Just Bein’ A Concierge: Adventures Along the Wine Road
I am the Wine Road Member & Guest Concierge- I administer to our Wine Road Winery and Lodging Members- and in so doing, learn all about them, blog them- and then help guests effectively travel the Wine Road, pointing them in directions that their interests and preferences indicate will make their personalized best visit ever in terms of lodging, wineries, restaurants, touring, recreation- well, All Things Wine Road.
In hotels, a concierge assists guests with various tasks like making restaurant reservations, arranging for spa services, recommending night life hot spots, booking transportation (limousines, airplanes, boats, etc.), procurement of tickets to special events and assisting with various travel arrangements and tours of local attractions. In upscale establishments, a concierge is often expected to “achieve the impossible”, dealing with any request a guest may have, no matter how strange, relying on an extensive list of contacts with local merchants and service providers.
Rather like a Jack-or-Jill-of-All-Trades:
Or perhaps a bit like sparkly Michael J. (“J” is for Jello) Fox as a concierge on film:
Or perhaps omniscient and all powerful:
Is it Kali? or TR planning a Wine Road Adventure Itinerary?
What everyone wants nowadays….even physicians provide concierge service (like on that addictive show, “Royal Pains”…but they are in Hamptons- not at all as cool as Wine Road.
But Hank is awfully cute….anyway, I digress in a Concierge Riff.
I belong to the Concierge Alliance of Napa Valley and Sonoma (CANVAS), a membership organization of hospitality folks and businesses in the Wine Country- one of the coolest things that CANVAS does is provide educational and networking events. Recently, I attended an evening at Gary Farrell Winery, with a distinguished panel speaking on the Russian River Valley AVA. Not only was it a chance to visit the spectacular Gary Farrell Winery, but I was able to meet transportation, restaurant and winery staff, as well as other concierges and hospitality professionals- well, a great group from Napa and Sonoma counties- who work with Wine Road: one more way to help me make a visit to Wine Road a complete visit.
I parked behind the winery, and noted the darkening sky as evening descended on this very faux Spring-like day.
Top of the Gary Farrell driveway, redwoods, view west.
Setting up in the courtyard….
The spectacular wood-beamed soaring ceiling in the TR.
TR fireplace takes off the increasing chill of the evening. Spring is not yet sprung after all.
I am now going to borrow some great shots off of the CANVAS Facebook taken by professional, Wright’s Photography.
Wright’s Photography- check them out!
Paradise Winery, starring Sonia Byck-Barwick and Dan Barwick:
Dan and Sonia. (Wright’s Photography.)
Sonia and Tracy (Wright’s Photography)
Inside the Barrel Room, the attentive attendees learn from the panel…. (hey, I am on the left!) (Wright’s Photography.)
Just like school- but I get to have wine and my BlackBerry….
The Panel Supreme on RRV: Kirk Lokka, Susan Reed, Duskie Estes, Ramon Meraz. (Wright’s Photography.)
Duskie Estes- a contestant on Iron Chef and owner/chef/awesome person of Bovolo, zazu and Black Pig Meat Co.
Duskie- love those cowboy boots! (Wright’s Photography.)
Check her out on our Wine Road Concierge Section, Restaurants.
Meeting up with Dan from Platypus Tours and Rick Bidia of Gary Farrell. (Photo by Wright’s Photography.)
Platypus Tours- on the Wine Road Concierge Section under Transportation.
Sunset by Wright’s Photography.
Here’s looking at you, kids.
TR
“The concierge is the Winnipeg equivalent of a geisha.” Michael Scott.
