Today, Damy Tamburrino’s title is director of direct to consumer and hospitality at Foppiano Vineyards. However, his 40-plus year career in the wine, spirits and culinary industry has made him an expert in the field, with a lifetime of immersion and genuine passion for great food and wine.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Damy Tamburrino: It was a natural progression. My parents came to the United States by ship while my mom was pregnant with me. I was born in Berkeley and raised in North Oakland, an immigrant neighborhood, mostly Italian and Irish. Needless to say, all our fellow Italians canned tomatoes, eggplant, artichokes, bell peppers and made wine with friends…
My father always kept his old wine bottles, and I remember the labels well: Louis Martini, Foppiano and Sebastiani. At the age of 16, I got a job at a local wine shop run by the Navone family. There, I learned about imported and California wines, beer and spirits.
Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
Many of my buddies and I worked at College Ave. Wine, Spirits and Deli. This shaped my career… We built one of the first wine bars in Berkeley. All of us were a real mechanical group and built hot rods, what you would have called ‘gear heads.’
I remember one night, my buddies showed up at my parents’ (place) in a souped-up 650hp 1969 302 Z-28, and they poured me wine out of a brown paper bag into a plastic cup. One friend said to me, ‘Taste this, and tell me what it is.’ Me: ‘Uh, I don’t know; tastes like petite sirah?’ And I was right; it was Foppiano Petite Sirah.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
My wife, Rocio, and I love to travel throughout the Mediterranean. I’m really into PIGS wines—Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain—hard to find around here, but our Foppiano Vermentino is amazing. To a smaller degree, small batch bourbon and micro-brews.
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
Currently, at home with friends and family, just shooting the %&*#, with lots of Foppiano wine, of course.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
Hopefully, the sailors brought along a barrel of Barbados Rum, a barrel of IPA, a barrel of Aquavit and a barrel of fine Portuguese Madeira. Better than money.
Foppiano Vineyards, 12707 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg, 707.433.7272. foppiano.com.Â
