Sea Island Life Magazine Fall/Winter 2014 | Page 12

libations

AT YOUR SERVICE

WINE CONCIERGES PERSONALIZE THE VINOUS EXPERIENCE, FROM HELPING TO SELECT A
STANDOUT VINTAGE TO ORGANIZING THE CELLAR AND OFFERING ADVICE ON PAIRINGS.
BY MONICA PRELLE

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onsider a beautiful home wine cellar stocked with rare vintages of
Bordeaux, cult Napa Valley cabernet
sauvignons and a number of readyto-drink young varietal wines—a conglomeration of top picks from leading wine magazines
alongside classic, Old World bottles. The
cellar’s owner, however, is not entirely sure
what to drink or when to drink it, whether it’s
a casual weekday dinner or special occasion.
Enter the wine concierge: These experts
have become popular resources across the
country and can help clients discover their
signature sips, curate personalized wine collections, learn more about the vintages they
already own, and even arrange custom tours
of vineyards and wineries.
“When I inventory someone’s cellar, I give
them a book with information about their
wines,” says Kathleen Bershad of Fine Wine
Concierge in New York. “Clients know their
wine, but they might need help organizing
their cellar. They want to know what to drink
now and what to pair it with.”
From wine cellar management to buying and
selling rare bottles to stocking ready-to-drink
wines and suggesting pairings, the professionals offer personalized service for oenophiles
of all knowledge levels. Like a sommelier’s
relationship with a dinner guest tableside, a
wine concierge creates an individualized experience for wine collectors at home.
“A concierge is somebody who not only will
listen to you, but can also pinpoint your spewant a wine education. You are able to roam

The Sea Island Experience

Wine concierge Guy Trapani creates a custom wine experience at The Market at Sea Island.

Wine experts are now ready to indulge the
palates of Sea Island members and guests in
a program that was started by The Market at
Sea Island in March 2014. Wine concierge Guy
Trapani customizes the experience by keeping
some of the best bottles in stock and pairing
wines with chef-prepared dinners.
While The Market offers a wide selection

12 SEA ISL AND LIFE | FALL/WINTER 2014/15

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