Hinsdale Cellars’ new wine explorer: Efrain Madrigal

Many a picturesque movie has been set in verdant hidden vineyards, where amidst dancing, grape stomping and romance, of course, one finds a wine so celestial, so undiscovered, that viewers leave the theatre aching for that hidden treasure of a wine with the special story that demonstrates impeccable taste and inevitable winemaking passion.

And that’s what keeps us going to those wine shops with proprietors who are also on the hunt for interesting and unusual wines…like Hinsdale Cellars.

Now that quest has gone to a new level as Hinsdale Cellars collaborates with Efrain Madrigal who, in many ways, is that cinematic wine hunter.  Okay, so he’s not in movies.  But, his passion in the infinite search for great wine and his appreciation for dedicated winemakers in all corners of the world has taken him around the world.  Now, his travels and experience are an undeniable boon for wine lovers in Hinsdale.

“We all have that ‘Aha!” moment when the light bulb goes off in tasting that special wine that starts our love for wine,” he said.  “For me, it was about 20 years ago when I happened upon a bottle of Edmunds St. John New World Red, a Rhone-style wine.  I knew at that moment that I had to do something with wine in my life.”

Indeed, for 20 years, Efrain has made a living, ignoring the well-worn paths so many wine buyers tread and instead seeking out extraordinary wines to share that passion with others.  Most notably, he spent nearly 10 years with Chicago-based Sam’s Wine and Spirits, one of the country’s biggest wine retailers, developing its online wine business to a customer base of more than 75,000.  Prior to that, he spent six years with Whole Foods Market, and now he has his own wine consulting business, Eno Amano, where his goal is to further this quest for great, undiscovered wines.

“What I have learned along the way is that these relatively unknown wines are not only great wines, but often they are also very well priced,” Efrain said.  “I think that’s the key for wine merchants like Hinsdale Cellars:  terrific wine at a great value. Finding partners like Sean, where I can basically broadcast a great wine-find to a wider audience is satisfying. Hinsdale Cellars has the right storage, but more importantly Sean has the passion and a willingness to try new things in his inventory…it’s really great.”

So now Efrain will begin helping Hinsdale Cellars expand its e-business, improve its Web presence, and of course, find new wine sources and exciting wines.

“I’ve traveled a lot, and it’s been surprising and rewarding that some of the best wines I’ve ever had were in fairly unique, remote areas,” Efrain said. “And at the end of the day, that’s really what it’s all about: finding extraordinary wine.”

– Ivy F. Kupec

New face, new fun at the Cellar Door

With the blustery autumn chill knocking leaves and acorns to the ground and presenting a palette of golds, oranges and reds and an indistinguishable crisp woodsy scent of the season, a burst of warmth has also come in from the south in the form of a new managing partner at the Cellar Door.

In the retail business all his life, including a fine wine store in Alabama that he ran with his father, Alex Shamsuddim has arrived in Downers Grove. With plans to expand the menu at the Cellar Door and listen to patrons’ wants and needs, Shamsuddim is soon to make the Cellar Door, the wine bar and store “where everyone knows your name.”

While Shamsuddim may be new to most folks in this area, he is quite familiar to Hinsdale Cellars owner, Sean Chaudhry who has known him since their college days together at California State University in Long Beach. Having met in 1989, they have since shared many food and wine experiences together, including a “Sideways-like” trip through Napa Valley and another adventure through Spain’s wine country.

“Alex is a really likeable guy who is great at building relationships with customers,” Chaudhry said. “We’ll see him building very strong relationships with the folks here, and I’m sure wine lovers will be impressed with how his passion for food and wine takes the Cellar Door to the next level.”

That passion for wine shines through as he begins to talk about his preferences: “Spanish wines are among my favorites because I like the complexity, their value and the history of the regions there,” Shamsuddim said. “I also love the depth and spices that pour out of Argentina’s Malbec grape. And when I look at Napa Valley Cabs, I am also impressed with what I believe is superb quality – very complex and rich flavors come out of these grapes. I love that the whole process of wine making has changed the way the world now looks at, and has come to respect, the Napa Cabs.”

Stop by the Cellar Door to taste some wine and welcome our newest addition as he takes your favorite local wine bar and makes it even better!

Harvesting Just the Right Wine: Fall Festival of Wine, Thursday

With cinnamon rolls, garlicky pot roasts and sage-laced turkey breasts scenting Fall kitchens everywhere, the aromas can only mean one thing: holiday season is just around the corner.  And what better way to find just the right Zinfandel to accompany your Thanksgiving bird, or Cabernet to pair with your standing rib roast, or even a new California bubbly to toast in the new year than Hinsdale’s own Fall Festival of Wine?

That’s right, wine explorers, tis the season of the Hinsdale Fall Festival of Wine, and it is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m. at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 W. 8th Street, featuring more than 100 wines and an assortment of light hors d’oeuvres and cheese.

For seven years, Hinsdale Wine Cellars has been hosting this event where wine lovers have the opportunity to take their taste buds around the world, from high-value wines to some that can be notoriously lavish.  One can sample reds, whites, rosé and some bubbly from Washington state, California, Argentina, Portugal, France, South Africa, and many other hot wine spots around the world. Bottomline, it’s a chance to experience one of the widest ranges of wine and broaden your wine horizons to enjoy new sensory delights.

What’s more, winemakers and proxy representatives will be on hand to answer questions, listen to what kind of wines you like, and help you find wines that are right for your tastes or upcoming holiday needs.  Wine reps will set up in a large circle around the hall with food available in the center of the room. All wines will have special discounted pricing, but you will need to order that evening, Thursday, Nov. 19^th, to take advantage of the savings.

For Hinsdale Wine Club members, this event is complimentary (membership has its benefits!).

For all others, the cost is $10 in advance or $20 at the door – less perhaps than your favorite bottle of wine! Admission includes tasting of any wines there, light hors d’oeuvres, cheeses and a chance to share the fun with friends, neighbors and some very knowledgeable wine folks.

To get advance tickets, just call Hinsdale Wine Cellars at 630-654-9862 or e-mail sean@hinsdalecellars.com.  A credit card is required to hold tickets.

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