I got my start in wine growing up drinking my grandfather’s homemade “dago red” wine while feasting on grandma’s large Sunday family dinners featuring fantastic, homemade Italian pastas, breads, sausages, meats and pastries.  After college, I began a 23 year military career and discovered Very Cold Duck and Sangria with friends while stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado, my first assignment.  This is where I met my wife Suzanne.  I greatly impressed her on an early date by opening a bottle a Very Cold Duck and spraying it all over her ceiling and furniture.  She married me anyway but warns everyone to beware every time I open a bottle of sparkling wine.   During our first tour in Heidelberg, Germany, in the early 1970’s, we discovered German wines.  We went to a number of wine fests and even helped a German friend harvest his wine and take it to the town press.  In 1989 we moved to Kirksville, Missouri, and I started work first as Professor of Military Science and then Assistant to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Truman State University. I learned about Madinger Wines from a French professor, knowledge that was a godsend because in 1989 it was hard to find good wines in north Missouri and good German wines anywhere.  As it was hard for a Madinger representative to come to Kirksville regularly, in 1997 I called Chuck Madinger and proposed I become his Kirksville sales consultant.  I figured I could pay for my wines through sales and learn a lot about wines too.  After thinking about it for a few months, Chuck decided to give me a try and it has been a great avocation and relationship ever since.  My wine tastes keep evolving as I try and learn about different wines.  German wines – especially the Mosel -- are still my favorite whites but I supplement them with other whites mainly Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.  I also like rich reds wines, especially Zinfandels.  The Joseph Swan Zinfandels are my favorites.  I also enjoy the Hawley wines and Late Bottle Vintage or Vintage Ports.  I wish I had more time to learn about wines and I especially enjoy going to wine tastings with the various winemakers.  Oh to live close to Kirkwood so I could attend more tastings!  I envy the Kirkwood crew who always seem to be tasting new wines when I call.  I hope to travel to visit wineries around the world now that my daughter has graduated from law school and is a practicing attorney in Minnesota working for Judge Robert Awsumb… pronounced Awesome.  We call her the Awesome Law Clerk.  She and my wife both enjoy trying and learning about wine too.