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The Cellar Club catches up with Maria Sastre
and Wayne Cotton.
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Wayne Cotton is a Teacher with Miami-Dade
Public Schools, after a recent career change working in the
Financial Planning field for American Express, and over 25 years
in corporate America with Airlines and GTE. Maria Sastre is
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for Royal Caribbean International
& Celebrity Cruises International - Latin America &
Asia. They have been Cellar Club members since 1996. |
Talk a little bit about your primary interests or passions.
We have always enjoyed traveling either together or with friends.
To be honest, even our business trips, especially our international
trips, in our respective careers, have for the most part, been very
enjoyable. Our other passions are Golf (Wayne, of course), and Interior
Design (Maria). Both of these passions led us to our present home,
which required a major renovation and is located on the Biltmore
Golf Course.
How long have you been CC members? What prompted you to
join?
We have been members of the Cellar Club since 1996, and have thoroughly
enjoyed the experience and what it does to improve the “lifestyle”
ambiance at the Biltmore. We felt the Cellar Club was a great way
for us to meet new friends, enjoy wine and events with old friends,
and to improve our wine education overall.
With so many professional affiliations in travel, food
and the cultural arts, how do you find that the Biltmore complements
your lifestyle?
Meeting Michael Mondavi at a Cellar Club dinner several years ago
prompted an interest in Maria’s desire to have a wine bar
onboard a Royal Caribbean ship as she oversaw the Food and Beverage
Operations for the brand. After enjoying Michael and his approach
to wine, she pursued a strategic alliance with Robert Mondavi and
Neibaum-Coppola which led to the creation of Vintages, the first
Wine Bar at Sea. Another, is the fact that so many of our friends
enjoy the Biltmore experience, which makes it easy for us to choose
the Biltmore to entertain for either personal or professional occasions,
and
we do so, often.
What do you most look forward to doing that has nothing
to do with work?
Wayne looks forward to playing golf and relaxing around the house.
Maria enjoys the spa at the Biltmore when she needs to relax, or
working on a design project, which she does for family and close
friends. We have a spectacular view of the Biltmore from our back
yard, and it’s a great place for both of us to just sit, and
sip a glass of wine and enjoy the view. We often tell our friends,
we have a better view of the Biltmore than even the Biltmore has!
Do you travel for recreation? Anywhere lately?
Our last big leisure trip included a 4 day visit to the Napa Valley,
which was really terrific. We enjoyed private tastings, spectacular
culinary experiences, and visits to new and innovate wineries in
the valley.
Do you have a favorite wine? varietal / Winery?
We have several favorites...Pinot Noirs from Oregon, Argentinian
Malbecs(Navarro Correas), Bushvine Shiraz from Australia, Francis
Coppola Merlot, Pouilly-Fuisse (Bouchard Pere & Fils) and a
simple Danzante Italian Pinot Grigio...and of course we enjoy Opus
One by Mondavi-Rothschild.
Do you have a favorite culinary or wine region?
Our favorite regions are Tuscany and the Napa Valley. We also enjoy
the wine region in Chile, and hopefully will visit the wine regions
of Australia in 2006.
What is your one guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, Chocolate and Chocolate....
Is there anyone for whom you have a special respect in
the wine world?
The Robert Mondavi family, and their legacy in the world of wine
as we know it today. Regardless of the changes in Robert Mondavi’s
business ownership, he and his family developed a mass market wine
awareness in the United States that has created a great market for
wine overall. We also admire Francis Ford Coppola and his vision
and passion for wine, as well as his ability to merge “Hollywood”
and the winemaking business in the “Neibaum-Coppola”
vineyard in Napa.
If your favorite vintner were to name his/her 2005 Reserve
after you, what might he/she name it?
Duccessa, Artiste, Delizia....
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