Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1399
N / the tasting panel / july 2009 H O T E L A former wine sales rep in Oregon, Cindi Marconi was hired by the Kimp- ton Hotel group to head up the wine program at Portland's Vintage Plaza. "All the Kimpton Hotels have a theme," Marconi tells THE TASTING PANEL. "This one is wine-centric." The Portland-born wine maven knows her stuff as well as the people behind the labels in Oregon's expanding and world- class wine country. She developed Wine Wednesdays in the lobby "living room" and would give talks on global topics, invite guest wine- makers and serve appetizers from the hotel's Pazzo restaurant. "I also brought in a retail license for the hotel," an almost unheard-of op- tion for a property. She applied when she fi rst began her position three years ago. "We can ship wines to customers as well, since you can't carry it onboard an airplane." Her concierge list, focusing on Oregon wines, doesn't compete with the restaurant's Captain's list. Wine Wednesdays have led to a nightly Wine Hour, which has become a Kimpton national standard. At the Vintage Plaza, guests line up at 5 p.m. to taste Marconi's treasured fi nds. D K i m p t o n ' s V i n t a g e P l a z a Cindi Marconi, Concierge and Wine Director at Vintage Plaza, a Kimpton Hotel in Portland, OR. O d o m - S o u t h e r n C o r p o r a t i o n D I S T R I B U T O R "Very few people are hiring right now," Jim Allen tells THE TASTING PANEL. A vet- eran of Southern Wine & Spirits, Allen is fi lling the newly-formed role of Executive VP and Managing Director at the new Odom-Southern Corporation, helming its Fine Wine division in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Idaho. Odom Corporation and SW&S just created a new partnership to bring a stronger vision to the Pacifi c Northwest. Adam Hilpert, Exec VP of Sales, is also on board to lead the new team. "We're making an investment in the fi ne wine market to stimulate the great sustainable food culture here. You need expertise to sell it, so we're investing in the very best fi ne wine people." With the guidance of Jim Allen, the Odom-Southern book is expanding quickly to bring in such prestigious suppliers as Frederick Wildman, Palm Bay Imports, Banfi Vintners, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Pernod Ricard, Opus, Phelps, Caymus and increased business this year for Rodney Strong, the Crimson Wine Group, Lion Nathan, Foley, Bernardus and more. Odom-Southern is making an infrastructure commitment as well, through customer service and operations experience in 38 states. And, in a perfect "Allen-ism," he adds, "We have one team and one dream." D Jim Allen, Executive VP and a Managing Director at the new Odom-Southern Corporation, is the pilot behind its improved—and expanding—Fine Wine Division for the Pacifi c Northwest.