Passion for Wine
By Vivien Gay
(click for bio & past articles)

Memories and Recommendations

By Vivien Gay

Betty and Kit asked me to write a wine column for Betty's List. I am honored to do so.  Wine has been in my life since I was a child growing up in London. My father would take me out to lunch each vacation as a wonderful Treat, and I would, as the precocious child, choose the wine. 

In order to please my father, I would undoubtedly choose Bordeaux as these were the wines that I knew he loved. In particular, Lynch Bages and Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou - then, relatively reasonable wines! These same wines still remain my favorites from that region, although now my tastes and budget are quite different!

Wine has been my passion for years - not only my passion but my livelihood. I was so lucky to discover the California wine industry when I first moved here in the early 80's.

Now, I have peddled wine, marketed wine, picked grapes, made wine and even stomped wine naked! I have spoken to genuine wine lovers, wine geeks and people who want to impress! Imagine sitting on a plane flying back from a grueling business trip and your neighbor asks you what you do. “I am in the wine business.”

It is worse than being a doctor because they always, and I mean always, want to know what your favorite wine is. Let me tell you, there is no such thing as a favorite wine! 

Who did you have dinner with last night? Was she/he cute? Did you like the food and did you like the restaurant? Did the candlelight soften the hard-edges? Was the atmosphere great? Chances are you liked the wine!  There are wines for the occasion. There are wines for the food. Above all, if you like the wine, the wine is good!

So what wine would you like to drink the next time you are out . . .or at home? I am investigating some new and more unusual suspects:

*  Taltarni Brut Tache for Valentine's Day - A small property in the South-east corner of Australia; a soft pink tinge and delicious palate makes this a wonderful wine with all sorts of food, and particularly, as an aperitif before dinner. It sells for about $20.00 and you should be able to find it in the Jug Shop in San Francisco.

* Rymill Bees Knees - Another pink (almost red) beautiful fizz that reminds me of an Italian Lambrusco; also from Australia, from the Coonawarra region.  This wine fills your mouth with cherries and raspberries and there is just a hint of cocoa and cedar in the back. It is unusual, intense and delicious.  If anyone in San Francisco would have it, it will be the Jug Shop as they have the finest collection of Australian wines in this town!

* Nigl Gruner Veltliner Kremser Freiheit (2005) - This is my favorite white wine of the moment from Austria. It is the best, and yes I mean the best, wine to go with salads and vegetables! This can be more widely found in our area. I would suggest a good source for this wine might be The San Francisco Wine Trading Company on Taraval Street in San Francisco. It usually retails for around $17.00.

*  Amista Vineyards Syrah (2003) - Tonight, I have been drinking this beautiful Syrah, from an as yet slightly undiscovered, small winery in Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma: Amista Vineyards. http://www.amistavineyards.com/. At the moment the wine can be purchased winery direct from their web site. When you are next up in the Healdsburg area, drive down Dry Creek Road, and you will find them, but by appointment only at the moment. The winery itself is just now being built.

I plan to continue this informal column over the next few months.  I am building a new business which should be ready to launch in the next month, so things are a little crazy to say the least! 

My business? A national/international sales and marketing company for small to medium size wineries - wineries which will be sourced from around the world -  will be based here in the Bay Area.  We will be representing some unique wines as well as some of the usual suspects and I will, for sure, be keeping you posted on our progress.  I am off now to talk to the lawyers, the insurance agents, and the bank . . . a long way from the laconic vineyards of the South of France, but I will be there soon and can't wait!

Until next time!  Cheers! Votre sante!

Bio & Past Articles

Past Articles Memories and Recommendations

Passion for Wine. . . By Vivien Gay Vivien Gay is known for her work as a volunteer and philanthropist supporting LGBT organizations of the Bay Area. Among the non-profits that know well her leadership and beneficence are the SF LGBT Community Center, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) and numerous others. With more than two decades of experience in the wine industry, Vivien has succeeded in building well-known brands through aggressive and innovative sales strategies. She has just kicked off a new wine company , Vinum Global, a global sales and marketing company which helps family owned wineries with their sales and marketing in the US and internationally. In addition to her professional achievements and volunteerism, Vivien has mentored many and continues to share her knowledge, expertise and support for individuals. Vivien has served multi-year terms as HRC's Federal Club co-chair and as a member of the board of Project Open Hand. She currently serves on the advisory boards for Toast to Humanity and Scion Advisors, a strategic wine industry management consulting company based in Napa.