The SOMM Journal

June / July 2016

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92 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2016 We're with the After a week following a band of (mostly) Italian winemakers on the Cru Artisan College campus tour, it's hard not to feel like the lucky kid in Almost Famous, getting an insider's glimpse at the stars of our industry. As we journeyed from Miami to Atlanta to New York and, finally, to Houston, these incredible winemakers, captained by Lars Leicht, National Director for Banfi's Cru Artisan wines, preached the gospel of biodynamics, traditional vinification and viticulture, innovative vinifica - tion and viticulture, all against the background of Italian history, both personal and public. Whatever the movie parallel, once the airplane wheels touched the ground in our return to Los Angeles, we realized that we hadn't just witnessed something great, we got be part of it. At the day's end in every city, a sommelier/wine buyer would thank Lars and/or a winemaker for the experience—not for sharing the amazing wines, or the incredibly thoughtful pairings, or the in-depth intimate education, but for the acquaintanceship; and that's why the Cru Artisan College is so different and so much more special than every other trade tasting in the industry. This series brings the faraway winemakers to you, and not only that, but you spend a whole day with them. This is a truly priceless experience. Our intrepid teams had the backstage pass, with exclusive access to the winemakers, and these are our accounts of the Cru Artisan College 2016 tour. THE SOMM JOURNAL'S PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF THE 2016 CRU ARTISAN COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WINEMAKERS

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