Who We Are

The thing about Grapevine Cottage that I'm proudest of is something I really can't take credit for ... the wine knowledge of our incredible staff. Since we first opened, this store has attracted wine lovers like a magnet. Over the years our staff has grown to 10, all part-time, and all wine lovers, with a wide range of wine related experience and expertise.

Doug and Linda Pendleton

I'm Doug Pendleton, a/k/a The Wine Guy, a self-proclaimed title. Actually, I'm just a guy who has enjoyed wine most of his adult life. And having to make a career change at 50 gave me the rare opportunity to choose to work with something I enjoyed. That's when I decided to open the kind of wine shop I always wanted to shop in.

What did you do in the real world? In my previous life from 1979 through 1998, I co-owned Great Western Boot Company, a multi-state chain of retail western wear stores (and horses don't like me and the feeling is mutual). Before that, from 1972 through 1984, I owned a chain of mall-based imprinted sportswear stores... The Shirt Shack. That was fun...in 1978 I had five stores, 40 employees, and at age 30, I was the oldest staff member. But trust me, this is a lot more fun than any of the rest... and no, there will never be a second store. I've been there, done that, and I still have some of the tee shirts in the attic! (Webmaster’s note: Never say never!)

When and how did your love of wine begin? It began with a trip to Sonoma in 1974, but the real epiphany occurred in 1981 over a bottle of 1977 Sterling Reserve Cabernet someone ordered at a business dinner. I came home from the trip and scoured the town until I could put together a full case. Of course then I had to have somewhere to keep it... then you just can't have just one case...you get the drift....

How would you classify your tastes in wine... old world or new world? I have been accused of liking everything, and for the most part I do. Part of the fun here is that Linda and I get to try such a wide variety of wines. Having to review wines means we never get in a rut of going back to the same style or brand every time. The truth is, I try to appreciate both old and new world styles, but my first love will always be California reds.

All of us have our favorites...what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? New World wines are what I know best. I really only began to focus on old world wines ten years ago, so I am way behind many of my customers. I have loved drinking and learning more about Italian and Spanish wines. However, experiencing Bordeaux and Burgundy is almost a lifelong undertaking, and at today’s prices I don’t think I’m going to catch up.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? A blue cheese topped filet grilled medium rare with a bottle of Cabernet is still number one, but Osso Bucco with a bottle Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre is a close second.

What was your most memorable bottle? The six liter bottle of 1982 Kenwood Artist Series that my friend Danny Lipco brought from California for Linda's and my wedding...she'll fill in the details.

Your favorite restaurant? That would be at home... the menu changes every night and we love the wine list. Oakley's does a great job and we love Joseph Decuis in Roanoke, Indiana but it's kind of a road trip. Actually, we eat more lunches out than dinners and there's nothing like a burger in the courtyard at Cobblestone Grill.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? Seeing Linda (the world's best wife who was actually supportive of this investment) behind the wheel of our 2002 Aston Martin Vantage DB 7 - V12 (the real guilty pleasure) ... hey, this investment can't do any worse than my IRA....

Funniest moment working here? There have been so many of them...the classics are tasting wine with the winemaker and he asks you to be honest. It happened once with a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc... the wine smelled like cat pee from two feet away but the winemaker really, really, really wanted to know what we thought. We told him...he has not been back....

The most recent was when the lady who had just selected a $300 mixed case of some of the biggest Cabernets and Shiraz in the store turned to Tom Landshof and asked which one would go best with Tilapia. At least he was honest when he told her she should "go buy some steaks."

Best and worst things about working here? The best would be actually getting to know my customers. I spent most of my 40 years in retail behind the scenes, which is why my office now is behind the counter. The worst, fighting to keep from gaining weight around all this great food and wine.

Linda's real career is leasing and managing medical office buildings. Developing new buildings and the general "care taking" of much of Community Health Network's real estate needs. It keeps her way too busy to spend much time in the store anymore. But, she spent every Saturday with me for the first 3 years we opened. Although she's not here often, she is still my secret weapon behind the scenes.

All those "What We Thought" reviews in the newsletter have a lot more to do with her nose and palate than mine. Five years ago we held a ten bottle blind tasting that we invited people to test their palates by identifying the wines grape varietal and matching it to its magazine review. 150 people tasted and tried the wines, and only two people got all ten right... both were women, and one was Linda.

What is your current job in the real world? My real job is as a Vice President over Real Estate and Retail Services with VEI, the for-profit division of Community Health Network.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? From the very first moment Doug thought about the idea.

When and how did your love of wine begin? I'm not sure if this made me love it immediately, but my introduction was in about 1983, when my mentor at my first job in commercial real estate, George Charbonneau, gave me a bottle of Chablis and Bordeaux as a gift. Unfortunately, I do remember thinking that the Bordeaux would be better chilled!

