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Mayor Don Slesnick |
The Cellar Club talks wine with Coral Gables
Mayor Don Slesnick
Do you and your wife consider yourselves wine aficionados?
Jeannett and I are wine "appreciators". By that I mean
that we enjoy good wines, but we are not connoisseurs. Our wine
interest covers a broad span - we find pleasure in many different
styles, vintages, and price ranges.
In addition to enjoying the Cellar Club, how does your
wine "appreciation" play out in your lives?
Actually, we own a small farm in Virginia in the heart of the
burgeoning Blue Ridge wine region and make an effort to support
the maturing wine industry there by frequently bringing samples
back to South Florida for friends and family. We usually have a
five case assortment of various wines on hand at home, and make
a point to visit wineries on our vacations in Europe and in California.
Do you have a favorite wine region?
Barboursville near Orange, Virginia represents the best of that
state's product and shows that solid wine products can be
produced in the South. Picture beautiful rolling countryside, an
outstanding restaurant and an open-air stage among the ruins of
a Jeffersonian mansion which features an annual summer Shakespeare
festival under the stars. Did I mention that the wine is good, too?
Talk about one memorable gastronomic experience.
On last year's Sister City trip to Pisa, Italy, we were introduced
to a few fantastic new wine labels from that region, accompanying
our
unforgettable white truffle feast!
When are you most likely to indulge in that special bottle
of wine?
Our favorite wines are enjoyed at home with an intimate group of
good friends.
How long have you been a Cellar Club member?
Upon the reopening of the hotel in the 1980's, we became original
charter life members of the "Biltmore Club" - I believe
that we were among the first 5. We became members of the "Biltmore
Fitness Center and Spa" in 1993 following the Hotel's second
rebirth - and have been Cellar Club members since 2001.
What aspect of the Cellar Club most appeals to you?
For us, it is about the camaraderie among friends… the special
functions really bring the members together. With these monthly
events, the Club has added a valuable entertainment option for our
residents - the warmth of the hospitality creates a sense of community
and enriches the quality of life in Coral Gables.
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