| 
Couple Maria Morales-Gonzalez and Sergio Gonzalez |
The Many Passions of Super-Couple Maria Morales-Gonzalez
and Sergio Gonzalez-Arias MD
Sergio, you’re an individual of profound professional
accomplishment. What is your official title?
President of the Baptist Hospital of Miami Medical Staff; Medical
Director, Baptist Neuroscience Center. I am also Voluntary Assistant
Professor, Dept. of Neurological Surgery, at University of Miami.
How long have you been Cellar Club members? Do you have
a favorite aspect of the Cellar Club?
We have been members since the club’s inception. We love the
entire package – monthly events, black tie winemaker dinners,
discounts... The overall experience demystifies the world of wine,
while offering a friendly social atmosphere to enjoy it.
You are known as avid food and wine lovers. Do you consider
yourself passionate hobbyists or connoisseurs?
Passionate we are, I don’t know about connoisseurs! For us,
food and wine are meant to be enjoyed, not revered as science or
academics…they are a way to bring together family and good
friends.
As if saving lives all day wasn’t enough, you are
also a partner in Chispa Restaurant. Sergio, yours is the double-life
of a mythic superhero, in ways: Neurosurgeon by day, restaurant
owner by night…and then some! Tell us a little bit about your
involvement and how Chispa was brought to life.
The idea of Chispa Restaurant actually came through wine. I was
commenting to a friend in Napa Valley that the wine industry was
neglecting young Hispanic Americans. The beer industry was spending
millions advertising to my daughter and son’s generation,
while wine industry was ignoring them. It dawned on me that there
was not a restaurant my children’s generation could go to
in a modern environment which glorified the food and feel of their
heritage. Shortly thereafter, while guests at the home of friends
who had won at the Biltmore Fine Wine and Travel Auction dinner
at their home with Chef Robbin Haas, I entered a conversation that
Chef Robbin was having about his future restaurant venture in Chicago,
and (as a good Cuban) blurted out, “That’s the wrong
concept!” Being full of data from my own market research,
I went on to give a dissertation about what I felt was the “right”
concept. I caught Chef Robbin’s ear and we decided to see
where we would go with the idea, along with my best friends Carlos
de Cespedes and Mike Tomas. After much work, Chispa finally culminated
with Carlos, his brother Jorge, Mike, Robbin and myself deciding
to go for it. The rest speaks for itself!
What are some of your favorite varietals? Do you have a
favorite vintner?
Cabernet Sauvignon. Because of our passion for wine, we are fortunate
to know many vintners, but I don’t think I can choose one
over another. I think consistency in quality is key – my close
friends Ed Sbragia of Beringer, Marco Cappelli of Swanson, and Larry
MacGuire’s leadership at Far Niente are good examples, but
by no means the only ones! Actually, Maria and I, with friends Sue
and Doug Gallagher, went into the wine business ourselves, five
years ago. We started a company called Two Crazy Couples and just
released our first vintage of Soñador Napa Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon 2001. Our first vintage only produced 70 cases which we
are bringing to 250 cases with the 2002. It has received incredible
acceptance and is just about sold out.
Do you collect wine? If so, which is your most treasured
bottle?
We steer clear of the word “collect”. Maria and I have
a lot of wine because we buy what we like, age it and drink it with
family and friends. We don’t “collect” like a
museum does. My most treasured bottle is the one we’ll drink
at dinner tonight!
Do you have a most memorable food/wine experience?
A bottle of 1985 Sassacaia with a Domino’s pepperoni and onion
pizza in our living room. Perfectly matched!
|