How would you classify your tastes in wine... old world or new world? Well, I'm still more partial to New World, but my tastes are New World with a throwback to Old World. I don't think I would have known what a Rhône was 15 years ago, and now it is my "go to" Red...but that is also because the French ones have changed their style to be a bit more "New World." I love the crisp, unoaked Hendry Chardonnay (yes, I really do like white wine), but realistically, it isn't as true of an "Old World" style white as I think it is.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? I really do think my favorite food is pizza...usually something involving a very thin crust, and interesting ingredients like artichoke hearts, black olives and maybe goat cheese...pair that with super Tuscan like the Monte Antico Sangiovese Cabernet-Merlot blend and I'm in heaven.

What was your most memorable bottle? A 6 liter of 1982 Kenwood Sonoma Valley Artists Series Cabernet that we served at our wedding reception — it was the very generous gift of our friend, Danny Lipco (who brought it with him from Bakersfield, CA — I think he even had to buy it a seat). He sent us a label in advance, and we matted it and used the matting as our guest register. The matted print and the empty bottle still sit in the kitchen as a reminder of an unforgettable day (where we sat up the camera on timer for our photo). And we still have a couple of bottles left that we plan to open on a few more wedding anniversaries.

Your favorite restaurant? Home, preferably on the deck! And we really don't go to eat out that much...except on vacation, so I'd have to say Grandma Dot's and Trader's on Sanibel.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? A couple of good French subtitled movies and a very lazy Sunday afternoon with rain (or just pull the blinds and pretend it is raining outside).

Funniest moment working here? This is more of an amazing moment...a number of years back, Doug had a Zionsville customer approach him because her brother was making wine in Oregon and she hoped he would try it. We’d had several “homemade” wines brought by before, so we were a little dubious, especially when her brother finally did come in on a Saturday morning carrying his wines in a cardboard box.

So the first amazing thing is that we had the time to taste wine on a Saturday morning (probably wouldn’t happen today, would it?) and still wait on customers, but the more amazing thing was that every single wine we tasted seemed better than the one before. Doug, our co-worker at the time, Jim Mathias, and I kept tasting, and then looking at each other saying “this is amazing...who is this guy and how do we get his wines distributed in Indiana"? Well, in case you haven’t figured it out, the wines were Sineann and the winemaker was Peter Rosback, and the rest is pretty much history for us!

Best and worst things about working here? I can't really claim to work here much anymore, but it is still the interaction with the greatest customers around — as well as the very competent and enthusiastic staff.

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Tom Landshof

Tom Landshof, our self proclaimed "Wine Geezer" has been with us since almost the beginning....

How old are you? The Wine Geezer is 71 and proud of it.

What was your last job in the real world ?
I was President and CEO when I retired from Hitox Corporation which has since changed its name to Tor Minerals Inc. We were a public company that manufactured titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, and aluminum trihydrate pigments.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? You got to enjoy my company beginning in May 2001.

When and how did your love of wine begin? I was brought up in a household that enjoyed wine. My father would always let us children have a taste. Suzanne, my current wife, and I (Note: They just celebrated 50 years of marriage) have always enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner. We started out drinking Mateus, then Lancers when we could afford it, and some Rieslings and progressed from there. We got a little more serious about it in 1968 when we lived in Baltimore. I took a correspondence course from UC Davis in oenology. For an extra buck they sent you a certificate of completion. Since then I’ve been able to claim to be a certified oenologist from UC Davis, as long as no questions are asked.

How would you classify your tastes in wine… Old World or New World?

I suppose that if I was forced to answer this question, I would say Old World. I like wines with character and nuance. Wines that reflect the varietals they are made from and not tricked up by the winemaker. I prefer not to be hit over the head with gobs of fruit and alcohol. A little subtlety is sexy.

All of us have our favorites…what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? I would classify myself as a generalist. I like and drink both whites and reds. In whites, my cellar has Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viogner, Muscadet and Riesling, as well as a few oddballs. I probably drink and have more Cabernet or Bordeaux in my racks, but have a good selection of various Italian wines as well as Rhônes, Zinfandels, Shirazes and Pinot Noirs.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? A thick juicy grilled steak with a bottle of Cabernet of Bordeaux. Pasta with red sauce and a Sangiovese or Amarone. Linguini with white clam sauce and a bottle of Muscadet or crisp Viognier.

What is your current favorite bottle? The Insoglio 2008 Super Tuscan.

What was your most memorable bottle? Probably the 1982 Petrus we drank to celebrate the birth of my last granddaughter, who is now 10 years old.

Your favorite restaurant? My current favorite in Indiana is Joseph Decuis in Roanoke, Indiana. In Baltimore, Maryland, the home of one of my sons, it would probably be Charleston's.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? Spending an afternoon with a glass of wine and a good book on the porch.

Funniest moment working here? Can't come up with anything other than the mental picture of Doug crawling in the sunroof of his SUV after locking himself out.

Best and worst thing about working here? I really enjoy the interaction with our customers. We also have a great group of people to work with. There is no competition or office politics to cope with. Everyone helps each other out. The worst thing about working at GVC is the temptation to bring home another great wine. We have so many and it is hard not to just leave your paycheck there.

