You may recognize Bob, aka Pappa Rosso, from a Washington wine event or the tasting room at Isenhower Cellars in Walla Walla. I wanted to write about Bob for several reasons, all of which focus on how he celebrates wine in a way that clearly distinguishes him from others.

First, I believe Bob is the benchmark when it comes to tasting room managers. He is truly unique when it comes to connecting folks to the wine he pours. Second, Bob's been a terrific teacher and mentor to me. Over the last decade, my knowledge and appreciation for wine has grown exponentially due to his influence. Finally, Bob is my father-in-law, therefore highlighting him here will earn some bonus points in the family. :-)

In all seriousness, I wanted to showcase Pappa Rosso for he really stands out in terms of making wine a more connected experience for those visiting the Isenhower Cellars tasting room.

With all who visit, Bob shares stories about the people and places behind each bottle he pours. And even better, he often takes you beyond the tasting room into the Isenhower Cellars' winery to tour the barrel room or experience whatever might be happening that day. During crush, bottling, or some other event, Bob will eagerly lead a group of visitors back to see how the wine is being made.

On more than one occasion while volunteering at the winery, I've looked up to see a group of folks, wine glasses in hand, wandering through and observing winemaking in a way never experienced before. The bright eyes and wide smiles on each visitor's face says it all: they are not only having a blast, but learning something new about wine that goes beyond the bottle.

Unfortunately for most wineries, this practice is the exception to the rule. But at Isenhower Cellars, Bob is committed to giving each and every visitor a unique experience, one that will serve to connect them to the larger context of the wine they are drinking. This also gives the visitor a great story to share with others around their table when they finally open a bottle of Isenhower wine.

Bob understands that wine is much more than just what you're tasting in the glass. It's about the people and places producing it as well as the history and culture influencing it. Pappa Rosso appreciates wine in terms of context and does an exceptional job imparting this to every visitor.

Due to his extraordinary approach with folks, he has established the benchmark as to how a winery should treat customers in the tasting room. In fact, he has set the bar by which I judge all other wineries in their efforts to connect me to their wines. In my experience visiting wineries around the Pacific Northwest, there are few who meet the bar Bob has set in the tasting room.

Finally, it's worth describing the profound influence Pappa Rosso has had on my understanding, appreciation and enjoyment for wine. My passion for wine is clearly attributed to Bob helping me understand wine in a larger context, especially the history, people, culture and places behind each bottle we share together.

Bob's knowledge about wine is based on his experiences living in and traveling around Europe and the West Coast these last thirty years. He's visited just about every wine producing country on the European continent and has done the same here from California to British Columbia.

Throughout this three decade period, he has probably tasted thousands of wines and visited hundreds of wineries, retaining a lasting memory of the people, places and experiences along the way.

It continues to amaze me how much he knows about esoteric varietals from Italy, France, Spain or Germany. In fact, it's a rare occasion when he cannot recognize the varietal in a blind tasting, and even go one step further by telling you where it was produced; especially wines from Italy, which are near and dear to his heart. But this isn't limited to Old World wines, for Bob is just as astute when it comes to New World offerings.

One of the things I appreciate most about Pappa Rosso is his habit of introducing you to new wines, which provide for some meaningful discoveries. Without Bob's influence, I would probably be stuck in a wine rut, unaware as to the multitude of varietals and winemaking styles out there. In turn, I would remain ignorant to all that wine is and can be in terms of connecting me to something larger than myself.

I hope you have an opportunity to meet Bob and experience what he brings to enjoying wine. Whether in the winery or at the dinner table, Bob epitomizes what it means to go beyond the bottle. With that, I raise my glass to Pappa Rosso and wish him many fulfilling years ahead celebrating wine with those around him.

Salute, Pappa Rosso!