Vin de Vin Wine Tasting and Collecting Consultants is a business dedicated to educating the public on all things wine. We strive to do this by hosting educationally oriented wine tastings that are fun and interesting. Most of these wine tastings occur in the homes of those wanting to learn more about wine. Some wine tastings are held by businesses for their employees or clients and some are held in conjunction with charitable activities. Vin de Vin provides all the wines, wine glasses, and wine tasting materials. Those interested in holding a wine tasting simply need to get some friends together in a comfortable location, contact us for a Vin de Vin wine tasting, and kick back and enjoy the wines, the discussion, and the camaraderie. Vin de Vin can trace its history back to 1994 when I joined a local wine tasting group. The members of that group met monthly, and all knew each other, and all knew wine. Up to that point my most intimate association with wine was as an altar boy at my childhood church. I took a taste of sacramental wine after the service, and later that night, I felt like I was going to die. All throughout high school and college, the alcohol of choice was beer and on occasion, drinks like rum and Coke. It wasn't until I was long out of college and joined that wine tasting club that I began to learn about wine. The members of that original wine tasting club, which I am still luckily involved with, are due a great deal of thanks. Some of my fondest memories over the last eight years have been spending time with these great people, made all the better by enjoying great wines. In 1996 I attended a conference in San Francisco and for the first time, got to experience that wonderful city. Its emphasis on quality wine and food was something I would never forget. I managed to spend some time in Napa and Sonoma and suddenly my interest in wine jumped exponentially. I still have some bottles from that trip. Later in 1996 I joined an international insurance consulting firm (my day job), as a Director of Development for Asia, which allowed me to travel extensively, to not only Asia but the West Coast of the U.S. as well. On a typical trip to Asia, I would be traveling alone for at least 3 weeks. On the weekends, I would check out the local wine shops, regardless of whether I was in Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong, or even Seoul. I would buy wine and sometimes I would receive it as a gift. Sometimes I would be accompanied by a colleague, an Australian chap obsessed with tiramisu and Aussie wines. He and I would share stories about wine to make the time go by. On the way home from Asia I would usually stop in San Francisco, and increasingly, wine country. In 1998 (and again in 2000), San Francisco and wine country became vacation destinations tied to business. In 1998 I switched geographic responsibilities, resulting in my becoming Director of Latin America for my company. I was able to expand my knowledge of wine by frequently visiting Chile and Argentina (in addition to the rest of South America, Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico). I frequented many wine shops in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and even Panama City. Because my work was centered in the capitals of these countries, I was unable to visit the wineries in the countryside. However, the wine shop owners in the capitals certainly got to know me. Over the years I have become a tireless reader of wine books and wine publications, and a participant at countless wine events. I've attended the Boston Wine Expo (the U.S.'s largest consumer wine event) every year since 1996 or so. I've been to a number of local wineries in Nantucket and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Maine. My traveling has permitted me to find wines that I typically do not find at my local wine stores. In 2001 I joined the German Wine Society and just last May attended its 25th Annual Gala Celebration in Washington, D.C. I've purchased wines in Boston, Cape Cod, New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Panama City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Toronto, London, Dublin, and I'm sure several other places that I can't remember. I find wine and wine education to be a fun and interesting way to establish and deepen friendships. I hope you can enjoy wine as much as I continue to enjoy it. Cheers! Vicente M. A. Pina, Certified Specialist in Wine (CSW) Member, Society of Wine Educators Vin de Vin Wine Tasting and Collecting Consultants winetasting@vindevin.com www.vindevin.com