Chicago Defender

In certain circles, I have often received countless inquiries about sweet wines: “What would you recommend that is sweet?”

There are a plethora of options to consider beyond Moscato or White Zinfandel.   For starters, I always lean away from what is common.  After all, where is the fun in doing what is common?  The following are wines for the sweeter palate:   Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sherry, Port and Sauternes are a few staples in that area of sweetness.  These wines range in price from $5 a bottle to upwards of $800-plus.  The higher end wines are often considered collectibles and/or auction caliber that historically increase in value over time, very much like a stock.  We will examine the latter type of wines in future blog posts.

Let’s be perfectly clear. you do not have to spend a monthly or weekly paycheck to enjoy a good bottle of wine.  For instance, there are plenty of wines that will knock your socks off in terms of quality and price.  Below are the names of a few that are outstanding that I have tasted and highly recommend.  Some are age-worthy, some are award winning and some are collectibles.

Riesling

• Covey Run Riesling
• Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling
• Kung Fu Girl Riesling

1. oEach of these is great for the price and exhibit nice quality!
2. oProduced in the state of Washington

Gewurztraminer

• Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer
• Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Lot 170
• Roberson Late Harvest Gewurztraminer
• Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim

1. oEach wine is excellent and to die for!
2. oThe wines listed are produced in France, Germany and South Africa

Sherry

• Emilio Lustau Solera Reserva Pedro Ximenez Sherry
• Gonzalez Byass Noe Pedro Ximenez
• Lustau Vina 25 Pedro Ximenez
• Toro Albala Don Pedro Ximenez Gran Reserva

1. oIndigenous of Spain

Port

• Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
• Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny
• Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny
• Warre’s Late Vintage Port
• Warre’s  10 Year Old Tawny
• Warre’s  20 Year Old Tawny

1. oGreat after dinner drink, with a cigar or simply by itself!
2. oIndigenous of Portugal

Sauternes

• Chateau Rieussec Sauternes
• Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes
• Chateau d’Yquem

1. oThese gems range in price from the low $30s and can go for $800 and much higher.
2. oIndigenous of Bordeaux, France

In my next blog posting we will focus on the fascination and ever increasing popularity of “blends.”

To learn more about wine, allow us to take you on that journey by contacting us.

Elbert Hatley, The Wine Guide

info@the-wineguide.com, www.the-wineguide.com

Contessa Gibson is a native of Chicago and works as a national account executive with the Professional Diversity Network where she oversees Diversity and Inclusion corporate sales within 13 Midwestern states, helping corporations diversify their talent pipelines. In addition to her day job, Contessa recently launched a technology venture, Plus Navigator, which delivers smart matching of customer apparel targeted to the under-served extended sizes market. She gives generously of her time and resources to support diversity and non-profit initiatives which support empowerment and the positive development of self-esteem. In her experience, “Exposure to positive, empowered women as a youth has paid invaluable dividends that words cannot communicate.”

I first met Contessa when I joined the YWCA Chicago's Future Leaders Council where she was also a member. She granted me an in-depth interview that was published on my blog last year.  I was excited when she agreed to provide a 2013 update. Here are some insights into the personal and professional sides of Contessa Gibson.   

The Personal

• Personal Motto: I opt for the Golden Rule every time, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• Words of Wisdom:  It’s often not how you start, but how you finish that matters in personal and professional endeavors and accomplishments.
• Currently Reading: The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Improvement to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
• Last Vacation Location: Washington, DC
• Currently listening to:  Patti Labelle Pandora Station
• Favorite Past time: Socializing with friends who keep me accountable to my personal and professional goals.
• Supported Charities: United Way, Junior League, YWCA
• Alma Mater: University of Rochester
• Home Town:  Chicago, IL
• Guilty Pleasure:  Leisurely pinning things onto Pinterest
• Biggest Wish: TODAY show feature for my technology startup
• Favorite T.V Show:  Although I gave up television three years ago, I still manage to catch episodes of The Office, a personal favorite.

The Professional

Sherry:  You recently launched your own business. Tell me a bit about it.

Contessa:  It’s called PlusNavigator, a solution designed to simplify and empower the plus size shopper to get the items she needs and desires.

What inspired you to launch your business?

A large void in the market, with an obvious failure to serving a growing population of women (size 12 and up) in the country.

Were you able to tap into any Chicago-based startup incubators?

Yes, I applied, was accepted, and graduated from the Founder Institute incubator—a program offered in 39 cities, and 5 continents that is an early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network that helps entrepreneurs create meaningful and enduring technology companies. 

What advice would you give other young entrepreneurs?

Never leave home without the two P’s: Patience and persistence, and it’s imperative that you keep an open mind while never losing your core vision.

Would you mind sharing your five-year plan? 

Huge question, in a nutshell. Continuing my personal commitment to my civic duties, continue to build meaningful relationships and give back on an ongoing basis for the next figurative ‘Contessa Gibson’ trying to figure it out.

Do you think your experience as a sales executive with SmithBucklin helped you when launching your own business?

Sure.  Every professional job opportunity that I’ve accepted, even from my statistician days at Discover Card, lend useful resources, information and skills that propel me closer and closer to my personal goals and ambitions. I seek out opportunities which create a suitable win-win-win for me personally and professionally, while also delivering great value to my employers of choice.

Read Contessa’s full-length 2012 interview while she was still with SmithBucklin and in the process of launching her business.

"The high school drop out rate for Black males is more than 50 percent." These were the words spoken by Tim King, co-founder and CEO of Urban Prep Academies in Chicago. Although this statistic is heartbreaking, King delivered this message to an auditorium full of guests who gathered at Urban Prep Englewood to celebrate. 

Despite the staggering facts of Black males dropping out of high school, 100 percent of the seniors at two Urban Prep Academy campuses were accepted into college. 

"Fact: Urban Prep seniors, these guys, have amassed more than $6 million in grants and scholarships," said Tim King.

Nikki and The City pictured with founder of Urban Prep, Tim King and some students holding up one finger (for No. 1), which signifies 100 percent acceptance into college.

This fall seniors will attend a variety of schools across the nation, including an Ivy League university and Morehouse College – one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

The Tie Ceremony consisted of seniors receiving their red and gold tie, which signifies college acceptance, and a speech from the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel.

"What this 100 percent proves is that it need not be the exception, but the expectation," said Mayor Emanuel.  

As a writer who's constantly reporting on the violence that plagues our city, it's extremely refreshing to witness something great occurring in an area least expected, to the young men we all at one point were guilty of doubting. As Urban Prep students state "We believe", in their creed, their success is causing others to believe as well.