WTN/Wine Advisor: Farewell to a friend

[Robin Garr]

Farewell to a friend

<table border="0" align="right" width="190"><tr><td><img src="http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics1/given.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td><center><b>JOHN GIVEN</b></center></td></tr></table>I hope you'll pardon a brief excursion into something more deeply personal than our usual topics today, but I think it's important, and ultimately wine-related, and leads to a simple suggestion that I don't think it would hurt any of us to hear.

It's been a rough couple of weeks around here, starting with the loss of a cousin, Bill Weis; then a friend's aunt, Anna Mae Barrett; and then, shockingly, the sudden death of Danny Boyle, a friend and co-worker, felled in his 40s by a massive heart attack. I've been spending more time than I might wish at funeral homes, sharing sorrow with friends and family, an exercise that I'm afraid will be happening more often as my Baby Boom cohort grows older.

Then Monday the phone rang again, and I learned through hot tears that John Given, a man I met several years ago as an importer specializing in offbeat Italian wines and who has since become a good friend, died last week after a short but severe illness.

John and I hit it off in Email as we discovered how much we enjoyed similar wines. After enjoying a few glasses together in Louisville and in Italy, we soon discovered that we had a lot in common than just wine, ranging from our '60s-generation youth to our politics to a shared history as newspaper reporters.

I last saw John a couple of months ago, when he was in town in September, and we enjoyed a happy evening at a favorite local eatery, catching up and tasting through a dozen of his wines (Italy in a wine glass, Sept. 14). He mentioned that he hadn't been feeling well, but said he thought it was just a bit of arthritis in his shoulder.

If only.

That was the last time I talked with John, although we enjoyed several of his wines including a few he had left behind in September. When his wife, Ann Katrin, called with the sad news this week, I realized with an eerie sensation that we drank, and mightily enjoyed, one of his best Proseccos on Oct. 31, the day after he left us.

There couldn't have been a more appropriate memorial, as Prosecco was one of the first wines John imported. It's hard to believe now, with this affordable, light and tasty sparkler from the Veneto so hugely popular, that a decade ago few people outside Italy had ever heard of it.

When John discovered the Bellenda winery's excellent Prosecco in 1998, he started importing it himself because he couldn't interest any of the larger U.S. importers in taking it because the conventional wisdom held that a wine so obscure would never sell.

As it turned out, John caught Prosecco on a rising curve, and he sold out. A career in importing was launched, and Bellenda is still one of his top producers.

Ann Katrin tells me that John Given Wines Inc. won't close. She intends to keep the Manhasset, N.Y., company going, and I certainly wish her well.

And here's that simple piece of advice I promised you: Love your friends, and let them know it. Don't wait to tell them you care, because tomorrow might be later than you think. And drink good wine together while you can.

I think we'll pop the cork on another bottle of Bellenda tonight, in John Given's memory. Godspeed to you, old friend.

<table border="0" align="right" width="220"><tr><td><img src="http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics1/bell1031.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr></table>Bellenda 2006 "San Fermo" Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Brut ($15)

Clear straw color with a touch of gold; its frothy mousse falls back fast but leaves a persistent bubble stream. Distinct green-apple aroma and flavor with hints of rising bread dough. Crisp, tart and bone-dry, cleansing and refreshing, a particularly effective bubbly with food. U.S. importer: John Given Wines Co., Manhasset, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2007)

<B>FOOD MATCH:</b> Excellent as an aperitif, friendly with a wide range of lighter fare from seafood, fish and poultry to pork or lighter-style vegetarian dishes. It was fine with my favorite home version of Cantonese shrimp with lobster sauce.

<B>VALUE:</B> Prices vary regionally, but it's certainly a bargain in the middle teens.

<B>WHEN TO DRINK:</B> Ready to enjoy, although you can certainly keep it for New Year's or even leave it in a cellar or even on a wine rack in a cool place for a year or two.

<B>WEB LINK:</B>
Here's a fact sheet on Bellenda "San Fermo" Prosecco on the U.S. importer's Web page:
http://www.jgwines.com/Factsheets/Bellenda06.html

<B>FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:</B>
John Given's wines are distributed in many states of the U.S., and his office will be happy to help you find local or Internet sources. Click "Contact Us" on the John Given Website,
http://www.jgwines.com
or send E-mail to info@jgwines.com

Compare prices and find vendors for Bellenda Prosecco on Wine-Searcher.com:
[url=http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Bellenda/-/-/USD/A?referring_site=WLP]http://www.wine-searcher.com/
find/Bellenda/-/-/USD/A?referring_site=WLP[/url]

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Robin, I too had to say farewell to a friend yesterday so I can echo some of your thoughts. My friend was a nature lover who willingly lead field trips in the metro Edmonton area. He had a huge following and his outings were always fun, social and educational. Cookies were the price of admission and when I showed up, he always gave me a battered map cos I had a reputation of getting lost!! I bumped into him on a few of my S Alberta field surveys, he was here there and everywhere. His name was Dave Nadeau.

You and I will always remember our friend.

I'm very sorry to read that, Robin. I never met him, but I really came to know and like him through your many posts over the years. You wrote a very touching tribute, thank you.

My condolences. Bob

What a touching farewell, Robin. I am so sorry for your loss and so moved by your emailing. I am so glad you will be able to carry for the rest of your life these wonderful memories of moments you shared. So many truths you wrote. Indeed life is too short to have bad wine and not to tell those around you love them! Here's to you and to this great website, and to your friend!

[Jenise]

I'm at a loss for words and don't want to sound like a Hallmark card, but I've been where you are so I'll pretty much leave it at: how sad you must feel. Too many losses.

John was a friend, he was a friend to wine lovers everywhere. He will be missed.

Robin - my condolences on the recent loss of your friends.

Robin,

I am so very sorry for all your losses. Thank you for including this tribute in your Wine Advisor. I will certainly remember to let my friends know how important they are to me.

Some points well taken there, Robin.

I'll add that I hope I leave one or two people inspired to say similar things about me when I'm gone. That is a lovely memorial to Mr. Given in and of itself.

A very touching tribute. My condolences to you and the families.

Here's to all our friends and family, near and far.

It probably was from you Robin that I first heard about John Given wines. I found one and liked it very much. Since then I've made a point of looking for them.

My condolences, Robin, on the loss of a friend.

And any time we in the wine community lose a fellow traveller, it's cause for solemnity and a toast to the departed.

To absent friends.

My condolences, Robin.

Salute