{"id":531,"date":"2017-03-29T13:54:39","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T13:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/?p=531"},"modified":"2017-03-29T14:00:13","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T14:00:13","slug":"the-retainers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/?p=531","title":{"rendered":"A Field Guide to Servers – Part 4 – The Retainers"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is important that empowered wine tasters be familiar with the fauna to be found in tasting rooms across Wine Country.\u00a0 Thus we are publishing Power Tasting\u2019s exclusive Field Guide to Servers. Here we have the next entry concerning the Retainers.\u00a0 Previous chapters have include the Pourers<\/a>, the Hosts<\/a> and the Sellers<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

What is a Retainer?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 A Retainer works for a winery, but appears more like a personal employee of the owner, whom he or she treats with a deference that approaches worship. \u00a0Think Downton Abbey.\u00a0 Before mentioning anything about the wine you\u2019re about to sip, he or she will regale you with the lord\u2019s, um the owner\u2019s, wealth, travels, highly-placed connections, occupation prior\/in addition to wine, parent\u2019s background, hobbies and children\u2019s occupations.\u00a0 Many of the owners are self-made zillionaires, often from the software business, so there may also be an explanation of the app-that-made-all-of-this-possible.\u00a0 Expect to be pointed to a photo of the smiling owner surrounded by adoring spouse and charming children.<\/p>\n

\"retainer_cat\"<\/a><\/p>\n

How can you recognize a Retainer?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 It\u2019s not hard.\u00a0 A Retainer will almost triumphantly make you aware of the Owner before you\u2019ve even had a chance to taste the wine.\u00a0 He or she is but a humble representative of the beloved owner, always referred to as Mr. or Mrs., never by first names.\u00a0 Outside the US \u2013 oh yes, Retainers are found everywhere \u2013 landed titles are often stressed.<\/p>\n

How to get the greatest advantage from a Retainer?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Try very hard not to laugh.\u00a0 If at all possible, express interest in the owner and his or her fabulousness.\u00a0 Because there is a story behind the wine \u2013 there is always a story \u2013 listening and nodding may well lead to more and better wine, all to show the owner\u2019s largess and interest in giving to the poor.\u00a0 (That would be you.)\u00a0 Oddly enough, many retainers know a good deal about their winery\u2019s production, so you can learn about wine from a Retainer.<\/p>\n

Where are Retainers found?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For the most part, Retainers are found in the grand palaces erected to house tasting rooms around Wine Country. \u00a0You might find them in more humble edifices if the owner has been an owner for a long time.\u00a0 Interestingly, there may be a great deal to learn from a Retainer about some of the truly great men (and some women, too) who built Wine Country in America or kept up its traditions in Europe.\u00a0 There is a much of value to learn and admire about a Mondavi or a Winiarski, a Rothschild or a Quintarelli, so these Retainers deserve more respect than those who are just pumping up the nouveau riche.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is important that empowered wine tasters be familiar with the fauna to be found in tasting rooms across Wine Country.\u00a0 Thus we are publishing Power Tasting\u2019s exclusive Field Guide to Servers. Here we have the next entry concerning the Retainers.\u00a0 Previous chapters have include the Pourers, the Hosts and the Sellers. What is a … Continue reading A Field Guide to Servers – Part 4 – The Retainers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=531"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":537,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531\/revisions\/537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/powertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}