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About Us THE COLLECTION
Wines
selected from the above criteria are purchased direct or through distribution and
are properly stored in a temperature and humidity controlled underground
cellar. At this time, we do not purchase wines from private collectors and we do not offer consignments.
We are a pair of Certified Sommeliers and we individually taste and evaluate each wine for its place in our list of selections. Our mission is to provide you with a source for adding authenticity to your own personal wine collection. Great wine is about relationship. Relationships are built on trust. At Falling Bright we embrace the process of discovery through research, study, method, and the patient development of relationships with the people who connect us to vineyards and bottles. We are here to bring that connection to you, and we welcome your thoughts on what makes a wine great for you. Please read below for more information about us in our personal bios. If you desire a conversation regarding our tasting notes on the wine, the drinking window, or aging potential then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are also eager to make recommendations of new wines for you to try based on what you currently like to drink. It will be our pleasure to keep in touch and to have the opportunity to bring you the wines you have wished for. Thank you for stopping by and we hope you enjoy your visit. Cheers! Michael & Tiffany  sm.jpg) A Note from Tiffany |I met my first great Pinot Noir in the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley while attending Oregon State University. At the time, wine was a revelation to me but not one revealing the path to a vocation. My studies were focused on a Liberal Arts degree that I wrote to include History, Geography, and Sociology. These three disciplines combined to give me a glimpse into the relationship that humans have had with the earth and with each other over the broad expanse of time. It's fascinating to think that the tiny thread of food & drink is woven back throughout these relationships in a way that binds us to each other and to the earth in an essential manner. Upon completion of my degree at Oregon State, I was unable to ignore the fascination with food & wine and continued my gathering of knowledge through studies with the Court of Master Sommeliers. I became a Certified Sommelier in 2009 and with much encouragement and instruction from the Court I participate in an ongoing study of wine, beer, and spirits. Most of my practical knowledge of wine, beer, and spirits stems from 9 years in a fine dining atmosphere at The Hobbit Restaurant with 3 on the floor as a sommelier and 6 managing the collection in the cellar. But way before all of that, there was that spark that ignited and inspired this life-long adventure with food & wine. I met my first great Cabernet - a 2002 Justin Isosceles - in a tiny apartment in Anaheim California, and I married the man that poured it for me. Connections like this are what inspire me to bring the beauty of wine to others. While wine can begin to seem like it is a monstrous and complex wasteland of facts, figures, and technical details, I like to remind myself that wine - in it's most essential function - brings us together. It truly is an art, an expression, a conveyance from one person to another that tells a story and strikes up a conversation. Wine is an authentic pursuit of happiness and for me, that's something I just don't want to miss out on.  A Note from Michael |My love of fine wine and cuisine began as a young adult when I attended the Memphis Culinary Academy in the summer of 1996. There I learned classic regional dishes of the United States while applying classical French technique and preparation. After graduating I applied my craft in restaurants in Tennessee, Arizona, and California. It was while working in Southern California that I became very interested in how wine and cuisine intersected to create a memorable and enjoyable dining experience. From behind the pass line of the kitchen, I found myself leaning in to listen to the sommelier lecture about wines as I prepared what was to be on the menu for the evening. I eventually was able to persuade the management to allow my attendance at the wine education classes that were provided to the front-of-house staff through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Several months later, I had completed the introductory course with the Court of Master Sommeliers and passed my first exam becoming a very enthusiastic level one Sommelier with a shiny new pin. From that point, my interests and passions consumed me to learn all that I could about the artisan craft behind small production wines of California, Oregon, and Washington. In doing so I also found a love for craft beer and artisan cheeses as well. I took every opportunity I could to meet and learn from vintners, farmers, dairy owners, and fellow sommeliers. With that knowledge I went back to the Court of Master Sommeliers, claimed my title as a Certified Sommelier, and then tested and passed the inaugural exam for a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society. My wife, Tiffany, and I have taken our level of education and love of fine wines and cuisine to create a collection of wines that expresses the heart and soul of the people who produce it. We have been inspired by the work ethics of the farmers and entrepreneurs of this great country and have chosen to showcase their meticulously crafted wines produced in limited quantities from some of the finest winemakers and the most prized vineyard sites on the planet here in our online gallery, ready to be shipped to your door. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about us. Just as much as we are passionate about what we sell, we are also incredibly passionate about the relationships we build with our clients who make it possible to allow us to do what we so much love doing. We look forward to being of service.
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