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Thomas Haehn
Sharing wine with someone you love? How about a bottle that spreads the feeling even further? That's what High Def Wines had in mind when they released a collection of wines called The FOH Nashville Project to support the local homeless community. (FOH stands for 'feed our homeless.”) Nashville-based winemaker and importer Thomas Haehn runs the company from here while his brother, Konrad, manages the winemaking operation from Von Schleinitz Estate winery in Mosel, Germany. By day, Haehn also works as a property manager, and observations he made on that job led to the creation of The FOH Project last fall.
'Contrary to common belief, homelessness for many is not a choice or a lack of motivation but the consequence of temporary hardship resulting from unforeseen events, such as job loss, illness, or the death of a breadwinner,” he says.
Haehn decided to help bring awareness to the issue by donating proceeds from The FOH Project to four local nonprofits that support Nashville's homelessincluding animals. The beneficiaries are Safe Haven, Room in the Inn, East C.A.N., and SAFPAW Nashville.
tasting notes:
1 Kon-Secco
Kon-Seccothat's Konrad's spin on proseccois High Def's version of a sparkling Italian wine that's also an affordable alternative to champagne with just enough carbonation to tickle your nose and open up the aromas and rich fruit flavors. The crisp acidity makes this a very food-friendly wine.
2 Rockin' Riesling
Using the prototypical grape of the Mosel region is riesling, and The FOH Project offers two under its Rockin' Riesling brand this being the multi-vineyard version. There is a subtle sweetness to this bottle that makes it an excellent accompaniment to spicy Asian or Mexican cuisine. Gentle nuances of apple and peach mean it is also fantastic to drink on its ownand, it's a few bucks cheaper!
3 Underdog Dry Rosé
Notes of red berries like strawberries and cherries are not overpowered by residual sugars in this wine. The finish is dry and refreshing. The Underdog wines benefit homeless dogs and cats cared for by East C.A.N. and SAFPAW, and the label is decorated with a portrait of a formerly abandoned dog that eventually found a good home.
4 Rockin' Riesling Weissenberg
The slate-filled soil and steep terraces of this vineyard mean that the grapevines have to try harder to thrive, and their efforts show up in the form of a pronounced minerality and lovely grapefruit, peach, and nectarine flavors. The Rockin' Riesling Weissenberg is the estate-grown choice, an elegant wine that could stand up to years of cellaring, but it is also ready to drink right away.
5 Underdog Dry Riesling
This versatile food wine is a nice alternative to pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, like its counterpart the dry rosé, it benefits homeless dogs and cats cared for by East C.A.N. and SAFPAW. Plus, you might save a few dollars over your usual white table wines.