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Carlene Clark

Carlene Clark is the operations manager of our Fishers store.

How old are you? I remember a quote by Mary Kay Ash: “A woman that would tell her age would tell anything.”

What did or do you do in the real world? Prior to working at the Grapevine Cottage I was in real estate. Before that, I had spent 15 years in the wine trade as a buyer in California; selling for Monarch Beverage; and then on to working a three-state territory for a broker whose portfolio included brands such as Sebastiani and Georges Duboeuf. When away from “The Cottage,” I love to visit with my daughters, play with my grandkids, knit, sew, sail, take walks and play ball with my Dachshund.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? I started working at the old Zionsville store on September 22, 2005.

When and how did your love of wine begin? I’ve been in wine sales for about 19 years and it took a trip to France in 2002 to really appreciate the distinction between good wine and fine wine.

How would you classify your tastes in wine, Old World or New World? New world with big extracted fruit is my preference and I prefer wines that are less than subtle. However, I do like most Spanish and Portuguese wines. Since France has taken the “moo” out of some of their wines, I’ve come around a little to liking some French — Burgundies, Cru Beaujolais and Rhône blends. But I’m a sixth-generation Californian, with my heritage dating back to the early 1800s when Spanish was the language, so my heart and soul have been in “The New World” a long time.

What varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? Since Georges Duboeuf sponsored my trip to France, I know a lot about Beaujolais. Unfortunately, there’s not much of a market here in Indiana for Cru Beaujolais but if you want to discuss it, come to the Fishers store for a chat. I also love Champagne, sparkling wines and Cavas so I’m able to help meet a taste profile in that section of the store.

Do you have a favorite memory of a winery? When I represented Sebastiani, I had the honor and privilege of a personal tour of the vineyards, the Cherryblock cottage and lunch with Mary Ann Sebastiani Cuneo and her husband, Richard.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? If the weather is really hot, I like to pair a cold Chardonnay with the boat but if it’s cold outside, I like a fire with my Zinfandel. Food isn’t necessary.

What was your most memorable bottle? A 1982 Pouilly Fuisse that I had while visiting France in 2002. This 20 year Chardonnay tasted as fresh and lively as it probably tasted the day they bottled it.

What is your current favorite bottle? I love Schramsburg Mirabelle Brut Rosé because it’s dry but not too dry and very flavorful without being too yeasty.

Your favorite restaurant? Hands down, my favorite restaurant (if you can call a shack a restaurant) of all time is La Super Rica in Santa Barbara, California. This ain’t no Taco Bell! In fact, you wait in line to place your order then wait in line to get a table...in that order. The menu, which never changes, is handwritten on a chalkboard and placed in the window. Tortillas are made by hand and you can see a woman behind the order-taker rolling masa into balls, smashing them with the tortilla press then tossing them onto the grill. I always order the #6 (pasilias and onions), guacamole and extra tortillas. The food is beyond fabulous and always worth the wait. Wine isn't sold there, but a cold beer always tastes good with Mexican food.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? I’m either reading a book, playing “Words with Friends”, or checking out Facebook on my Nook.

Funniest moment working here? When I worked in the Zionsville store (20 miles from home), my bra strap broke during my eight-hour shift. Although we didn’t have a safety pin, we did have a sewing kit. I locked myself in the little girl’s room and stitched my bra together. My coworkers thought it was much funnier than I did.

Best and worst thing about working here? The best thing is that I’m now five miles from home and the worst thing is that my pals still work at the Zionsville store. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know our new customers and coworkers and am so happy to see some of the familiar faces our previous Zionsville customers here in Fishers.

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Adele Huffman

Looking for good Chardonnay? Adele Huffman is the one to ask. She has pretty strong opinions about the wines she likes (or doesn’t), and she’s not afraid to share them!

What have you done in the real world? I have been a Travel Agent for 37 years. I owned and operated a travel agency until 9/11. I still sell travel, and now I am always looking for a travel opportunity with a vineyard in mind.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? Five years.

When and how did your love of wine begin? Definitely in college, and of course it was Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill.

How would you classify your taste in wines, Old World or New World? New World.

All of us have our favorites ... what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? Chardonnay, of course! I tend to gravitate toward wines from the Russian River area. I have made an effort to educate myself with other white varietals. I know some of you may find this hard to believe but, I do love red wine as well. I am sure I have sold you a bottle or at least tried.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? I have a couple. I love a great steak and Norton Privada or Marquis Phillips’ S2. On the other side, I love summer sausage, sliced pears, grapes, sharp cheddar cheese and a big buttery Chardonnay.

What is your current favorite bottle? I am loving the Hahn SLH Chardonnay 2007. It fills the bill, for me, of a buttery, oaky Chardonnay. It is creamy, smooth, has that butterscotch flavor I am looking for, and is just a great drink. At the end of the day, Hahn Chardonnay and I just wind down together. I would say we are like friends….

