Nice to meet you ! My name is Amelia Goe, and I’m your new wine columnist at The Arizona Republic. I’m a longtime food and wine professional who’s gone from being an editor at the student newspaper at Arizona State University to international cuisine and working with food-focused nonprofits. food.
It’s been a journey. And I’m so glad it led me here.
Wine has a special place in my heart. Not only because I come from a large Italian-American family, but because it is the basis of any good meal. I like to share bottles with friends and create new memories over a few glasses, or bottles, depending on the mood.
My wine philosophy
Serving wine and cooking for guests or friends is where I am most passionate, creative and happy. Let me take you on one of those happy journeys, down to the first time I sipped a special nebbiolo that I’ll share with you in my next column.
It was 2017 and I was in Dublin for a wedding. Taking the time to explore the city, I was where you would find any other culinary-minded individual: at the award-winning Fallon & Byrne food hall. Hidden under the bustling ground floor, I found the candlelit wine cellar.
After settling down with a charcuterie board, it was time to choose a good Italian wine to accompany my charcuterie. Something light with red fruits and lots of acidity to cut the fat. Finding what I wanted would not be a problem. This dark cave-like space was lined floor to ceiling with over 300 boutique wines from around the world.
I don’t know how it happened, but I selected a nebbiolo from the list and have been obsessed with the vintage of each year ever since. I always manage to snag a bottle, whether I’m in Arizona or abroad. It’s just one of those wines that you keep coming back for more.
But it’s not always about finding the “perfect” wine. My goal is to encourage you to take a trip down a new aisle when looking for the next bottle or trying a varietal you’ve never heard of.
What you can expect from my column
Sometimes a wine will surprise you or unlock a new passion. During my culinary studies, I worked for a group of local restaurants and coordinated private dining experiences with Chef Gabriele Bertaccini. (You may have seen him more recently on the Netflix series “Say I Do.”) He gave me my first taste of a Montepulciano wine that was going to be paired with one of our pasta dishes. start from nothing. I had never had a wine that drank so easily but was full of bold, punchy flavors. I quickly went from skeptical to curious and eager to try new things. These are the experiences I want for you too.
After working in the food scene in Phoenix, I took the opportunity to live in Paris, where I worked in private dinners and stagings at different restaurants and bakeries. A year of eating the best baguettes, cheeses and other amazing dishes has helped shape my view of dining experiences. At the end, I returned to Phoenix to pick up where I left off.
These days you will find me putting my skills to good use in my day to day as a food stylist and marketing professional. And now you’ll find my thoughts on wine here in the Republic each month.
As a new wine columnist, I look forward to introducing you to some of my favorite wines, discovering new ones, and from time to time, suggesting wine pairings to accompany your glass(es). ) of wine. Next time, you’ll see why a youthful, slightly bubbly nebbiolo should be your go-to poolside drink. (Yes, especially in triple-digit temps.) So far, well done!
Do you have a wine tip or question? Email [email protected] Follow Amelia Goe on Instagram @agoewaffles.
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