Being a sommelier and gourmet, my goal has always been to select only the finest and most elegant wines from the broad range of products currently on the market. I see quality as the sum of origin, processing and selection. So I make an effort not only to taste all the wines myself, but also to get to know the respective winemaker and his production process personally.
Through many years of experience, I know what the customer wants. For me, service is therefore my top priority, because my credo is:
“THE CUSTOMER IS KING – WITHOUT COMPROMISE!”
René Emanuel Clausen
Resume
As a native of Salzburg, I was already drawn to foreign countries at the age of 18 – first to the USA, then to Spain. There I was also able to gain my first experience in the restaurant business. Among others in the “SAN FRANCIS-HOTEL” in San Francisco, in the catering of the Madrid “CARLTON-RITZ” and in various cocktail bars.
I discovered my passion for excellent wines at an early age. The sommelier exam in America did the rest. Since then, collecting “good wine” has been one of my favorite pastimes. After four years abroad, it was then time to return to Austria. Stations of my seasonal career were among others the “HOTEL EDELWEISS” in Zürs/Arlberg and the “RAINER’S BAR” in Pörtschach. This was followed by positions in international companies – first at “LAUDA AIR” as a flight attendant, then at the “VIENNA MARRIOTT HOTEL” as a catering manager. At “DO&CO” I was then responsible, among other things, for purchasing in the catering area at the FORMULA 1 races. This experience was the ideal basis for taking over the management of “DELICATERING by Merkur” – a part of the REWE Group. For almost ten years, I led the company’s fortunes there with great commitment and enthusiasm. This period was definitely one of my most exciting challenges. In addition, I took the time to write for two Austrian magazines as a restaurant critic. This sideline allowed me to expand my knowledge of Austrian wines even further – it gave me the opportunity to visit numerous wineries and taste many top wines. For family reasons I went abroad again in January 2004, this time to Brussels. After a wonderful year of time out and conversations with very many wine-interested people, I had the idea to use my private passion also professionally – my small but fine Internet wine trade with good Austrian wines is the result.
