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KJ

@iwasreallyhere

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Cork shredder with a camera.
Wine director for @yorkannarbor

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I’m no stranger to putting together a gathering of fabulous people, but this one was for the books.
Last week we gathered some of the people who make Zingerman’s Food Tours what it is, and looking around the yard, I felt incredibly lucky.
I love my job. I love my friends. And I’m so grateful that, so often, those two worlds overlap. I get to work alongside some of the most creative, kind, curious, talented, and inspiring people I know. People who care deeply about food, where it comes from, who makes it, and the stories and traditions that surround it.
We ate. We drank. We laughed. We told stories. We celebrated the places we’ve been, the people we’ve met along the way, and this wild little thing we’ve built together.
Food Tours has never just been about taking people somewhere to eat great food. It’s about connection. It’s about sitting around a table with people you may not have known before and leaving feeling like you’ve shared something meaningful. It’s about curiosity, generosity, hospitality, and a belief that food has an incredible way of bringing us together.
Last week’s party felt like all of that in one place.
There was a lot of food, a lot of wine, a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of love. And for one evening, I got to look around and see so much of what I love about this work gathered around one table somewhere in S. E Michigan.
What a gift.

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One of the best parts of the wine industry is when we find time to get together. Was fortunate to be a part of one of these gatherings this weekend with a number of really good people. Great vibes, great energy. Keep it going, everyone. ✌️

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A little survey of Germany’s Nahe region turned up superb raciness, heaps of mineral, and many Emrich-Schoenleber!

Everything showed beautifully, including a distinctly different but not noticeably outclassed bottle of southwest Michigan riesling from Stewart-Collins. My top award, though, has to go to the ‘01 Dönnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg riesling spatlese trocken, which was an absolute masterpiece of texture, intensity, ripeness and refinement. It was so much flavor and scale, but delivered with everything else in such equal parts as to be irresistible!

A great afternoon hosted by the inimitable @robert.frank.79827803 …capped with a tasty kassler rippchen at Ann Arbor’s iconic Metzger’s.
#realwinelife

#nahewein #germanwine #winelover #riesling

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A stop at the Warehouse to enjoy a bottle in the Stamba courtyard is gonna be a regular Tbilisi thing for me from now on!

@warehousewines

#realwinelife #sakartvelo #ghvino #tbilisi #naturalwine

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Thanks for hosting an awesome wine jam @arturo.gfb, and extra to kudos to @kszymans for the incredible charcuterie board!!
#realwinelife

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A lineup that reads like a dream cellar pull, but the real magic was the company. Last night, @arturo.gfb hosted the ultimate masterclass in what makes the wine community so special.

From kicking things off with Pierre Péters to geeking out over Bruyère-Houillon, Leroy, and Pataille’s Fleur de Pinot, the lineup was nothing short of magical.

But honestly? The best part of the night was the energy in the room. There’s nothing quite like trading notes, stories, and laughs with a group that shares the exact same deep-seated passion for wine. Grateful for the juice, but way more grateful for the people.

Wines like these deserve to be shared with people who get it. Huge shoutout to Arturo for anchoring an unforgettable night.

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It's hard to find the words. For the past seven years, I've had the privilege of working in the Wine Department at @yorkannarbor. I've seen the place and the business grow and change dramatically. From tables to shelves, through a global pandemic, and now into a thriving and wonderful wine bar!

I've visited wine regions, worked harvest, and made lifelong friends. It's an immensely special place to me, and it's been a true joy being part of this team.

I'm extremely excited to say that I'm moving onto a new role as Wine Director for @the_dixboro_project. I've long been an admirer of @chefgarrettlipar and the opportunity to join the team feels like a real blessing.

I'll be at York through May 15th if you'd like to raise a glass, and I look forward to welcoming you at The Dixboro starting on May 26th!

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Visiting Anastasia at @artanawines is always a joy, rich with great people, food, and wine! And her rkatsiteli…pheeeewwww! 😍
#realwinelife

#ghvino #sakartvelo #kakheti #qvevri

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A special expression of a kisi/mtsvane blend from @tchotiashvili that had uncommonly fresh fruit expression and brilliant charm! I love the tannic amber wines, but this style is on the rise and just as enjoyable!

Thanks to Tchotiashvili for hosting us so graciously! Looking forward to seeing more of these terrific wines in MIchigan!
#realwinelife

#ghvino #georgianwine #sakartvelo #kakheti

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In Tbilisi tomorrow? Come taste some American wines with me at @wineboutique.tb !

We brought a cool and diverse set of natural wines to share that you won’t find anywhere else in the country, so it’s a great opportunity to taste some rarities and have a great time!

#realwinelife
#ghvino

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We asked our partners what they value most about working with us, and this is what they said.

We’re grateful for the support these past thirty years and excited to see what the future holds!

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Planning the first night out in Tbilisi. Target: khinkali, then @krebuliwines wine bar!
#realwinelife

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