But even one of the city's most interesting and eclectic wine programs is likely to receive more than routine maintenance with the naming of Neil Mechanic as new Wine Director at Absinthe and General Manager of Amphora Wine Merchant. Bringing to the job a set of tools forged by years of restaurant experience in both the front and back of the house, as well as education and management experience in the wine industry, Neil thrives on the disparate demands of wine director, which call on him to wear the hat of salesman, showman, and most importantly, educator. I get very excited when I can educate the public on wine.
People appreciate that, and it certainly helps to sell wine.
And it all comes together when he helps diners at Absinthe find the perfect wine to pair with Chef Ross Browne's simple yet sublime Southern French brasserie fare. Their first effort in this direction was the Valentine's Day prix fixe menu consisting of 3 courses, each matched with a pour hand-selected to complement impeccably. He also is working on a series of food-related wine tastings to help accentuate the importance of matching flavors. Given his strong focus on wine education, Neil plans to make these wine tastings a monthly event in the neighborhood garden adjacent to Amphora. The future of the wine industry is in younger people, many of whom are newly exposed to the joys of fine wine.