All too often, many folks doing excellent work in the wine trade are unsung, anonymous behind-the-scenes types when it comes to public awareness. For every bottle of wine in our market you may count as a favourite, theres a local importer who was responsible for bringing it here in the first place. That knowledgeable sommelier who made your dinner perfect the other night would have had a great teacher, and if they were to become seriously ill, they could turn to a charity run by industry veterans for help.
At the in early March, we paid tribute to one of our own who fills all of the above criteria.
Richard Carras was awarded the annual Spirited Industry Professional Award, which is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. Receiving a standing ovation from many of the peers whod nominated or voted for him, Richard humbly accepted the award with the mild-mannered, gracious demeanor a generation of us have come to know.
Beginning his career as a part-time bartender and tacking on Hotel and Restaurant Management courses at BCIT, Richard was part of creating Western Canadas first wine bar in Kitsilano before finding a long-time home as a wine consultant in sales while achieving his Certified Wine Educator status through the Society of Wine Educators. After 17 years well-integrated in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»scene, he became the export director for Robert Mondavi (the sole vintner of our first wine festival in the 70s) for Asia and the Americas. His current home is at Authentic Wine and Spirits, a wine-importing agency he co-founded in 2006, responsible for the Cono Sur, Masi, Ornellaia and many other household names constantly being poured around town.
While his workload is quite full, one of the things I respect most about Richard is the time and energy he devotes as a founding board member of the BC Hospitality Foundation, a charity that helps hospitality industry professionals cope with the extraordinary financial burdens that arise from a serious health or medical crises.
Hes one of those guys, one of the good guys, in fact, who countless people in my industry see as a mentor, inspiration, or both. Im so glad that his work and passion have been recognized by peers, but in chatting with him about this, I made him go right back to work. When it comes down to it, the guy knows wine, and this weeks wine recommendations come to you straight from a local legend. Heres what Richard Carras would like to see you drinking this weekend:
Laurenz 2010 Singing Gruner Veltliner | Kremstal, Austria | $19.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Nectarine, peaches, white pepper and spice keep this Austrian white completely fresh, balanced and tasty. Brilliant with seafood and would stand up to anything spicy quite well.
Masi Tupungato 2009 Passo Doble |Tupungato Valley, Argentina | $14.99 | BC Liquor Stores
This Argentinian version of Masis classic Campofiorin blends the Italian Corvina grape with Malbec, Argentinas darling. Finished wine is re-fermented with semi-dried grape must (thats the Passo Doble part) resulting in a hearty collage of fruit leather, dark berries, black olives and cloves. A dark and brooding wonder that should be served with meat, and plenty of it.
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