In a perfect  world, you could jet to Italy, book a room in a wonderful vineyard in the Piedmont and spend hours discussing wine and food with the winemaker.

But if that kind of luxury is not in your budget, you could try the next-best thing.

On Sunday, wine lovers at The Wine Cabinet in Reston’s North Point Village Center, spent two hours tasting four wines from Rocche Costamagna, a vineyard in La Morra, in the Piedmont  of Italy. What set this wine tasting apart from others was that the winemaker, Alessandro Locatelli, joined the tasting via Skype.

The idea of Mike Mackie (co-owner of The Wine Cabinet) and Beth Wolfe (of Siema Wine Importers), this Skype tasting was a very intimate and educational way to learn about the wines of the Rocche Costamagna vineyard.  

“This format really allows for a personal connection with the winemaker,” said Wolfe as she opened another bottle to pour for the guests.

Not only were attendees able to taste and compare the Arneis, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Barolo from Rocche Costamagna, but they enjoyed homemade mushroom risotto and fresh bread as well. 

The tasting included stories and anecdotes from Locatelli (whose English is flawless):  a description of the barrels  (small classic French or large Slovenian oak), the hillsides and the adjoining villages.  Locatelli  spoke to the Wine Cabinet group from his tasting room, so the barrels and bottles could be seen in the background. 

The Wine Cabinet had provided each attendee with a “cheat sheet” that included reviews form Wine Spectator as a reference point.  As Locatelli swirled and smelled the “Big” red Barolo, each person could judge for themselves the rich color and the “nose” of chestnut.  He called it a “wine that is still ‘alive', a different sensation.”

The attendees had questions and comments and Locatelli was able to answer and share his insights with them.  He described whole menus built around his wines.

“Mike and Rande [Jenus] love to expose people to wine in new and different ways," said Wolfe. "I knew this [The Wine Cabinet] was the place to try this Skype format.”

The Skype connection was flawless and the large screen crystal clear.  Mackie and his team felt that this approach to wine tasting could be used with many other vintners around the world.  They hope to hold another Skype tasting in a month or so. Sunday’s attendees had suggestions for where to “go” next time.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Mackie.

The Wine Cabinet holds wine classes twice a month and informal tastings every Friday and Saturday.