Driving up to the Basel Cellars mansion-turned-winery, I expected to be received with pretension and high-brow attitudes. Instead, I was treated with good old Southern hospitality from their winemaker, Trey Busch, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Trey just happened to be in the tasting room on the day I visited, which made my experience at Basel Cellars really fun.

If it weren't for my chance meeting with Trey, I wouldn't have left Basel Cellars feeling connected to their wine in a way that went beyond the bottle. With each sip I took of the 1 white and 6 red wines tasted, Trey offered stories on where the grapes were from, what the season was like and how each wine was made. I learned a lot that day about Basel Cellar's wines, much more than I would have probably gained by speaking solely to Becky, the person pouring from behind the counter.

This brings up an interesting point. Why can't more folks behind the counter share stories similar to those offered by the winemaker? Most folks just pour and tell you what you could easily read on the bottle. I think this reflects a general tendancy amongst wineries to overlook the importance of having knowledgeable, informed staff.

Tasting room folks don't have to be wine geeks, speaking in ways the average consumer can't understand. But they should be able to connect with consumers in a manner that goes beyond the bottle. And it's even better if they've played some role in the winemaking process, such as working at crush or a bottling, which offers more stories to share.

Anyone can read labels or materials placed on the counter. I would much rather hear someone tell me a unique story or two that helps connect that glass of wine to the people and places producing it. That's what makes drinking wine fun and enjoyable. And that's what Trey provided on the day I visited Basel Cellars. At the time of my visit to Basel Cellars, little did I know that Trey was leaving to start his own winery.

Basel Cellars calls itself an estate winery, although it seems the "estate" component is probably more suited to the palatial main building. This former residence is not only a winemaking facility, but a destination for overnight guests, with weddings, corporate retreats, and other functions regularly held here.

The setting is truly unique, with this huge mansion sitting on top of a hill overlooking a sizable vineyard. In fact, like Pepper Bridge winery I visited earlier in the day, Basel Cellars is definitely worth visiting for its setting alone. However, unlike Pepper Bridge, the approach inside is less concerned with how many points they scored, and more focused on making connections to the people and places producing their wine.

Overall, I recommend a visit to Basel Cellars for both their extraordinary setting and their casual approach in the tasting room. They do charge tasting fees, but these are refundable with any wine purchase.

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