Day Two!

Florida always delivers and today was no exception. Got my three-mile jog in this morning along the Sarasota shore, passing sandpipers and shellseekers along the way. What a way to start the day.

My good friend Robin of Premier Beverage picked me up at the hotel and whisked me off. This cheerful Brit found his way to Florida, via Manhattan. He's been selling wine as long (if not longer than) I. The great thing about Robin is he still has a "bloody good" sense of humor and seems to truly enjoy what he does. He's an honest delight to spend the day with - helps he knows just about everyone in Sarasota - and sells wine very well.

First meeting was with smart, wine saavy Georgina Frost and her assistant, Jerry, at Morton's Fine Wines. She remains a strong supporter of ours and continues to present our Pinot Gris and now, the 2007 Tavola Pinot Noir. Morton's is a gorgeous market, its shelves are stocked with fresh produce and ingredients to inspire any chef.

We took a bit of a drive to Lakewood Ranch, where we met up with Shane Pringe and Mark Sweeny. Two young bright guys who have got their plates full running this remarkable property. Generous with their time, the knowledgeable duo decided to bring in a few of our current releases, including Tavola "by the glass". This is something like a home run for wine producers - the most effective way for the most people to experience your wine and for us, equates to selling cases, which helps to pay the barrel bills. So, thanks Ranchwood!

Next stop was in a tent. Temporary housing for the Sarasota Yacht Club while they finish building out a new $15M facility. This venue is one I'd never quite experienced. I'd guess you'd describe it as casual. Jon Patella met us there who explained he had applied for a "cellar rat" position at Ponzi years ago, but at last moment decided against the move. Nice guy, enthusiast and eager, who selected some Ponzi wines for his opening wine list. Very grateful.

I insisted on eating. It was 3PM and I had passed on breakfast that morning, so Robin was kind enough to call ahead to Libby's and request food be prepared for us. We parked the car, rushed across the street and were greeted with mouthwatering wasabi tuna and fries on the bar. Delicious. Seven minutes later we were walking out the door. I was able to shake hands with owner Patrick Seidensticker and thank him for the amazing service. Good people, good food - even on the fly.

Final stop for the day was The Crow's Nest. Owner Steve Harner has been there for over 30 years. Impressive and gracious with his time. Took too many wines to remember. Thank you, Steve!

The evening concluded with a gorgeous dinner at Michael's Wine Cellar. These guys pulled off an absolutely stunning evening. Michael Klauber, who has been in the food and wine business since the 70's, transformed his modern wine shop into an intimate dining room for the event. Candles surrounded the space, hundreds of votives scattered amongst the steel walls of wine and a enormous family table (40+ seats) sat in the middle of the room dressed in white linen, towering votives as centerpieces and sparking wine glasses filled the space. The meal was exquisite, showcasing octopus, quail and duck adorned with local vegetables. Michael is a generous man - eight of our wines were poured and guests from Slow Food, Suncoast Food Alliance and Edible Sarasota were in attendance to celebrate the focus on organic and locally grown products. What a show! Michael and his chef had specifically built the menu around the wines, selecting each dish to show off the wine - making it the focus. So memorable. I look forward to my next visit with Michael, one who works hard, but also knows how to enjoy his success with his customers and friends. The evening's focus on sustainable food worked perfectly into pitching The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook and Nancy was able to sign several for the guests. My good friend, Wayne Rayborn, of Wilson Daniels Ltd. who does an outstanding job representing our wine in the SouthEast and has attended hundreds of wine dinners, drove 150 miles to meet up with us in Sarasota at Michael's. That means so much to us. It was good seeing him there.

To bed. Early morning drive to Naples.

Ciao.

Maria