Friend of the Industry : Anthony Gismondi

Anthony Gismondi is Canada’s most influential wine critic. A writer, broadcaster and speaker, his expertise is widely acknowledged throughout the international wine community. He is currently in his tenth year at Wine Access, his third as the editor-in-chief, and he is beginning his nineteenth year as the weekly wine columnist at the Vancouver Sun. His comprehensive wine website www.gismondionwine.com attracts over 750,000 hits a month from 70 countries. An avid proponent of appellations and site specific wines Anthony spends at least three months of the year travelling the world’s vineyards to experience the wine notion of ‘terroir’ in person.

In the last 48 months, Mr. Gismondi travels have taken him to:

Argentina: Mendoza including Uco Valley, Lujan de Cuyo, Barrancas and Maipu
Australia: Western Australia including Margaret River, Franklin and the Great Southern, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and Riverina district and the Hunter Valley
Canada: British Columbia: Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley; Ontario: Niagara Peninsula
Chile: San Antonio/Leyda, Maipo, Lontué, Aconcagua, Maule, Curicó, Limari and Colchagua Valleys
France: Languedoc, Pauillac Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, Chablis
Germany: Mosel, Pfalz and Rheinhessen regions
Italy: Puglia, Tuscany including Bolgheri, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; Piedmont and Valtellina
Portugal: Porto/Gaia, Douro Valley and Dao region
New Zealand: Marlborough, Martinborough, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Auckland
Spain: Somontano, Navarra and Priorato and Penedès
South Africa: The Cape, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Breede River, Walker Bay
United States: California: Napa Valley, Sonoma County – Alexander Valley, Russian River, Carneros and Sonoma Coast, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties; Washington State: Walla Walla Valley

Interview with Anthony Gismondi

What was your first job in the industry?

My first job in the industry as a writer – I was involved in a newsletter called The Wine Consumer by Albert Givton back in the ’80s.

What is the most memorable moment of your career?

I hope I haven’t had it yet! Well, it’s a pretty exciting life to write about wine and to travel around the world to places like Argentina and Australia and Spain.

What advice do you have for people just starting out in the industry?

To writers, I would say you have to do the work – it’s no mystery. It’s not just a matter of showing up and tasting wines and writing about it. I would also say to try to work in all facets of the industry.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing restaurateurs today?

I’m sure staffing is an issue for restaurateurs but getting back to the wine industry, I would say trying to find accredited training for staff. I mean, there’s no university of wine – there are courses you can take but I think some kind of formalization would be good so that restaurateurs know what kind of staff they’re hiring.

What’s the next step for raising the bar in the B.C. foodservice industry?

I think looking in at ourselves. We need to become better local producers of food and wine. But also, looking out globally at what the rest of the world is doing.

Interview by Jessica Scharien
 

Click on the images below to start videos

Introduction movie shown during the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Gala, April 2008.

Interview and award acceptance speech recorded during the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Gala, April 2008.

http://www.wineaccess.ca

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