three other restaurants in Atlanta and couldn't have been more of a gentleman. We were able to meet with him, his Manager Greg Christensen (so great), and their Chef Chris DeGenoa (Pinot lover). Nice guys all of them. Have the Pinot Gris BTG, and plan to take on a few Pinots. Very nice.
Following the call, Larry encouraged us to take a trip up an outdoor escalator to SilverSpot Cinema. How cool is this place!? A theater with a dining room in the lobby, wine, beer and champagne for purchase next to the popcorn and Twizzlers. The leather lounge chairs in the theater are outrageously comfortable and the custom trays have been designed to accommodate a large popcorn, chilled bottle of Schramsberg Brut Rose and two glasses. Talk about an ideal date! We got lucky and were able to meet Leonardo Garcia, Executive Chef, originally from Venezuela who shared the concept of this outstanding attraction. Of course, he has Ponzi Pinot Gris BTG and Pinot Noir. Nancy was thrilled to meet someone from Venezuela (she lived there as a young girl) and she confessed her real favorite meal (excluded from the cookbook) is Pinot and popcorn.
We were late for our most important date - Angelina's Ristorante. My very, very good friend Angela Roberston, who I met five years ago always puts on a great show and tonight was no exception. She reserved the back room of this gorgeous Italian restaurant for a wine tasting and book signing for her guests. Local media was present, so we squeezed in a quick interview and more celebrity photographs. Consecutive days of autographing wine bottles and books does something to one's ego. I have to admit .. it's quite satisfying to hear nice things about your product over and over again. But, one must be careful not to believe everything one hears.
Angela invited us to dinner and we sat right in front of the restaurant's famous "wine tower". This glass cylinder is situated in the center of the dining room and is two-stories, 25-feet tall, 
holding 3200 bottles of more than 100 vintages from around the world. It's incredible. And what's more incredible is that Angela knows where every single bottle lives in that tower and the story behind each and every label. Proudly, Ponzi is prominently stored within its thick walls.
holding 3200 bottles of more than 100 vintages from around the world. It's incredible. And what's more incredible is that Angela knows where every single bottle lives in that tower and the story behind each and every label. Proudly, Ponzi is prominently stored within its thick walls.As we enjoy the handmade pasta and ravioli, we are randomly interrupted by enthusiastic servers who drop by to comment on their love for our wines. One of Angela's favorites, Kenny, was an airline employee who lost his job due to a collision on the tarmac. Apparently, seven small carriers linked behind his baggage cart created a domino affect after he was forced to come to a screeching stop. He recalls the story as thinking, "s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!". Can I say that in a blog? Fortunately, he loves to wait tables and sells a tremendous amount of Ponzi .. as does Charles, who requested a hug, recognizing an embrace will always be more valuable than any signed bottle of wine, and Jeff, who has promised me a trip to the Willamette Valley. Great guys who know how to sell great wine.
Super fun day. Beginning to tire, but the biggest night is yet to come! Stay with me ...
Ciao.
Maria
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