Anton Pestun

He was a handsome hit at last week's Carson Center Wine Tasting & Auction and the Vintner's Luncheon. Enjoy a little Pinot Therapy with hottie Anton Pestun, 43, of Robert Mondavi Winery! We sure did!

Editor's Note: Following last Friday's Vintner's Luncheon, the iList Paducah team wrangled a group interview of sorts with the lovely Anton Pestun. We met in Robyn Shapiro's new second floor René Advertising office on Kentucky Avenue, with a beautiful view of the Carson Center and the river. Many thanks to Anton for being such a good sport during the interview — conducted by no fewer than seven women and fueled by four (more) bottles of Robert Mondavi wine.

Anton Pestun, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! And you came all the way to Paducah from Napa Valley to be with us for the Carson Center Wine Tasting & Auction and the Vintner's Luncheon! Woo-Hoo!
Yes, when Mike and Debbie Stone invited me to represent Robert Mondavi at these events, I had to look Paducah up on the map! I love it here. The people are incredibly friendly.

Well, we are especially fond of Robert Mondavi wines. You've got a rockin' job at the vineyard.
I do. I'm the director of the ToKalon Circle Club, which is a by-invitation only group for people who are really serious about wine.

How did you pull that off?
I went on a tour of Mondavi, and then I went to a wine dinner. Both changed my life.

How so?
Well, the tour was crowded with people, and the woman leading it was talking about all these dos and don'ts on how to drink wine. And it just seemed very stringent to me.

Then later at a wine dinner, the hosts served a blackened sea bass with a pinot noir — which goes against the stringent rules that we heard on the wine tour. With that sea bass and pinot noir, I was hooked.

So I went back to Mondavi and suggested a separate tour and tasting for people who are very serious about wine. They asked me to put together a proposal, so I did. And then they said when can you start?

Wow! And just like that, you made a new career for yourself in the wine industry! How long have you been with Mondavi?
I've been there for 13 years, and in California for 15. I'm originally from Flint, Mich.

You must love living and working in Napa Valley.
I do. I'd just wanted to do something fun for a change. And I wanted a job where I could go home at 5 p.m. Every day at the winery, we have Pinot Therapy at 5 p.m.

Pinot Therapy! We like that. Less expensive and more fun than the alternative!
Yes, especially when you get to take home the leftover bottles — the reserve bottles!

OMG. We want your job!
Well, there are two of us who do it, so you'd have to wait until one of us dies!

You take home leftover reserve bottles? How do you keep from becoming a big lush?
I've never had an addictive personality. Just about every night, I have a little shot glass of Bombay Sapphire gin or Kettle One vodka with some olives or tomolives, which are pickled green tomatoes. And I have a little cheese or something, and I'm done for the day.

So as a wine expert, how do you guide folks who are new to wine?
To me, it's all about what you like. When people ask me what's good, I can't tell you what's good. I always ask, "What do you like?"

Anton Pestun poses with Jill Chambers and Robyn Shapiro at the Vintner's Luncheon. Photo by Bill Fox.

Wine is part of a meal. If you're a vegetarian, you're probably going to like a simple sauvignon blanc, chardonnay or a fumé, which Robert Mondavi invented. If you like steak, salmon or carpaccio — you'll probably like a big red.

Never be afraid to ask the sommelier for help. Just keep it simple.

What's your very favorite wine?
That's hard to say! But one of them is A. Rafanelli Zin. They only allow three bottles per person each year.

And are you always sure to get your three?
Absolutely!

How many bottles of wine are at your house now?
Probably about 400. And none are off limits. If you came over and wanted to open the A. Rafanelli Zin, we'd open the A. Rafanelli Zin.

Excellent! When can we come?
Anytime!

Do all the women flirt with you during the tastings?
I've never dated anyone who's come to the winery. I don't even think about that when I'm working. And most are married.

Plus, a lot of people are just coming to drink. I see a lot of people overindulging. There's no more of a turnoff than a sloppy drunk.

Editor's Note: At this point, of course, we open another bottle of wine and photographer, Nikki (whose boots you see, left), reclines.

So Anton, you're just darling. What kind of gal are you looking for?
Somebody who's not needy and who's going to fit in. I don't want somebody who's going to want to move in as soon as I first meet them. I'd like them to be natural looking — I love for someone to get all dolled up from time to time, but I'd also like to have someone who's not afraid to get down working in a garden.

And they've got to like kids.

Would you like to have kids?
I have 7- and 9-year-old godsons, and they keep me busy. I was their mom's Lamaze coach.

Photo by Bill Fox

That's so cool! By the way, congratulations on your Duke of Paducah and your Kentucky Colonel! You're totally one of us now!
This is a great place. If I lived here, I'd get a dinner boat that would go up and down the river.

You should totally do that! Anton, what was that lovely toast you gave at the Vintner's Luncheon.
Oh, it goes like this: "To the finer things in life, may we enjoy them all in moderation with a few glorious exceptions among family and friends."

Amen to that, Anton Pestun! Cheers!

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