Rick & Corinne Firme
WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN WINE?
RICK: I think the difference maker for me was an anniversary trip to Italy. The focus of the trip was to tour history; the Colosseum in Rome, the beauty of Florence, the entire Tuscany region, and of course the shores of Cinque Terre, all of which were wonderful. It was an experience like no other. But learning and exploring some of Italy's underground caves, where wine was stored for hundreds of years, was a very surreal experience, and made me want to learn so much more!
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR VINO YAY!
RICK: Strangely, I honestly hope it simply brings people closer together. Good wine is always good wine, but when it's shared and appreciated with friends, it becomes GREAT wine, which results in greater friendships.
CORINNE: New experiences and new friendships. Wine was the reason or common interest that brought us together with our fellow Vino Yay! members and it has developed into a wonderful friendship among us. We’ve found that we travel well together, so I’m sure more trips will be on the horizon as we discover new wine with new wine adventures.
Was there a specific wine that gave you an "aha' moment?
RICK: A number of years ago at a local Owatonna restaurant I ordered my usual filet mignon, and the person I was with ordered a Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon for the table. I think it was at that moment where I started to appreciate what a wine and food pairing can really be, and it was delicious! Needless to say, the following year we were off to Napa Valley because we had to visit Sterling Vineyards in person!
CORINNE: I think the Chardonnay tasting at our home was my moment. I was not a person who would ever order a Chard, because I felt that I really didn’t care for them. But I realized shortly after that tasting that there were not only one, but multiple Chardonnays that I enjoy. It taught me to be open minded about different wines, which was enhanced by desire to learn more about wines.
What has been your souce of wine education over the years?
RICK: For the most part it's been visits to Sonoma and Napa Valley, participating in as many tastings as I can, and listening to others tell their stories. The rich history of this industry is both complex and amazing. It's wonderful to continue learning.
where have your travels taken you? Do you have a favorite region?
CORINNE: Italy, Sonoma, Napa, and Paso Robles! I enjoyed all of them, but I think the Sonoma Valley with its intricate geography, and the wonderful city of Healdsburg is certainly at the top of my list.
Do you have future plans involving wine?
RICK: I certainly hope Vino Yay! becomes a highly successful entity geared to sharing wine tasting experiences!
CORRINE: I have many ‘bucket list’ trips to look forward to. Certainly going back to Italy is at the top of the list, along with France and some others. And since we’ve never been to the Willamette Valley, that is certainly worth exploration with their awesome Pinot Noirs.