Notes from 50 years in wine
Wine has been my life’s work for over 50 years—from Ashbury Market to Wine.com. What began as a family buisness became a lifelong pursuit of tasting, storytelling, and discovery. This is where I share the wines, the moments, and the journey—one glass at a time. 🍷
My love affair with Geyserville
In the summer of 1975, I wandered into the Union Street Wine & Cheese Center and stumbled onto a flight of 1972 Ridge Vineyards wines. My friend Elaine McIntosh was pouring behind the counter, and that was behind the tasting bar, and that is how I discovered the Ridge Geyserville Zinfandels—later to be reclassified as a red table wine giving the winery more flexibility with its percentage of Zin in the blend. A year later, I contacted the winery and sold the 1973s at our family store, Ashbury Market, and my nearly five-decade love affair continues to grow.
Isn’t It Time for More Rieslings in Your Life?
Each year as I plan my wine-tasting schedule, I grapple with fixed events—ZAP Experience, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Premiere Napa, numerous wine competitions, etc. These popular events exist because their categories are active in the marketplace with consumers and professionals. Rieslings are another story, and I should have tasted more of them.
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Articles | Food, Drink, & Travel
Food, drinks, and travel—are three categories that can be difficult to navigate. My goal is to guide you and simplify the process.. Please join me on this journey, and we can enjoy the road together.
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Let's Connect
Please contact me for any questions. I am available to write stories, taste, and evaluate wines.
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About Wilfred
Wilfred (Willie) Wong’s 50-year wine career includes roles as Imported Wine Buyer for BevMo!, Chief Storyteller at Wine.com, Wine Judge, and Wine Journalist.
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Wine Stories
Wine and spirits have been an essential part of my life for 50 years. I spend plenty of time researching the subject, and over the years I’ve collected stories I look forward to sharing with you.
