EPISODE # 35 BILL CURTIS/OWNER & CHEF:TASTINGS RESTAURANT, WINE BAR, & WINE SHOP CHARLOTTESVILLE

When Bill Curtis opened TASTINGS Restaurant, Wine Bar, & Wine Shop in 1990 it was the first of its kind on the East Coast to combine all these elements under one roof.  Bill has been involved in the Virginia wine and food scene for close to 40 years and has a tremendous Passion still, for the wine world.  He is exceptional in his breadth of knowledge and is especially sharp when it comes to wines from Burgundy, France.Bill is an example of a "fine wine merchant" in the true sense of that descriptor.  He will learn your palate, what your price threshold is and recommend wine that will always please your palate and keep you within your budget.  In my opinion this type of Wine Merchant is harder and harder to find in today's environment of on-line and flash sales.  This interview brought another perspective and look back and forward to winegrowing in Virginia.HIGHLIGHTS:a).  Bill shares how he hosted several of the early Monticello Cup tastings in the 1980's.b).  He explains how he learn to be a chef, (in the kitchen no formal training) and his style and approach to cooking.c). Shares some great stories about the early pioneers in Virginia winegrowing and offers the opinion that Piedmont Vineyards, no longer in operation, produced the best Chardonnay in Virginia at the time and would still stand the test of time against those being produced today.d). Bill shares how he started by buying two bottles of German Wine in 1972 at a Safeway in Va. one of the bottles was Blue Nun and the other was Spatlese from Prince Rupert Urban and the Blue Nun was 10 cents more expensive. It opened his eyes to wine though.e). In 1976 he opens Court Square Tavern and in 1977 he turns it into one of the first specialy beer joints in Charlottesville because that is what sold.There is much, much more of these stories. Take a listen below or read the transcript.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com