When it comes to business entertaining, wine tastings are edging out corporate golf games and fancy steak dinners. "It's something that hasn't been done a lot, so there's a little bit of a cachet about it," says Jay Smith, owner of Cavanaugh's Fine Wines in Orlando. Whether it's a "walkaround" tasting featuring any number of wines along with hors d'oeuvres, or a seated dinner with numerous wines and food to complement them, these smaller business gatherings are taking off.
'Good, clean fun'
Merrill Lynch Vice President E. Snow Martin III recently hosted a wine tasting for
40 of his top clients. Gianpiero Ruggeri did the pouring at his new wine and specialty foods shop, Gianpiero's Pick of the Vine in south Tampa. Martin says this was the first time he's hosted a tasting, but it won't be the last since it got rave reviews from his guests. Now more than ever, it's important to thank your clients, he notes, and the wine tasting was a classy way to do so. "There was no business attached, just good, clean fun. In the environment we've been in, it was just what the doctor ordered."
'Why' Dinners
The educational element also makes wine tastings appealing. Haskell's Fine Wine and Spirits in Naples hosts tastings for small groups; others are open to the public. There's always a wine steward or other knowledgeable staff available to discuss the wine's attributes and how to pair it with the right foods. In Sarasota, Michael's Wine Cellar is booked practically every weekend. It offers private dinners for small groups in a funky wine cellar. Owner Michael Klauber calls the gatherings "why" dinners because a winemaker will be on hand to discuss why a particular type of wine is being served.
Top Picks
Gianpiero Ruggeri, owner, Gianpiero's Pick of the Vine, Tampa ("Chardonnay is still king.")
Trellis, Chardonnay, Sonoma, $15 to $17/bottle
Barboursville, Chardonnay, Virginia, $15/bottle
Terraces, Calif. red zinfandel, $26 to $29/bottle
Frattini, Pinot Grigio, $13 to $14/bottle
K.C. Boudrie, manager, Haskell's Fine Wine and Spirits, Naples
A-Mano Primitivo, An Italian old vine zinfandel, $10/bottle
Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $22/bottle
Domaine Serene Pinot Noir, Oregon, $50/bottle
The Factor, A Shiraz from Torbreck Vineyard, Australia, $100/bottle
Entertainment Today
Florida's social set is also entertaining differently these days. Top Florida caterers Bill Hansen, owner of Bill's Catering in Miami, and Philip Mancini, part of the famed Sarasota duo behind Michael's Gourmet Group, say that after Sept. 11, many hosts consider large and lavish parties excessive, even insensitive. Mancini has catered more smaller parties -- ranging from 30 to 40 people -- this year than in his 20 years in the business. And there's less one-upmanship. "The focus is not on who can outdo who," he says. "Instead of the big payback party, people are celebrating for no reason." Hansen agrees. "Starting in December, parties were smaller, more restrained, more family-oriented."
This doesn't mean party-givers are spending any less, however. The average price per head: $75 to $100. Good food and exceptional wine selections remain paramount.
What's Hot
Philip Mancini, Michael's Gourmet Group, Sarasota
Pacific Coast oysters. Oysters are back in. They're all farm-raised now, which eliminates the threat of hepatitis C. ... More beef, less seafood. Party menus used to be evenly balanced between meat and fish selections. Now it's 70% meat to 30% fish.
Bill Hansen, Bill's Catering, Miami
Martini bars. While people are drinking less hard liquor, martini bars are still "in." The more varieties of vodka available, the better. ... Afterglow stations. It's all about comfort -- including desserts, coffees, cordials, even fine cigars, as well as a separate lounge/seating area. "Definitely hot, very cutting-edge."
Who's Hot
"The best advertising is on the end of a fork," says Bill Hansen. In fact, many of the top caterers don't advertise at all. But there are online resources to help party planners select a caterer. Hansen went online with his website, www.leadingcaterers.com, in 1996. To be listed, a caterer must meet stringent qualifications, take a written comprehensive exam, have been in business at least five years and provide plenty of references.
Vintage Investment: The Futures of Wine
When it comes to wine investing, Michael Klauber, owner of Michael's Gourmet Group in Sarasota, favors vintage 2000 Bordeaux futures -- buying 2000 Bordeaux at today's prices. When these Bordeaux hit the store shelves in 2003, prices are expected to triple.
Internationally acclaimed wine guru Robert Parker has written that this may be the greatest vintage ever. Prices range wildly from $1,389 a case for a highly rated Vieux-Chateau Certan to a decent but lesser rated Chateau Du Cauze at $169 a case.