Tony the “Wine Tailor”

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web concept: Exceptional Experience

tasting notes

My EE Essay for employment at Organic:

On a typical Sunday, I walk through the doors of my local Holiday Market to be greeted by a fresh olive bar, stockpiles of foreign cheeses, and an assortment of Lindt chocolate bars. Extraordinary indeed, but no gourmand’s dream would be complete without a wide selection of wines from around the world. I often spend up to an hour wandering through the densely stocked wine aisle, searching for new wines to take home. I enjoy the hunt, but eventually begin looking for my trusted wine guy, Tony Klee. Occasionally I run into a stock boy who either looks at me blankly or attempts to match me with an uninteresting wine. A wave of relief comes over me when I see Tony rounding the corner, ready to help.

During a typical interaction, Tony tells me about the coolest new wines, most of which are not even priced and on the shelves yet. He asks about previously recommended wines, carefully looks at my wish list, and matches me up with something he thinks is going to “do the trick”. Never pretentious, always collaborative and honest, Tony makes me feel like the ultra cool shopper who is getting some true insider tips.

I’ve been to countless other wine shops. Sometimes I wander into one targeted for a novice audience, looking for a simplified buying experience. A place called Simply Wine divides their stock into flavor profiles (ripe, rich, rustic, and clean). It’s a fun way to shop, but you don’t really get wines matched to your own needs. Instead, you get a peek into the shop owner’s personal taste.

Then there are the fancier wine shops where the learning curve is too high and without an in depth knowledge of French geography and ideal growing conditions, I feel as if I am shopping completely blind. I’ve occasionally had worthwhile experiences, but ultimately, I feel intimidated, apologetic, and terribly out of place.

Being in the profession that I am, online research has become a large part of my wine purchasing experience. There is an endless wealth of information: expert ratings, online classes, food pairing recipes, comedic video blogs, and community sites. It is information overload and it becomes easy to get lost. At Holiday Market, Tony is my personal guide.

Instead of using only his opinion, the buying experience with Tony feels truly collaborative. There is no complex rating scale or talk about “well-integrated tannins”. Tony communicates in my language. He tells me whether I’m dealing with a “cool little wine” and whether it is going to “rock my socks off”. He tells me how it rates on my “scale of yum”, a term he coined after catching a glimpse of my tasting notes where I put a big “YUM” next to every wine I liked. I end up feeling like the wine I’m walking home with isn’t just one guy’s opinion, but rather a customized fit.

As part of the youthful wine market that advertisers are paying millions to target, it’s easy to be tempted into picking up the newest California Zin with a flashy label and funny name. I need help to make the right choices without being forced to appreciate the subtleties of a $100 Bordeaux before I’m ready. That is why I am so grateful for Tony, who is more than just a “wine guy”. I would consider Tony my “Wine Tailor”, someone who has an exceptional skill at fitting quality wines to my unique style.

suggested pairings

• Another mention of the fabulous Tony Klee
• More EEs by other Organics

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