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Well, the weekend has past, but the 2010 Mohegan Sun Wine Festival left quite an impression. I represented Wine Encyclopedia on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Tasting and left impressed by both the quality of the wine I tasted as well as the solidarity of the Connecticut wine community. Most of the big distributors were there, and principals and reps alike were pouring wine in the sold-out venue. As for producers in attendance, it wasn't so much the big Napa names that impressed me the most, but the presence of a significant amount of actual winemakers pouring their own stuff. There can be no greater thrill for both the novice and professional taster alike, than to have the winemaker him/herself there to pour you a taste and expound upon any number of questions you can dream up to annoy them with. Even if he or she isn't particularly given to the semantics of wine, (which a good number of winemakers aren't), it is still a testament to the understated confidance it takes for the creator to literally stand behind his/her own creation.

In this vein, two producers, both with winemakers in attendance, stood out to me in particular. These two were Trinchero Family Estates, with winemaker Mario Monticelli at the helm, and Chateau St. Jean, with Margo Van Staaveren as head winemaker. I had the distinct pleasure of not only meeting both and tasting their wine, but also subjecting them to my Winemaker Q & A. What is that, you say? My winemaker Q & A consists of ten questions that I'm officially branding as the Wine Encyclopedia Winemaker Q & A, which I vow to subject to as many unsuspecting winemakers as I come across. I tried to include questions that would require thoughtful answers that hopefull address ideology, technique, and individual passion.

Stay tuned for the coming unveiling of the Wine Encyclopedia Winemaker Q & A, as well as our first featured winemakers, Mario and Margo, and their responses. My tasting notes for both producers will be published simultaneously, hopefully giving an insight as to how their answers to our ten questions reflect in their recent releases. We may even post a few pics (Thanks Nan!)! In the meantime, Wine Encyclopedia would love to hear some feedback from our readers about what questions you'd like answered by winemakers. If your favorite winemaker happened to be sitting in front of you, what would you ask?