What was your most memorable bottle? Many factors make a bottle of wine, memorable. Even the least expensive bottle of wine can create a memory if the company is right. Sharing wine with my co-workers is the best!!!

Your favorite restaurant? Jeff Ruby’s in Cincinnati, Ruth’s Chris in Indianapolis or Magnolias in Charleston S.C.

Funniest moment working here? Working with Dr. Tom. He makes everyone laugh. (How about the snow, Dr. T?)

Best and worst things about working here? Hands down, the people I work with make this the best place to work. There are days, however, that I need to borrow Bob's gun. (My fellow employees will understand this, lol). I would be amiss if I didn't mention our customers. I look forward to greeting you and try very hard to remember names ... there are a lot of you and only one of me. Please don’t be offended if I have to ask your name more than once. The worst thing about the job ... so many wines and not enough time to drink all of them.

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Paul Johnson

Interested in French wine? Talk to Paul Johnson — you can even ask him in French!

How old are you? 59.

What do you do in the real world? Most of my working life before Grapevine Cottage revolved around foodservice management, along with a couple years at Trader Joe’s.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? Since October 2004.

When and how did your love of wine begin? As both a student and instructor on Dartmouth’s foreign language programs in France, I lived with local families where wine was served daily. This was not high-end stuff, mind you, probably selling at the time (the early 70s) for around 40 cents a liter. While we generally drank beer when out in the cafes, any evening meal at “home” or in restaurants was accompanied by wine. Back on campus in the US, if wine made an appearance, it was still usually in the form of Yago Sangria, Cold Duck, or Mateus Rosé.

In 1976, I returned to France to teach English under an I.U. exchange program and it occurred to me that I really ought to try to learn more about French wine and cuisine on this trip. My girlfriend (and present wife) had brought along a paperback, Guide du Vin by Raymond Dumay, and in the month of down time I had before classes began, I read and re-read it until I practically had it memorized. Soon I was splurging our meager bankroll on Medocs and Beaujolais that cost over a dollar a bottle! I bought a case of Burgundy at an auction for $28. The hook was set. For two years, our travels took us to places with exotic names like Bordeaux, Gigondas, Beaune and Riquewihr. We look forward to doing it all again soon.

How would you classify your tastes in wine…Old World or New World? I love what's going on in all of the “new” outposts of the wine world and wouldn't argue with the quality and value of the wines being produced, but I'm always drawn back to the elegance and finesse of the better-quality French and Italian wines.

All of us have our favorites…what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? Because of my experiences in France, it's easier for me to decipher labels and to recall which varietals and regions go together, so that may pass for expertise when it's really more like being able to remember how to drive home. One type of wine I always find it easy to enjoy is a nice Côtes-du-Rhône from France or the Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre equivalent from elsewhere.

Do you have a favorite memory of a winery visit? Several contenders, but the standout is Chateau Lafite-Rothschild in 1977. As a wine novice, I considered it hallowed ground and hardly dared to get out of my car. But as luck would have it, the busload of Japanese tourists was just pulling away and the maitre-de-chai (the actual head-honcho cellar master) said he had some time on his hands. We spent a good hour touring the grounds, the winemaking areas, and the private cellar beneath the chateau, all the while getting an education from one of the top winemakers on the planet. And no, even though we watched as they splashed Lafite all over the floor as they topped up the barriques, not one drop passed our lips. Dommage… but a great memory just the same.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? Hard to imagine anything finer than Lasagne alla Bolognese (courtesy of Saveur Magazine) matched with the Allegrini Pallazzo Della Torre....

What is your current favorite bottle? For day-to-day, the Grand Veneur Reserve in a 3 liter box! Most astonishingly delicious bottle this year: Van der Heyden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2002.

What was your most memorable bottle? For Christmas 1977, Donna gave me a bottle of 1973 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. '73 was a pretty lame vintage, but Picasso had been commissioned to do the label art and it was the year Mouton was promoted from Second Growth to First. It was pricey at 53 francs ($10), but I was worth it! We brought the bottle back, dragged it all over the country through heat, cold, and every imaginable abuse, and finally settled it on a rack here in Indy. By 1993 or so, I was convinced it had to be utterly dead, so we decided to open it for Christmas dinner. For an hour we sat and took in tiny sips, completely in awe of the depth and powerful complexity, stunned that it had not only survived, but become transcendent.

Your favorite restaurant? Kona Jack’s/Daddy Jack’s, after many years in their trenches. Out of town: Umberto's in North Myrtle Beach and Piballe in Manhattan.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? Armagnac, but it doesn't make me feel guilty.

Funniest moment working here? Seeing the look on driver's faces as they passed by all of the cases of wine that were stacked and sitting on Main Street when we were preparing to move the store.

Best and worst thing about working here? Short answer: the amount of money I save on wine — and the amount of money I spend on wine.

The other best thing is the fact that people are rarely in a bad mood when they walk into our store and we are almost always to make them happier by answering questions, providing knowledge, and anticipating their needs. I consider the act of buying wine an investment in a pleasant experience to come in the near, or even distant, future. It's fun to be part of helping people look forward to that enjoyment.

