Interview with R. J. Passalacqua of Ventosa Vineyards
Paul Thomas of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail enjoys a brief interview with R.J. Passalacqua, General Manager of Ventosa Vineyards located on the northeastern end of Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country. This interview was conducted in mid 2014 on the deck of the tasting room overlooking their vineyards and Seneca Lake itself. For more information on this winery, visit their website at: and for more information on the Trail, visit their site here:
California Masters of Wine Tour 2018
Fifty Masters of Wine (MWs) from 16 countries participated in a once-in-a-lifetime tour of California wines in late October 2018, which showcased 600 wines from 60 AVAs throughout the state and 300 vintners. Touring California wine regions for 10 days through the Central Coast and North Coast areas, and tasting wines from across the state, the highly regarded group included sommeliers, wine retailers, restaurateurs, wine writers and other leaders in the global hospitality industry. The event, the Masters of Wine “California Dreamin’ Tour,” was a collaboration between Wine Institute and the London-based Institute of Masters of Wine. For more information, visit:
The Wines of Simi
The history, philosophy and winemaking practice at the Simi Winery, Healdsburg, CA
Lambert Bridge Winery (ランバート・ブリッジ・ワイナリー)
Wine tasting, Paella cooking, Art show, a lot of things going on there!
Lambert Bridge Winery
4085 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, California 95448, U.S.A.
website: lambertbridge.com
Paella Guy: Gerards Nebesky
website: gerardspaella.com
Relish Culinary Adventures
website: relishculinary.com
Art Liaisons: Art Sales and Leasing Professionals
website: artliaisons.com
PASSALACQUA.Sculptures
ESCULTOR, PROFESOR, CONFERENCIANTE, ESCRITOR
Sculptor, Professor, Speaker, Published Writer
Luis Felipe Passalacqua, primer y único escultor invidente de Puerto Rico, nace en Santurce y se cría en la finca de su familia en Guaynabo. Estudia en la Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, donde se gradúa con un bachillerato en ciencias, concentración en pre-médica. Su pasión por las artes y las ciencias desde muy pequeño, le lleva a especializarse en el campo de la Ilustración Médica, graduándose así de la Universidad de Ohio State, en Columbus. Para el 1990 funda su compañía de ilustraciones médicas y científicas, Worldwide Biomedic Images. En el 1995 pierde su vista a causa de una meningitis que casi le cuesta la vida. Desahuciado, su familia le trae de vuelta a Puerto Rico en el 1996 y luego de sobrepasar la crisis, ingresa como estudiante de escultura en la Liga de Arte de San Juan y luego en la Escuela de Artes Plásticas, siendo su primer estudiante ciego. A partir del 2001,comienza su carrera profesional como escultor, conferenciante, consultor en accesibilidad a museos y escritor, publicando su autobiografía, titulada “él”, en el 2014. Ha realizado múltiples exposiciones individuales y colectivas en y fuera de Puerto Rico. Durante su carrera ha representado la isla en festivales de arte internacionales y recibido diversos reconocimientos, incluyendo el premio Gloria Alonso 2006 (Futuros Inc.) al ciudadano con impedimentos del año.
Luis Felipe Passalacqua, Puerto Rico’s first and only blind sculptor was born in Santurce and raised in his family’s ranch in Guaynabo. He studied at Sacred Heart University, receiving a Baccalaureate in Sciences, concentration in Pre-Med. His passion for the arts and sciences since he was very young compelled him to obtain a Post Baccalaureate degree in Medical Illustration from Ohio State University. In 1990 he established his own medical and scientific illustration company, Worldwide Biomedic Images. By the end of 1995 he loses his eyesight due to a meningitis that almost cost him his life. Hopeless, his family brings him back to Puerto Rico in 1996, but after overcoming the crisis he made the decision to continue as an artist, studying sculpture at the Art League of San Juan and later at the Plastic Arts School, as their first blind student. In 2001 he begins a professional career as a sculptor, motivational speaker, arts professor, museum accessibility consultant and writer, publishing his autobiography (él) in 2014. Luis Felipe has offered multiple individual and collective exhibitions in and outside of Puerto Rico. He has represented the island in international art festivals and received several recognitions during his career, including the Gloria Alonso (Futuros, Inc.) award in 2006.