Franco had been a renowned nationwide sales manager for the Lavazza Espresso Company, world-famous for its quality (non-alcoholic) beverages. So successful was Franco in this venture that he was asked to serve espresso at a breakfast for His Holiness Pope John Paul II during the historic New York City visit of 1995. The photo below shows the Pope's happy reaction; he had ordered decaf, no less. After conquering the city for espresso, it was time to try something different.
Now David was anticipating an actor's strike, and looking for an outlet for his powers of persuasion. Meeting with Franco, the duo discovered that they shared a fondness for good wine, so they opened a bottle and enjoyed the beautiful skyline across the river. From out of nowhere came the idea to start a new wine importing house, dedicated to the proposition that there can never be enough fine wine going around. As they continued to sample additional bottles and plan their new company, it seemed like the graceful towers of Manhattan began to look like bottles of wines-- or maybe it was just how they were reflected in the East River. Thus appeared the logo of the new firm, which was called "Wine Emporium," using an old Roman word. Our dynamic duo was then coveniently able to find a warehouse and office not far from this scenic point, which is:
[Our Address!] 209 North Eleventh St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Telephone: 718-486-3913; Fax: 718-486-3915. email: wine.emporium@verizon.net
| David Orange's "Quote of the Month" Corner | "Don't forget to check out our Actors' Fund Selection of fine wines that make a contribution to a worthy cause. Help Broadway, help performers without a safety net, and delight your customers!" |
Wine Emporium wines were a hit at these recent special occasions:
The DOW 500 fundraiser, Watergate Hotel, Washington DC, September 14, 2004;
The Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, PA (rated the number one private club in the US four years in a row), at the annual Sommeliers Club Wine Tasting.
Also check out David's Column in Bordeaux New York Magazine