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Bob Woolson

Looking for a big, California Cabernet? Silver Oak, Caymus, Quintessa … Bob Woolson's the guy who has tried them all!

How old are you? 64 years.

What is your last job in the real world? General Manager Central region Kawneer / Alcoa. I was with them for 37 years and retired in November 2003.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? Six years, I started in March 2004. (Hmmm, it only took Bob four months to get bored with retirement...)

When and how did your love of wine begin? Started to enjoy wine in the mid 1980s. I picked up a Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet for Thanksgiving and that was the start of our love affair with wine.

How would you classify your tastes in wine… Old World or New World? Without question, new world wines

All of us have our favorites…what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? California and Washington, Cabernet and Merlot.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? A big new York strip steak with a bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet or Marquis Philips S2 Cabernet.

What was your most memorable bottle? It's a tie between a 1998 Insignia, a perfect bottle of wine — it was like drinking velvet — or the 1997 Merryvale Profile, which had outstanding balance and depth.

Your favorite restaurant? Local Favorite — Ruth's Chris, downtown location. Out of Area — Don's Pomeroy House, Strongsville, Ohio - The perfect meal: Fish Market Salad (Iceberg, Romaine, Spinach, Red Cabbage, Chopped egg, Blue Cheese, Baby Shrimp with Italian Vinaigrette dressing), New Zealand Rack of Lamb Herb rubbed, Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing, Mushrooms, Truffle Oil, Demi Glaze, and for dessert a Grande Eclair.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? When I started at GVC I was strictly a red wine drinker. I hate to admit it but I now enjoy a good bottle of white wine on occasion.

Best and worst thing about working here? Best thing about working at GVC is the ability to interact with the customers who all have a love of wine. Worst thing is that it costs me money to work at GVC because of all the great wines that I take home on a regular basis.

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Mark Finch

Mark Finch is our resident Mac Guru... he's the guy responsible for everything from preparing our cookbook to print to managing all the point-of-sale materials here in the store. Mark is our resident "value expert," and can show you where all the bargains are.

How old are you? Vintage 1952, and still maturing.

What do you do in the real world? Printing, publishing and public relations. I did public relations and lobbying for the Indiana highway industry for eight years, then owned a printing company for 17 years. I still do some print advertising, publication and Web design, and freelance writing.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? Since March of 2002, after a brief stint as production manager of a newspaper in Grand Cayman.

When and how did your love of wine begin? My parents often drank Almaden wines with dinner when I was growing up. Each wine had cartoon illustrations of the types of animals whose meat they were supposed to be paired with, so I learned that early on. Later, when I was a high school senior, my friends and I found that we could go into liquor stores and discuss wines for half an hour or so with the clerks and not get carded when we eventually bought some. I ran through a lot of Black Tower and other crockery-bottle Rieslings then, and still have an empty fish-shaped bottle of Antinori white Tuscany wine for fish, vintage 1967. After that came a Boone’s Farm phase. My first purchase of a case of “real” wine was Sebastiani Barbera, vintage 1976, which I bought from Louise Kahn. I still have the wooden box.

How would you classify your tastes in wine... Old World or New World? I try to appreciate every wine for what it has to offer. I drink both Old World and New World wines, but find that I am buying a lot more European wines than I used to, particularly Rhônes and Riojas. But if I were banished to a tropical island where only one type of wine was available, I would prefer that it be Bordeaux-style blends from the New World.

All of us have our favorites...what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? Rhônes and other red blends, Spanish Reds and Zinfandels. I try to keep up with Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs too, but Doug buys them faster than I can drink them. I’m not a good person to ask for a Beaujolais recommendation — Gamay is one grape I just don’t appreciate, no matter how often I try.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? We eat a lot of lamb, which I like to pair with a Rhône or a Malbec. A Grenache with grilled wild-caught salmon is mighty good, too. Or Riondo Prosecco and Eggs Benedict for Sunday brunch. Or beef tenderloin and a Bordeaux blend — it's impossible to pick just one!

What is your current favorite bottle? The Beronia Rioja Reserva 2005 starts with aromas of coffee and spices on the nose, then continues with flavors of cassis and dark berries on an oak-smoothed palate. It’s worth every penny of its $22 price, and then some.

What was your most memorable bottle? Two bottles here: The 1993 Barolo that my wife, Katz, and I drank on our tenth wedding anniversary in 2003 was absolutely fabulous. Equally memorable was a split of a 1963 Meursault that her grandfather gave us — improperly stored upright on the top shelf of kitchen cabinet for 35 or so years, amber-colored with little floaties in it, and stunningly — and unexpectedly — delicious with rich flavors of vanilla and caramel.

Your favorite restaurant? The Lobster Pound Restaurant in Lincolnville Beach, Maine. For Sunday brunch, Portofino Restaurant in Gun Bay, Grand Cayman. Locally, you can’t beat the burgers at the White River Yacht Club.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? These days, I prefer that my pleasures be of the “not guilty” variety. I’m pretty sure that all my unindicted co-conspirators feel the same way.

