Rich Zellich moved from St. Louis in 2003 to open the Kansas City branch of Pinnacle Imports.  Although Rich’s previous position was that of wine buyer and Sommelier at I Fratellini (where he was named St. Louis’ best Sommelier by The Riverfront Times in 2002), much of Rich’s career was in the retail world, both in and out of the wine industry.  He was the wine & spirits buyer for Provisions Market, then moved to The Wine & Cheese Place in Rock Hill to be the wine buyer.

Rich has traveled extensively in many of the world’s wine regions, echoing his passion for the people and places from where wine comes.  He is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.  Although more accurately it could be said that Rich is simply someone who loves to share with, and teach people about, wine.  Many evenings he can be found teaching wine classes, conducting public tastings and hosting wine dinners.

Rich’s other passions are coffee (he worked in the coffee industry for 8 years prior to transitioning into wine and would rather drink no coffee than bad coffee), music, auto racing, and his wife and 5 children.

 

 

Favorite wine to sell -  His favorite wines to sell at the moment are wonderful old-vines Zinfandel and Zin-based wines from California’s heirloom vineyards.  I mean, have you tried the Bedrock old-vines Zinfandel?  If not, Rich would like to correct that…

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Favorite wine to drink -  Right now, Rich’s favorite wines in the portfolio are bright, mineral-driven and high-acid.  The Schäfer-Frölich Schiefergestein Dry Riesling exemplifies this.