Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/776532
60 / the tasting panel / january/february 2017 Anderson initially learned about We Believe Wines through its COO and co-founder, Pat Merrell, whom he's known for several years. "We both realized immediately that this is a really dynamic and unique fit. Everything that [We Believe Wines] aligns with, also aligns with what the Special Forces represents— faith, family, freedom. There's nothing stronger that drives us in the Special Forces. Interestingly, I think the character of the Special Forces is more like wine than anything because of how complex it can be, much like how many variations there are to the people in the Special Forces." Serving Others Peter Sabatino, a Marine veteran and owner of the Newport Beach, CA, din- ing staple Sabatino's Lido Shipyard Sausage Company, also shares these same patriotic values. Sabatino has even been known to feed a couple hundred veterans around Christmas out of the kindness of his own heart. It's no surprise then to see him also serving We Believe Wines in support of the Green Beret Foundation. On a Monday after the close of the hectic Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Merrell, Anderson, Sabatino and a handful of friends and family sat down to enjoy sausage that has remained true to the same Sabatino family recipe in Sicily since 1864, along with other Sicilian-style dishes and We Believe Wines. The bright zest in the 2013 Pinot Noir paired exceptionally well with Sabatino's pesce misto, consisting of fresh tiger shrimp, scallops, cockle clams, mussels and fish in a natural sauce with fresh tomatoes and herbs, served on a bed of linguini. We Believe Wines' current portfolio includes this Pinot Noir as well as a Chardonnay, both from the Russian River Valley AVA in Sonoma County, a highly regarded wine-growing region known particularly for its richer versions of these two varietal wines. But while everyone at the table had a different opinion as to the best pairing of white or red wine and food, one thing was abundantly clear about this tight-knit crew: They all remained united in faith, family and freedom. From left to right: Bob Porter, Partner at We Believe; Aaron Anderson, founder of the Green Beret Foundation; Peter Sabatino, owner of Sabatino's; sister Kristen Merrell; and Pat Merrell co- founder/COO of We Believe. The pesce misto at Sabatino's Sausage Company in Newport Beach, CA.