About

So who is this guy?  And what are “Wines for Real People?”  My name is Dave and I am passionate about sharing the joys and wonders of wine with anyone who will listen.  My goal in writing this blog is to review wine, help you understand more about wine and to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff, and pointing out wines that are either all fluff or take themselves way too seriously.  I will talk about current wine news and trends in the industry.  I may even offer an opinion or story about things non-wine related.  Feel free to disagree and I’ll have another glass or bottle and ponder your side.

I have worked in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years.  I have managed hotels with restaurants and banquet facilities, I have owned a restaurant and worked in the real estate side of the hospitality industry.  I currently work as a Wine Consultant at Garland Wines, a retail wine shop in St. Louis, Missouri.  FULL DISCLOSURE:  I may review wines that we carry from time to time.  In fairness to my current employer, I will not post a negative review on a wine that we carry.  However, I will not post a glossy review of a wine just because we sell it.  It’s bad business to do that and would deflate my credibility, then you won’t read my site or come into our store and purchase wine anymore.

Remember, taste is subjective.  I may like something you don’t and vice versa.  I will do my best to evaluate wines based on the expectations for the varietal, region, and year.  I want regular everyday people to learn about wine from me.  I want this site to be a place where we can all learn from each other, share experiences and maybe connect with new wine-enjoying friends.

Contact me to arrange personal tastings, assistance in pairing wine with food, or help finding that special bottle.  I can help you develop a plan to build your wine inventory and design a place to keep it.  I will develop a wine program that allows your restaurant to maximize their wine list for the best sales and profitability.  If you are headed to wine country, I can help with suggestions for wineries to visit, places to eat and things to do.

Please contact me at dhays423@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Thank you for reading…Drink Up!!!