socialwine

Wednesday March 10th at 6pm you can follow our tweetchat on wines, photography and more from a Northwest blogger and Eastern Oregonian wine news author. And we will take your questions via email to craig@ikonmg.com as well, at least until our hour is through.

Rich Breshears is a 43 year old wine slob.  That’s right…wine “slob”.  His history with wine dates back to growing up in Caldwell, Idaho where he grew up near the Ste. Chappelle winery.  Ste. Chappelle was a part of the Symms family fruit ranching empire, and became famous in the late 1970s for their Johannesburg Riesling label.  Raised on gooey sweet wines, Rich was first introduced to Bordeaux and Italian wines while at the University of Idaho.  The Moscow Wine Company offered several courses in enjoying wine and food pairings.  23 years ago, While on his honeymoon with his wife Mary Ann, they toured wineries throughout Washington, including stops in Yakima, Prosser, Tri Cities, and Walla Walla.  Transferred to the region in 1993, Rich’s passion for wine officially took flight then.  He has worked as a distributor, marketing consultant, and agent for several distributors and wineries in the Eastern Washington region.  Currently he writes a weekly wine column for the Eastern Oregonian Newspaper, and his blog www.onerichwineguy.blogspot.com .  As a Certified Professional Photographer, and owner of Breshears Professional Photography one of his specialties is creating beautiful images for the wine industry.  His most recent clients are Alma Terra, Saviah, Claar Cellars, Powers Family Winery, Kyra, and Smasne Cellars.  His images are also on display at Barrel House in Kennewick, and 6th Street Coffee in Prosser.  Rich considers himself a wine “slob” because generally speaking there is nothing he won’t try at least once.  His biggest turn offs in the industry are jerks, snobs, and industry pros who think they know more than the common customer.  “Some in this industry think they walk on water.  I don’t care how good your wine is…somebody’s gonna think it tastes like crap.  Get over it or get out of the business!”  Along with that, Rich also has a strong philosophy when writing…”If you can’t say something nice…don’t say it”