Why open a wine bar?
It’s simple, really. We love wine and we enjoy sharing good wine with good friends. There’s no better way to share wines of the world than to have a welcoming place where people can come to learn and love new wines, and make new friends.
Why do it in Jasper, GA?
J grew up in a little town not far away called Athens (go Dawgs). He felt an instant attraction to Jasper when he first visited the area as a child, and after buying a home nearby several years ago it was obvious Downtown Jasper should be the home for First Mountain Tasting Room.
We’ve been there.
One of the reasons we got into the wine business is our love of travel. It’s such a joy to meet the people who make the wines we love to drink. We’ve been to vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Spring Mountain, Tuscany, Montalcino, Priorat, Emporda, Penedes, Catalonia, and more…
A thirst for knowledge.
J’s love of wine goes back over a decade to when he first started collecting tasting notes in a spreadsheet. When that spreadsheet had over 500 entries, he decided to pursue a more formal wine education.
He is now a Level 3 Certified Sommelier by the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, having passed the tasting exam “With Distinction”. He is currently pursuing is Master Sommelier certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Highly Trained & Certified Staff
Part of working at First Mountain Tasting Room is knowing your stuff. Everyone who works behind the bar is constantly increasing their wine knowledge.