Those who truly love what they do for a living will often go to extreme lengths to hone their craft and become experts at their passion.
Becky Wasserman ate dirt.
“When I first got into winemaking, I was led through a tasting of the terrior of Burgundy,” said Wasserman. “With spoon in hand, I dug in and tasted the earth from which the imports hailed.”
Wasserman, a renowned importer of French wines, shared her philosophy and her Pas Mal portfolio with London Lennie’s staff through a hands-on wine education program at the Rego Park restaurant on Monday, January 25.
Throughout the program, Wasserman stressed that wine drinkers shouldn’t have to mortgage their homes in order to enjoy an exceptional bottle of wine. She demonstrated this by tasting a selection of affordable wines that she and her family drink at home.
“The one thing that I regret in my 30 years in the wine business is that wine has become elitist,” she said. “Many don’t think that they can afford entry into the world of wine and that is simply not true.”
Her son and industry consultant Peter Wasserman agreed, insisting that wineries should not be overloaded with up-turned noses and snobbery, but instead should convey the message that they are about having fun.
“There are absolutely fantastic bottles of wine for under 10 bucks,” said Peter Wasserman. “And it’s not always about food pairing, but truthfully, better pairing makes better life.”
London Lennie’s owner Leslie Barnes said that he wanted to hold a presentation on wine so that his staff might better serve their customers and enhance their dining experience. He also stated that while he enjoys wine, he’s no expert.
“How do you know if a wine is honest or dishonest,” he asked Becky Wasserman.
Then Wasserman asked him how he knows if a fish is fresh.
“Experience,” Wasserman answered for him.
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. After all, she had eaten dirt.
