Les took an unusual route to the wine business. He grew up near Lodi, California with vineyards a part of the landscape, but didn’t develop an interest in wine until he moved to Milwaukee. Graduating with a degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering, Les worked in the construction industry for many years. During that time in Milwaukee, his interest in wine grew steadily. He loved cooking, and wine seemed like an essential part of the process. It was part of the conviviality of a good meal. In 2012, he leapt headlong into the wine business and has never looked back. He considers it one of the best decisions he has made in his life.

 

 

When developing an interest in wine, there are certain epiphany moments, and there have been many for Les in his decades-long obsession. Whether it was the first time he bought bottles of the same wine from different vintages to compare vintage characteristics, the first time he tasted with a winemaker and got the story behind the vineyards and the wine, or the first time he tasted a wine from the year he was born, he has loved the endless stream of knowledge available from the world of wine. There are so many factors involved like Geography, History, Politics, Agriculture, Geology, Climate, Cartography, and the personal stories of the people who get their hands dirty in the vineyards and the winery. This has led him to be particularly interested in more off-the-beaten-path wines. Exploring and learning about these regions like the Jura in Eastern France, or the wines of Georgia and Greece, or the alpine wines in Northern Italy keep his interest piqued. There’s always more wine to learn about and taste.

 

 

Les has lived in the Milwaukee area for over 30 years and is a proud Milwaukeean and Wisconsinite. He lives in Shorewood with his wife, Amy Garman. Together they share their love of food, cooking and wine with friends and family as often as they can. Both Les and Amy feel the best way to learn about a place is to visit, hike in the natural landscape, eat delicious local food, wander through cities, and soak in as much as they can, so they are always ready to hit the road and explore the world.