Funniest moment working here? That may have been when Tom Landshof sought me out when he needed a “tall guy” and out of the four people working that was me. I can possibly stretch out to 5’7.5” on a good morning. Best and worst thing about working here? The best thing is all the great people I’ve met here, on both sides of the counter. I’d say my least favorite task is packing the Wine of the Month boxes, but our new tradition of having a homemade gourmet lunch afterwards makes it a lot more tolerable!

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Tom Skokut

Since we now have two Toms, Tom Skokut has become known around the store as Dr. Tom, (Ph.D. not M..D), and while he may be slightly underemployed selling wine, we are all very glad to have him.

How old are you? I am 60.

What did you do in the real world? I was a Research Scientist at Dow AgroSciences. My wife and I both retired from DAS three and a half years ago. I had a research career in plant biology for over 30 years (not all at Dow). I worked in plant tissue culture, plant molecular biology and plant genetic engineering. I have worked with corn, wheat, soybeans and canola, but never grapevines.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? Over two and a half years. When and how did your love of wine begin? My parents lived on a small farm in Paso Robles for 20 years after they retired. At my many visits, we would go tasting at the different wineries. By the time they left in 2007, there were more than 30 wineries in a 10-mile radius from where they lived. Twenty years ago, Paso Robles had very few wineries. I had the privilege of watching the area grow into a well-respected wine region.

How would you classify your taste in wines, Old World or New World? Definitely New World. I love the California Cabs and Chardonnays. However, since I have worked at Grapevine Cottage and have been introduced to many new wines, I am really getting into the French Rhônes.

All of us have our favorites ... what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? California central coast. I have many favorite wineries there. I love J. Lohr’s Chardonnays and Cabs. The Paso Robles Zins can be interesting, especially the ones I get from the Tobin James wine club (one of the few wine clubs that will ship to Indiana!). The Pinots from the Santa Lucia Highlands are really good, e.g. Paraiso. Honestly, I loved this area way before the movie Sideways came out.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? I think you should always go with a wine you like and experiment. A Walter Clore Cab with a steak from the grill is super of course. But try a Riesling with brats, I think they go great together. I think Pinots go with a lot of food — I especially like it with salmon.

What is your current favorite bottle? My current favorite is the Château Thieuley Bordeaux Blanc 2007. It goes very well with seafood, chicken, pork and white pasta dishes, and with a lot of appetizers. It doesn’t have the sharp grapefruit of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc — the fruit is tasty and smooth. A very versatile white.

What was your most memorable bottle? Tobin James Fat Boy. It’s an out-of-this-world Zinfandel and is perfect with Christmas dinner.

Your favorite restaurant? My wife and I go out to lunch a lot. We love to have lunch at The Friendly Tavern, Puccini’s, Stonecreek, Sweet and Savory, Ocean Grill and Athens.

Funniest moment working here? One of my funniest moments was when I blasted a plastic coke bottle from about 20 yards with Mark’s crossbow that shoots wine corks on my very first try. This was in the parking lot and after store hours, of course.

Best and worst things about working here? Worst thing is choosing which wine to take home for dinner — so much wine, so little time! The best thing is seeing my friends from Dow when they come to the store, making new friends (we have the best customers) and meeting our customers’ dogs.

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Laurel Steffes

Our gourmet food director, Laurel Steffes, has been with us since we made our move to the new location back in 2005. She is responsible for the purchasing and display of all our meats, cheeses, gourmet foods and wine accessories. And she and her husband, Mike, have quite a cellar, so she can answer your wine questions too!

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? It will be six years in August.

Where did your interest in cooking come from? I remember loving to bake ever since I was in elementary school, and I suppose my interest in cooking evolved from that. My mother and my grandmothers set the example as they were all wonderful cooks, but it was my father who perhaps had even more of an impact on me. He had such a zest for life and a curiosity and interest in trying new things, including food. In a time and a place when most of us thought it couldn’t get any more exotic and exciting than Chinese food, he was always looking for the next taste sensation.

I still remember the Christmas he decided to fix a goose stuffed with chestnuts and sausage and who knows what else. He was so excited about it, but I’m afraid the rest of the family wasn’t quite as thrilled as he was by his Dickensian fantasy. We just wanted turkey with our usual stuffing! But he set an example that led me to seek out new culinary experiences and to want to learn to prepare these foods at home.

When did your love of wine begin? It was my husband who first developed an interest in wine and he’s the one who encouraged me to expand my wine horizons beyond sweet whites. Strangely enough, this is a rather recent development since it’s only been in the past 10 years or so that I’ve discovered there’s a great big world of wines out there and that I love most of them, particularly the reds. It really is never too late to learn to appreciate new things.

Old or New World? Hmm. It wasn’t long ago that I was only interested in New World wines, but I think I’m now beginning to appreciate those from the Old World, particularly French and Italian reds. There are times when I find that “fruit forward” isn’t always what I want.

