Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1787
24 / the tasting panel / august 2009 T alk about continental drift. During the first week of June, seven winemakers from Gallo brands on three continents converged for a two-city tour themed "It's All a Matter of Taste." Participating vintners included Katía Alvarez from Bode- gas Martín Códax (Rías Baixas, Spain), Alejandro Sejanovich and Felipe Stahlschmidt from Alamos and Ernesto Bajda from Don Miguel Gascón (Mendoza, Argentina), Susan Doyle from MacMurray Ranch and Jim Collins from Frei Brothers Reserve (So- noma) and David Hopkins from Bridlewood Estate Winery (Santa Barbara). "Our plan was to high- light our diverse portfolio premium wines, which offer exceptional quality, appellational diversity and affordability to the wine consumer," says Michael Heintz, Gallo's Director of Public Relations. Heintz points out that Gallo seeks out like-minded winemak- ers around the globe in an effort to provide "local" wines from a wide range of geographic sources. "Every wine in the Gallo collection makes a dis- tinctive contribution to the quality/value equa- tion," he notes. THE TASTING PANEL's Editor in Chief, Anthony Dias Blue, hosted press luncheons at Eleven Madison Park in New York City and at Naha in Chicago. Each winemaker spoke about his or her wines to important media attendees during the wine- matched food courses, bringing home the message that Gallo has consistently earned its reputation for top quality and great value from around the world. A Matter of Taste On Tour The Gallo Winemaker Portfolio Tour showcases wines from around the world Host Anthony Dias Blue discusses the Gallo portfolio. Katía Alvarez from Bodegas Martín Códax. Alejandro Sejanovich from Alamos. The Gascón Malbec from Argentina was one of nearly 20 different wines available for tast- ing, flanked here by the Bridlewood Syrah and Alamos Malbec. photos by jimmey leblanc