Brian Paré

That thing I do (Occupation)

I make sure that we have wine to sell to all you fine folk by keeping in contact with the coolest people on earth – our suppliers. I also test drive a lot of the wines. I’ll have you know that they all work the way they’re supposed to.

Fondest wine memory

Celebrating my 30th birthday with my family and closest friends and drinking Port and Grange Hermitage from my birth year. As well as making some new friends… a certain Mr Lafite Rothschild who was born a year after me and a large format Brunello (see Indulgence). Getting older rules! Can’t wait for my 40th.

Favourite wine region

France. There’s a wine for every season to be found in France. Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne are the Paul, John, & George of the wine world. If I could only drink wine from one country for the rest of my years it would be French wine. Mind you, it’s hard for me to imagine a situation where a decision I make would immediately eradicate all other wine producing regions on the planet. Hopefully whatever deal I’m making will make me filthy rich since that would really affect the price of futures.

Favourite Lifford wine

Oh boy. Well…if I had my way I would have a glass of aged Barolo from either Gigi Rosso or Michele Chiarlo in my hand at all times. But since the price of Barolo is not dipping below the $10/bottle mark anytime soon…my two house wine choices are Paul Zinck Pinot Blanc and Zerbina Ceregio. Both are amazing value and I could have them with dinner every day.

First job

Frontier Trails Kids Camp. I was a camp counselor for troubled youths. Well, I guess they weren’t technically ‘troubled’. But they did cause trouble, and they smelled bad because they refused to take a shower. It was a horseback riding camp and the little boys smelled worse than the horses. I taught archery and made sure kids didn’t fall off the trampoline (not at the same time). Real skilled labour!

Indulgence

Drinking large format wines of high esteem….straight out of the bottle. I know this may seem disrespectful or barbaric, but I just can’t help myself when I see a large bottle. The bigger the bottle, the bigger the temptation. I have a few pictures if anyone is interested in seeing my technique.

What or where do I retreat to?

A secluded home in the country surrounded by mature trees and fresh snow with the quietest music I can find playing very loudly. Well, not yet, but that’s what I’m working toward!