Washington Wine Guru Changes Perception of Wine and Wine Drinkers

Adu Jahmal says he doesn't get invited to many parties. " I'm known for stealing the show," he chuckled. Among other things, Jahmal will tell you he's a renaissance man and magician like. "I'm everywhere, doing everything all at once," said the 40-year-old entrepreneur. He left the corporate investment world as a stockbroker at Lehman Brothers 14 years ago to pursue his art. He headed for Tri-Cities, Washington in hopes of selling some paintings, making wine labels and to be with his girl.

And somehow, along the process he got into wine education. Now, after a traveling art show via the "Betty mobile", a broken relationship and turning a few heads, Jahmal has found his place in the Northwest's wine industry.

Certified by the International Sommelier Guild and a speaker for the Society of Wine Educators, Jahmal has meshed art with wine in the most unconventional ways: "Wine and Business, The New Golf", a wine education seminar for the business community; "Everything I learned about Wine. I learned in Kindergarten", a wine terminology session; and most recently, "Vine Rouge", Moulin Rouge themed wine tasting extravaganza, Jahmal style. The event included his branded wine and a 35-piece marching band. It's all part of what Jahmal calls, the underground wine culture, a budding population that enjoys wine as much as the people they share it with. "At my events, you won't find people just standing around gyrating with each other in senseless conversation" He said, " I get the crowd involved. People come to my events to learn with friends and laugh at how tight my pants are."

If you spot in public, he's often talking in the third person and sporting pieces from his own collection of oil painted tuxedo shirts. Each shirt represents a particular wine, spirit or region of the world with a story to match, just to get the conversation going.

Jahmal may not redefine wine culture quite yet, but he is taking the opportunity to steer it to the next level with his classes and clothing line.

"I'm building a brand like