One day our rep Sal Furfari from Bacchus Imports was here getting an order( I don't have the date handy( 2005 sometime in May around the 15th?) and he mentioned casually that there was a Susana Balbo luncheon downtown. I asked why I had not been invited and he said because I told him I did not like to go to luncheons. I immediately corrected him and said that I love to when I can meet the wine owner / maker, hopefully sit by them and get a chance to talk to them. I'm all over that kind of tasting and will do what I can to be able to go. Sal quickly got on his cell phone and I think called fellow rep Tony to check and there was room for me. I think Sal even dropped me off ( what a guy! thanks Sal! ) at the address at Fogo de Chao somewhere down by 13th and Pennsylvania Avenues I think. I was a bit late but not really. There was a space right next to Susana on her right side. I took it immediately! I'm not shy about meeting people and grabbing chances like that. She smiled nicely at me as introductions were made. Some food had already arrived and they were perhaps tasting the white Torontes that she does so well? I can't remember exactly.
I told Susana that I would be taking photographs while there to preserve and later share the moment( good times, memories ) and so here it is three years later and I'm sharing with you all. I found the pictures this morning as I was looking for pictures of David Bryant that passed away on July 4th, 2008. I'm writing this here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits on July 10th, 2008. David Bryant was the Italian portfolio buyer/manager for the Country Vintners and he will be sorely missed. What a great guy. I want to include some pictures of him soon but was not able to find any in this recent quest. Oh well, I found Susana smiling up at me as I scrolled the stored pictures here on our computer. I smiled. Susana has such a warm genuine smile that is so pleasing and invites one to say " hello/hola " and introduce themselves. I did.
Michael Flinn ( New Heights ) attended the luncheon, so did some lovely lady from Jaleo( I have her card somewhere ) and others. I was concentrating on Susana, though, her talking about her wines, tasting her wines and seeing how they held up to both the phenomenal salad selections and many different slices of meats, prepared all different ways with various seasonings and grill-time. I was really quite swept away by this south American experience of fine wine and food. As I was about to learn we not only had her wines ( perhaps five or six ? ) as well as those of her husband Pedro ( BEN MARCO ) that I had met back at Catena bodega, Mendoza ( with Nora Favelukes leading about twelve of us on a Billington imports tour ). Pedro was the best! He was in charge of escorting us around and I'll never forget my bus ride around northern Mendoza with him. We spoke of wine, phenols, tannins, fruit and California and Napa and Robert Mondavi and so much more. Gracias Pedro). I'll never forget that amazing trip to Argentina back in 1995.
I first discovered this amazing portfolio of Argentina's wines ( VINE CONNECTIONS ) years earlier through a sales rep John Daniels of the now defunct Wine Source. My eyes bulged, or more to the point my taste buds bulged with gratitude and appreciation as Mike Martin, John and I tasted through all these excellent wines ( I discovered the excellent Bonardas then ) and I remember thinking that the SUSANA BALBO wines were the " values " of the portfolio, affordable and delivering great values. It's still true. Thanks John.
I loved this luncheon. It spoke to me on every artistic level and fiber of my body. Marvelous tastes in both food and wine and the " spectacle " of the service was great to add emphasis, delineate, highlight and add gravitas to Susana's wines when needed. The servers kept slicing away and I kept accepting. I could not imagine such bounty in both food and wine, and all at one time. I took pictures of all of this.
I came away and hopped into a cab after really enjoying myself. I liked many of these wines, mostly all reds, one white, one dry rose?!? I don't remember exactly. I did place an order and both more of the SUSANA BALBO and the BEN MARCO wines came back into our store. Before leaving I thanked Susana and Leslie that works for Vine Connection imports. I told Leslie to please bring Susana by the store. Little did I know that Susan and Leslie would be here first thing next morning before Susana was to return to Mendoza. I showed her my pictures of my trip. When she saw a picture of Pedro she exclaimed : " How young he looks! ". It's a great picture of him. I'll have to get it scanned and include it soon.
I think Susana liked being here in the store. I'm glad that she and Leslie made the effort to come. Thanks Leslie, I appreciate it. I heard Susana talk about how she was the one woman that was climbing up the wine-ladder with a group of other talented male wine makers. I got the feeling both at the luncheon and at the store that she was proud of having held her own and proven her mettle. She went against the grain from what I remember her saying in producing the Torontes in this light, refreshing, bright style. She had been advised by the other male wine makers not to do it. She did anyway and it was a huge success and has started a trend and a style that has blossomed into a huge success and business for all of them now.
I liked meeting you Susana. You are welcome here anytime. Bring Pedro with you the next time. Thanks for signing the bottles here in the store of you Malbec and Cabernet bottles. I really do like your Cabernet Sauvignon. Truth be told I usually always pick it over your Malbec. And cheers to the Ben Marco red blend that he makes. You both are on a roll. Enjoy these pictures. In one of the pictures Leslie and Susana are on either side of one of our local writers, a lovely lady that we like so much. They still speak many volumes of wine-accented stories I believe ...
I've still got one great picture of Susana that refuses to load so I will include it later. Tried again just now : and Got It ! YES!!! Cheers, Hasta luego, TONY
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