Missing Donn Reisen

Today marks the 16'th Anniv of the death of Donn Reisen of Ridge Vnyds. Donn was one of the most special people I ever met in the wine biz.
He started out in the mid-60's picking grapes at Ridge. Working right alongside Dave Bennion & other Ridge founders. Became the National Marketing Manager & eventually Ridge COO.
Donn was one of my best friends at Ridge. He was such a special guy you took an instant liking to. If you knew Donn, please share a special Donn Reisen story here. I still keep in touch with his widow, Marilyn.
I'll tell my DonnReisen story (of many) tomorrow. I'll shed a tear for Donn tonight.
Tom

Here's my DonnReisen story for the day. One of literally thousands.
At one of the SantaFe W&C Fiesta Grand tastings, Donn was pouring for Ridge. Susan often helped him pour to give him more time to schmooze with his customers.
Half way thru the tasting, the Somm for BlueStar restaurant in Colorado Springs came to the table & chatted w/ Donn for 10 minutes or so. He related that the Ridge wines were the favorite ones on his list. As he was taking his leave, he expressed he desire to have one of the Ridge logo corkscrews. Donn 'splained that they still needed them to open the btls, but to come back near the end of the tasting & he could have one.
When there was about 15 min remaining & the Somm had not returned for his spoils, Donn took the two & plunged out into the large crowd to find the guy & gift him the corkscrews. Alas, he was not able to find the guy. So when he got back to Ridge the next day, he asked me to track dowm the guy's name & his restaurant in ColoradoSprings. He then mailed a half dozen Ridge corkscrews to the guy for his staff to use on the floor. I'm sure the Somm was eternally grateful & pushed the Ridge wines on his floor.
That would be Donn. Always building a bond w/ those he randomly encountered.
Tom

[David M. Bueker]

A very good guy.