Eddie Rodriguez, long-time CataVinos grapista, pours one last glass
Let’s tip our wine glasses and bid ‘Sayonara’ to one of the CataVinos Wine Shoppe much-loved grapistas (my term for wine barista), Eddie Rodriguez.
Eddie, a Catalina Foothills High School graduate, is off to Japan to put his customer service skills plus his University of Arizona Asian Studies degree to work – he’ll be managing two tea room/bars and teaching English.
For over two years, Eddie has shown genuine respect to each and every wine shoppe customer, and was always most receptive to individual needs. He quickly mastered the aspects of wine serving, tasting methods, and the palates of the patrons. He took plenty of time to explore his own palate as well – it has become sophisticated and keen (and sometimes, downright jammy).
Eddie is a perpetual learner who will go far in life. Always looking to expand his horizons, on his inaugural tour of the Elgin/Sonoita wine region earlier this month, Eddie got the ‘bug,’ if you will. By last week, he was already a favorite visitor to the tasting rooms throughout the region. Most inspired by Kief Joshua Manning, I’m certain, I can almost see that advanced degree in oenology and viticulture, and a winery of his own in the future. (I’ll bet he’s already checking out the University of Melbourne, Kief.)
I wish Eddie much success, and he should consider this my official application for work in his winery’s tasting room.
Cheers to your fantastic future, Eddie! You will be missed.
