Hometown:   Charlottesville/Albemarle County - both of us. 
Tony: Albemarle High School '78, Elizabeth: Albemarle HS '80
 
Item that is always in your fridge:
A variety of olives.  They can be added to anything, depending on the desired profile of flavors of the meal.  Also, salsas. They make great marinades.

Most challenging wine pairing:
Salmon - it's all about how it's cooked/served; it can be "meaty" and it can be a "fishy" fish.
 
Best thing about the Virginia Wine Industry:
1) The camaraderie of everyone in this business. Most of us are intent on making the best wine possible and supporting everyone's endeavors to get our wines recognized at the appropriate levels.

2) The national attention that our Afton Mountain Vineyards wines and Virginia wines in general are getting. I had a conversation with someone in charge of media for a major international wine producer, and she tells me that "Virginia wines are the hot new topic" on which all the national wine writers are now focusing.

Worst thing about the Virginia Wine Industry:
We are: 1) farmers, 2) retailers, 3) promoters of alcohol purchases - and all that each of those positions entails!

Favorite Bumper Sticker or saying:
"Grapes don't grow in ugly places" tm AMV
 
Comfort Food:
Risotto - great "clean out the fridge" meal that takes a little bit of time but is always worth it.
 
Most embarrassing moment:
When the tractor door got caught on the vineyard post and ripped off and shattered on the ground... won't say which one of us did that!
 
Most over rated virtue:
Being a vineyard and winery owner - yeah, we just walk around with a glass of wine in hand at all times, watching the money roll in.….
 
Favorite Wine (yours or anyone else’s):
A complex Pinot Noir or a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon, regardless of origin. Our '09 vintage for those wines will rival anything from California.  After those, a Syrah or Zin.  Too bad Virginia doesn't do those well.

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