My first grape harvest was in the early seventies. Truthfully, I was not picking Cabernet Sauvignon in the famed vineyards of the Napa Valley, or Pinot Noir on the hallowed ground of the Cote d’Or. My introduction to the grape took place in Phoenix, Arizona, where I grew up. When fall rolled around, my mom, dad and I (Mumu in a diaper!) drove to vineyards south of Phoenix to pick and eat as many grapes as we could fit into our bright orange VW Squareback. Good times, and especially at 4 cents a pound. Needless to say, the Flame Seedless grapes that we harvested had more to do with fine jelly than fine wine.
My first exposure to fine wine came in college while waiting tables. When trying to memorize a 300 item wine list proved to be really tedious (and boring), I realized that things could be much more interesting if I actually knew the difference between a barbera and a Barolo. So I started tasting, reading, and tasting some more. And that is when the wine bug bit me.
Since then, my passion for wine has been a constant in my life. I have been fortunate enough to travel to some of the most amazing vineyards in the world, as well as meet and work with really unique individuals. I consider my 4+ years working at The Slanted Door in San Francisco an invaluable experience towards deepening my wine appreciation and education. Since 2003 I have worked at K&L Wine Merchants, a California based retailer, where I am presently the French Regional and Rhone Valley wine buyer. In addition, I hold the Diploma from the London Based Wine and Spirit Education Trust .
The impetus for Mumu les Vignes stems from my desire to explore and learn more about other wine regions throughout the world. As much as I love the Rhone Valley, I am huge into cool climate wines from Australia and Austria too! This blog is a forum for me to share my enthusiasm for wines of all colors shapes and sizes. Mumu is also where you will find me rant/wax poetic about the blissful marriage of delicious food and soulful wines.
Allons-y!
-Mulan Chan-Randel
