As we get well into our 5th year of operations at Alinea, this launch of the Alinea:Oenophilia website seems the right opportunity to offer a look over the shoulders of our wine team at some of what goes into our wine program, and more importantly, some of the benefits we reap as a result of our experiences at the restaurant.
Obviously, this will serve as the ideal forum to present some greater detail and background for the selections offered in the subscriptions offered elsewhere on this site. But also, we look forward to the chance to pass along some of what we learn along the way. Over the course of a season, our wine pairing format allows us to explore specific regions or varietals in often remarkable depth. The menus and wine pairings at Alinea are in a constant state of evolution; new discoveries are a constant source of pleasure and further inspiration.
One of the obvious rewards of our jobs is the chance to taste many great wines; sometimes with the added dimension of a visit from the winemaker! We look forward to the chance to share our impressions of some of our favorite products, as well as the amazing people behind them. I, for one, very much look forward to contributions to this forum from the members of our sommelier team, a very talented group with a wide range of interests and expertise.
In addition to our head sommelier, Craig Sindelar, current members of the team are Richard Richardson, Ben Aviram, and William Douillet. They all bring to Alinea a tremendous passion for wine and, most specifically, the key role it plays in a great dining experience. Wine is, after all, a pretty much infinitely fascinating subject. There is always something new to learn, taste, and experience. We hope you enjoy the chance to share some of our discoveries and perspectives.
Joe Catterson, Alinea Wine Director
Congrats! This is fantastic, a welcome addition. I’ve always been meaning to ask for a list of your wine pairings to accompany the Alinea cook book! Now there’s a perfect forum for it…