There are a few ways to be regarded in no uncertain terms as a wine expert. This includes being one of a handful of individuals in the world to simultaneously hold the titles of Master of Wine (MW) and Master Sommelier (MS).
So, when the Tropic Cinema planned a screening of the period drama “Widow Clicquot,” floor manager Dawn Messing and her husband Jeff Frost, the bookkeeper, knew that Doug Frost, CEO of Echolands Winery in Walla Walla WA, would be the best person to lead the audience through the biopic.
At the event, samples of Cava, Prosecco, and a range of West Coast sparkling wines will be on hand. These will precede a private screening of “Widow Clicquot,” which centers around the Grand Dame of Champagne who took over her husband’s wine business after becoming a young widow. The Master Sommelier and host Doug Frost will introduce the movie and follow it up with a Q&A for audience members, who will be served a glass of Veuve prior to seating.
Even though Frost has previously lent his expertise to two other screenings over the years in Key West, and welcomes this event to expand the tastes of wine lovers, he finds the Hollywood depiction of wine often skewed.
“It still blows my mind that even on TV, when the wealthiest, most sophisticated characters are depicted, it seems that none of them know how to hold a damned wine glass,” he pointed out adding that there are documentaries and features like “Uncorked,” “Blind Ambition,” and “Babette’s Feast” that perhaps due to international targeting and production provide more engaging plots.
The Master of Wine, who grew up in Texas, Kansas, and Missouri, does keep tabs on the geographic tendencies of certain demographics. Including the way he notes Brooklynites go for “natural” wines or Texans show affinity for big alcoholic reds.
Broadly, Frost finds Key West drinkers to be one of at least two groups. The ones who want celebrated wines who perhaps think they are supposed to drink those wines or the ones who want something different and cool (lighter reds, unusual white wines, or even lower-alcohol options). This does exclude tourists who he concludes are likely to drink what they know and nothing else.
On the matter of his professional achievements, Frost believes that what separates people who pass the extensive MS or the MW is an inexhaustible enthusiasm for wine and wine tasting.
“You’ve got to like and accept alcohol; that’s for sure, but the flavor, aromas and character of wine is endlessly fascinating to me and my peers.”
Whether at the winery or on a visit to see his brother in Key West ahead of a tasting, Frost’s view on “educating” interested parties is to simply show the many options available and let them discover their own preferences.
“At a minimum,” he explained, “because there are tens of thousands of wines, enthusiasts have no excuses for being bored by what they drink. So, I love showing people wines they don’t know.”
“Widow Clicquot” Screening
Tropic Cinema 416 Eaton Street
4/9 at 7 p.m.
TropicCinema.com
