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Certified sommelier Chris Tassone lends his expertise to celebration.
Islander Chris Tassone brings many years of dedication to his post as chairman of the Wine and Food Festival public tasting on March 14. He’s been associated with the festival for more than a decade.
“I was called by Ann-Marie (Adams, executive director of the Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association) and she asked if I would like to help out,” he said. “Before I knew it I was chairman of the event.”
“I’m the loose-ends guy — whatever she needs help with,” said Tassone, who helps orchestrate locations of tents and admission stands, and rallies volunteers.
Tassone moved to Hilton Head Island in 1983 while he was attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
“When I was in college I developed a taste for wine,” he said. “When my fraternity brothers were doing kegs, I was the guy bringing bottles of wine to the parties.”
After graduation he went to work at the Westin, becoming manager of the Barony restaurant and wine director. The opportunity gave him the chance to meet and work with a lot of winemakers, including the venerable Robert Mondavi, the vineyard operator who put Napa Valley wines on the map. Tassone was later recruited by the Ritz Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta as food and beverage manager at the same time the city hosted the Olympics.
“When I moved back to Hilton Head (in 1998), I went to work with a local restaurant group as executive vice president,” said Tassone.
He continued his study of wine, becoming a certified sommelier with the International Wine Guild, and has now attained Level One of the Court of Master Sommeliers. His “all-time favorite” wine is Silver Oak, 1994 vintage from Alexander Valley, Calif.
“Wine always tastes better when you pair it with food,” he said. “Since we have such quality chefs on the island it just completes the experience.”
Having attended many public tastings over the years, Tassone said Hilton Head’s, with 1,000 wines to sample, compares well with the biggest events, including the Aspen Food and Wine Classic.
“We are so reasonably priced, it is by far one of the biggest bargains out there,” Tassone said.
“For $40 the value is unbeatable.”
Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival 2009
Destination Event Web site
www.hiltonheadhospitality.org/sections/wine-fest
Telephone
800.424.3387 or (843) 686-4944
Fax
(843) 686-4169
Email
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