Favorite varietals/regions? California Cabernets, Oregon Pinot noirs, and French Rhônes.

Favorite food and wine pairing? Cab and cow, of course!

Most memorable bottle? With my increasingly faulty memory, my most memorable bottle is usually the one I had last night! But there are a few that stand out. One is the Gaja Sugarille 2001 that my husband and I drank to celebrate our first attempt at homemade charcuterie. It was the perfect complement to Bresaola (an Italian classic) which, happily, was decent enough to eat.

The second was a 1989 Vouvray from the Loire Valley that we drank in 2008 at my husband’s 50th birthday dinner at Picasso in Las Vegas. This was a revelation to someone (me) who rarely drinks whites. A 19 year-old white that had aged and mellowed into a light golden color, wonderfully viscous in the mouth, with a nose of ripe stone fruit and honey, beautifully complementing the perfectly prepared scallops with Jus de Veau. A happy memory all the way around.

Favorite restaurant? Out of town - Americas in Houston, The Ninth Door in Denver, NoMI in Chicago. When I’m home I like Oakleys and Amalfi, and I head to either Sullivan’s or Ruth’s Chris when in the mood for a great steakhouse atmosphere. A new favorite is Siam Square in Fountain Square when the need for Pad Thai hits and I’m not in the mood to fix it myself. But the best place in town is the Grapevine Cottage on the day we put together the Wine of the Month Club boxes. We take turns bringing in lunch and I think I work with some of the best chefs in Indy.

Funniest moment? Sorry, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. And I’m still laughing....

Best and worst things about working here? The best thing ...how can there be only one? I have a terrific boss. I work with wonderful people who have become dear friends and who are as passionate as I am about good food and wine. I work at a store that has the most wonderful customers in the entire state. I get to go to the Fancy Food Show in New York City every summer (have I mentioned that I have a terrific boss?). And I get a discount on wine (so now the real truth comes out.) The worst thing? Handing over my entire paycheck to pay for all the wine I take home. Also, dusting and vacuuming the store!

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Jim Bandy

You might call Jim Bandy a student of wine! I think he may have the most well-rounded palate of any of us. Ask him about Argentina or his many trips to Napa....

How old are you? 46.

What is your current job in the real world? Corporate sales for Western Union Global Business Payments.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? I joined the team a few months before moving to the new building. So I think I’m in my fifth year. Time really does fly when you're drinking... I mean selling wine.

When and how did your love of wine begin? Advertising was where my career began, and when I began drinking wine. (Ah...a slice of pizza and cold Rosé from a box — lunch of champions!) Almost 20 years ago, I took a challenge from a wine retailer who offered tastings in my Southern California neighborhood. I started off saying “I really don't care for red.” He replied “Give me six months and see if that holds true.” After trying new things every week or so, he was right. I think that laid the base for my continued exploration of different wines and styles of wine. Even at home now, we regularly try new things and find new “friends.” That's one thing I enjoy talking about with our customers: seeing where their taste preferences are, and finding out if they’re interested in trying something different.

How would you classify your tastes in wine... Old World or New World? I like to equate wine styles to music: I think of old world style wines as being much like a string quartet — good background for food, usually balanced, and well-grounded (my new substitute phrase for Terroir). New world wines, though, are the Jazz and Rock bands: spotlight grabbing, toe-tapping, and not always willing to share the stage with food. String quartets have a special place in my heart but I more frequently listen to Jazz and Rock.

All of us have our favorites...what varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? New world reds and Champagne/Sparkling are my strongest suits.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing? This is quite difficult as my favorites change often. Right now, it’s braised short ribs with Napa Cabernet, or peppered rare Ahi Tuna with Schramsberg’s Mirabelle.

What is your current favorite bottle? The d’Arenberg Hermit Crab 2009 fits the bill when you’re looking for something between a buttery-oaky Chard and Champagne. Good with food or on its own, this is a versatile white that is also a great bargain! And the Walter Clore Reserve 2006 is a metrosexual blend — a versatile red that never seems out of place, either at the table or just swirling around in my glass. Not over the top, it’s stylish, balanced, and very enjoyable.

What was your most memorable bottle? 1996 Dom Perignon.

Your favorite restaurant? I travel a great deal, and therefore dine out frequently. When I’m at home, though, my favorites are Oakley’s Bistro, The Meridian, and Capital Grille.

Funniest moment working here? It was too funny when...um...I almost forgot: What happens in the back room stays in the back room.

Best and worst things about working here? The worst thing about working here is wanting to load up my car every night with new things to try but recognizing I have to be sober some time. Some of my favorite times at GVC are when I’m helping customers pair wine with their menus. It merges my love of food with all the different wine varietals and expressions we carry at GVC.

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Mike Lynam

Mike Lynam is the guy to ask about Rieslings and Rhônes at the Fishers store....

How old are you? If I were a Zinfandel, my label would say “Old Vine”.

