SPARKLING MEMORIES
An Unforgettable Wine Country Experience!
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Growing up in a first generation Italian-American household, wine has always been part of my life. From "helping" my father with his award winning homemade wines, to assisting my mother with her extraordinary from scratch meals; smells and tastes have always surrounded me.
While pursuing my degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University, I was lucky to be included in an experimental educational collaboration between the Court of Master Sommeliers and Purdue. This gave me the honor of learning about wines under three Master Sommeliers: Fred Dame, Tim Gaiser, and Wayne Belding. This experience sparked an intense desire to immerse myself in wine. I went on to ace Dr. Richard Vine's wine appreciation course (with Drew Brees, but I doubt he remembers me!), and Dr William Jaffe's beverage management course, getting certified in responsible service of beverage alcohol by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association.
I co-founded the Purdue Wine Appreciation Society and had the honor of serving as it's first president. I joined tasting groups, visited local wineries, and attended as many wine events as I could. But it was my first trip California, with my future wife Angie, that set the course for the rest of my life. We were mesmerized by the beauty, friendliness, and great wines of Sonoma, and determined to call it home.
We returned to Indiana to finish our degrees, traveled the diverse wine regions of Australia and New Zealand, and finally realized our dream of moving to the beautiful town of Sonoma in 2003. My wine education continued with hands on learning from great vineyard managers, winemakers, and fellow oenophiles. While Angie managed a restaurant and developed an amazing wine program on the downtown Sonoma Plaza, I took a job driving wine tours for a large company and began working in the tasting room at Ledson Winery in Kenwood.
The wine tour driving fizzled off as I moved up the management ladder at Ledson, eventually being given the opportunity to be the General Manager of a new sister winery to Ledson in Anderson Valley. Though it was another great experience, and Mendocino will always have special place in my heart (and on my palate with their phenomenal Pinots and exquisite Alsatian varietals), being away from Sonoma proved too challenging. I wrapped up my responsibilities at the winery, transitioned in a new team, and headed back to the Valley of the Moon!
Since 2009 I have brought my passion and knowledge of wine and Sonoma to as many people as I can through Sparkling Memories. I work hard to educate, and create unforgettable wine country experiences for everyone, regardless of their level of knowledge. From the newlyweds who just want to see the highlights of Sonoma, to the casual wine drinkers who want to finally visit their favorite winery and possibly discover some new favorites, to the veteran oenophile looking for new hidden gems, I love interacting with them all.
If you're looking for an unforgettable wine country experience, please get in touch, and we can plan it together.
While pursuing my degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University, I was lucky to be included in an experimental educational collaboration between the Court of Master Sommeliers and Purdue. This gave me the honor of learning about wines under three Master Sommeliers: Fred Dame, Tim Gaiser, and Wayne Belding. This experience sparked an intense desire to immerse myself in wine. I went on to ace Dr. Richard Vine's wine appreciation course (with Drew Brees, but I doubt he remembers me!), and Dr William Jaffe's beverage management course, getting certified in responsible service of beverage alcohol by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association.
I co-founded the Purdue Wine Appreciation Society and had the honor of serving as it's first president. I joined tasting groups, visited local wineries, and attended as many wine events as I could. But it was my first trip California, with my future wife Angie, that set the course for the rest of my life. We were mesmerized by the beauty, friendliness, and great wines of Sonoma, and determined to call it home.
We returned to Indiana to finish our degrees, traveled the diverse wine regions of Australia and New Zealand, and finally realized our dream of moving to the beautiful town of Sonoma in 2003. My wine education continued with hands on learning from great vineyard managers, winemakers, and fellow oenophiles. While Angie managed a restaurant and developed an amazing wine program on the downtown Sonoma Plaza, I took a job driving wine tours for a large company and began working in the tasting room at Ledson Winery in Kenwood.
The wine tour driving fizzled off as I moved up the management ladder at Ledson, eventually being given the opportunity to be the General Manager of a new sister winery to Ledson in Anderson Valley. Though it was another great experience, and Mendocino will always have special place in my heart (and on my palate with their phenomenal Pinots and exquisite Alsatian varietals), being away from Sonoma proved too challenging. I wrapped up my responsibilities at the winery, transitioned in a new team, and headed back to the Valley of the Moon!
Since 2009 I have brought my passion and knowledge of wine and Sonoma to as many people as I can through Sparkling Memories. I work hard to educate, and create unforgettable wine country experiences for everyone, regardless of their level of knowledge. From the newlyweds who just want to see the highlights of Sonoma, to the casual wine drinkers who want to finally visit their favorite winery and possibly discover some new favorites, to the veteran oenophile looking for new hidden gems, I love interacting with them all.
If you're looking for an unforgettable wine country experience, please get in touch, and we can plan it together.
mike@sparklingmemories.net
(707) 363-0867
19201 Sonoma Hwy #142
Sonoma, CA 95476
