We're family — literally — in the MBTB Tasting Room! Here are a few of the faces you may see behind the bar...
This is Shannon, co-owner and bartender extraordinaire. He's a fan of big, bold reds and dry whites. You may overhear him telling visitors that the "special pour" (port + truffle) will "change your life."
This is Cort, co-owner and prolific event-planner and poster-maker. She's the cruise director of the operation. She's an equal-opportunity Riesling lover and has an unhealthy obsession with sparkling wine.
This is Gary, Cort's dad and the resident handyman. No more post-retirement blues here — we've been keeping him busy. When he's not serving as the emergency glass washer, he's in the backroom making organizational magic out of our storage space. His flights always, always, always include Gill's Pier Vineyard & Winery Whitewater.
This is Joanna, Cort's cousin who recently relocated to Metro Detroit from Traverse City (and close proximity to two wine trails!). She's a lover of all things Michigan, including its red wines and that other fermented beverage that starts with "B" and ends with "EER."
This is Melissa, also Cort's cousin, who has dubbed herself "The Glassmaster" for her ability to quickly load and unload Gary Jr. (the glass washer). She enjoys sweet whites — especially Riesling — but you're more likely to see her with a Starbucks in her hand. She's also vowed to dance on the bar, a la "Coyote Ugly," and/or show off the line dancing skills she learned as a server at Lone Star eons ago, but has yet to make good on that promise.
This is Gary Jr., our Glastender GW24 glass washer. We love it so much that we gave it a name. The moniker was chosen in honor of Cort's dad, who always got stuck washing glasses by hand. So if you ever hear one of us declare that it's time to "load Gary Jr." or "Gary Jr. needs attention," you'll know what we mean.