What did you or do you in the real world ? Until I retired in 2010, I was responsible for the North American marketing strategy, communications and external affairs for a German, family-owned building materials company. The family bought an old factory in Shelbyville in 1978, and I started with them at the beginning of 1979. Our sales then were in the neighborhood of $5 million, and my first office was a trailer in the parking lot. We had two marketing managers in the back bedroom; we’d ripped out the fixtures and put the technical manager in the bathroom (seemed fitting at the time); the director of R&D had the old kitchen (also seemed fitting); I was the advertising manager and I shared the living room with our secretary … and all the inventory of our sales literature and promotional items. That’s where I learned the value of inventory control and how to stack boxes to the ceiling. It was a great company and a great career opportunity. By the time I retired, we had grown to four U.S. factories and sales of about $600 million in North America.

How long have you been with The Grapevine Cottage? I started in October, 2011.

When and how did your love of wine begin? I followed the same well-traveled path of Lancer’s, Mateus, MD 20/20, Boone’s Farm and Cold Duck (was that wine?) that many have stumbled along before me. But my real love of wine began about 20 years ago when I fell head over heels for a beautiful lady from just north of San Francisco. She’s now my wife; and needless to say, you don’t get a gal from just south of Napa to marry you if you don’t also love wine. So, I guess I could say that I found two of my life’s greatest passions at the same time.

How would you classify your tastes in wine … old world or new world? New world, but maybe in transition … my personal cellar is mostly new world — and mainly California. But I do have a fondness for German wines fostered by my business travels there; and I’m growing a real appreciation for other old world wines, especially from the Rhône. We have so many really wonderful Rhônes at Grapevine Cottage that it’s hard not to! All of us have our favorites. What varietals or regions do you feel are your strongest areas of expertise? I’m more a red person, so a well-made Cabernet Sauvignon or a Meritage from California is still my first love, and I guess that’s an area of focus. But because of my history, I’m fairly knowledgeable about German wines.

Do you have a favorite memory of a winery visit? I love to visit wineries and have been fortunate to be able to visit quite a few of them, so a “favorite” is tough to choose. I sure enjoyed sampling grapes with Erik Miller in Kokomo’s Timber Crest vineyard and checking out Randy Peters’ collection of restored Sterling trucks there last year. And I was fortunate to visit Adelsheim a couple of years ago. After we finished barrel tasting, David opened a bottle of 1983 riesling that looked like old honey and was fantastic. My wife and I also enjoy visiting Charbay Winery and Distillery up on Spring Mountain … really nice people. It seems like whenever we go to Wine Country, we find places that create great friendships and wonderful memories. We’ll be going to France this summer to tour several Rhône wineries, and I’m sure it will also be a trip to remember. What is your favorite food and wine pairing? I can’t think of much better than a great steak with a Cab or Malbec.

What is your current favorite bottle? For the moment, it’s the Domaine Roche Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 2009. It is very dark in the glass; and the first thing I noticed was a lot of tobacco aromas. It’s full-bodied, dry, and mouth-filling. I liked the black raspberry or dark cherry fruit, the smokiness and chocolate, nice long finish with spice and maybe some licorice. It’s 70 percent Grenache and 30 percent Syrah. Really a great value at $13.99. Parker gave it 91 points.

What was your most memorable bottle? One that I never knew the name of. My wife accompanied me on a business trip to Berlin several years ago; and after the meetings were done, we had two days of free time before we had to come back home. We were staying in a hotel by a small park, so we planned a picnic for the last day. As luck would have it, it was raining — actually more just a drizzle — so we decided not to let that stop us. We borrowed an umbrella from the hotel, bought some cheese, bread, meat and a bottle of some inexpensive red wine from a store on the corner and found a tree along the Spree Canal that looked like a good spot. We spread out our hotel bath towel for a blanket and poured the wine into plastic cups. Pretty soon it started raining harder — quite a bit harder — so there we were huddled under the umbrella, drinking wine, eating bread and cheese, and waving to the boats passing by. I’m sure we were the only two people in the park that day, and that everyone on the boats had to think we were nuts. I know Germany isn’t known for its red wines, and what we had probably wasn’t German, but it’s one bottle I’ll never forget!

Your favorite restaurant? There are so many fine locally-owned restaurants in Indy that I hate to include a chain; but I like Fleming’s because of their wines by the glass and flight selections; Some Guys for their pizza; and home for my wife’s cooking and the reasonable corkage fee.

Your favorite guilty pleasure? Frequently I have to plead guilty to exceeding my wine budget. Funniest moment working here? I think I’d better invoke the “Vegas Rule” … what happens in Fishers, stays in Fishers … but I will say that it had to do with a young lady buying wine to give to coworkers at her office Christmas party.

Best and worst thing about working here? The best thing is that I still feel like a kid in a candy store. It’s also the worst thing (see guilty pleasure above). But I learn something (actually many somethings) new every day from the people I work with and from our customers. And it just doesn’t get much better than that.