Virginia Wine Month: Residents at Greenspring Enjoy New Wine Program

(Springfield, Va.) - When Brian Marandola joined Greenspring as the director of dining services last year, he had a mission to better integrate wine, wine selection, and wine service into the culinary program at the Springfield retirement community. Now, on any given day, a selection of nearly two dozen wines is available by the glass or by the bottle on the newly vetted wine list at Greenspring.

“Wine is one of my all-time passions,” said Marandola, who served as director of food and beverage at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor, Md. before joining Greenspring in 2013. “My goal is to provide varietals to the residents at Greenspring at an affordable price, as well as to continue to offer opportunities for wine education right here on campus.”

With Marandola’s leadership at the helm, Greenspring has become a wine-lovers haven. Earlier this year, the community hosted its second annual Food & Wine Expo, which featured tastings of the community’s extensive wine selection, local food vendors, and culinary demonstrations by Greenspring’s chefs. In the five independent living dining venues on campus, Greenspring rotates 1200 items monthly on its menus, including wine selections.

Part of Marandola’s initiative to better incorporate wine into the dining experience at Greenspring included the introduction of wine education forums and partnerships with local wineries and wine experts in the area. This summer, Marandola invited to Greenspring a sommelier from The Country Vintner for the community’s third wine forum. At this event, an hour-long wine education course and tasting was followed by a gourmet meal complete with paired wines. The three dozen residents who attended the event learned the differences between “old world” and “new world” wines, information on wine fermentation and oxidation, and what determines the level of alcohol, color, and taste of wine, among many other items of interest. During the wine forum, residents also participated in a blind taste test to help determine what new wines would soon be added the wine list at Greenspring.

The on-campus wine program has been so popular, Marandola recently decided to add an off-campus component. In September, a group of residents traveled to Stone Tower Winery just south of Leesburg, Va. for a winery tour. They returned to Greenspring for dinner complemented with paired wines.

Residents Clint and Vickie Lambert attend many of the wine-themed events at Greenspring, and are also members of a wine group on campus who gather monthly to share and taste different wines from all over the world. “We now make it a point to bring back a bottle from wherever our travels take us,” said Clint.

The Lamberts very much appreciate that Marandola has brought wine to the forefront of the culinary experience at Greenspring. “Brian is a true wine connoisseur and is a real asset to the Greenspring community,” said Clint.

ABOUT GREENSPRING: Greenspring is situated on a scenic 58-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia. The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of whom reside in over 1400 independent living apartment homes. At Greenspring, over 200 resident-run and resident-driven programs promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average. Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.