When Frederick S. Wildman Sr. joined the ranks of Americans serving abroad in WWI, he had no idea it would plant the seed of his future. Stationed in France, Wildman became a decorated veteran, attaining the rank of first lieutenant in the Second Division of the U.S. Army and eventually achieving the rank of Colonel. But it was another newly formed passion that would propel him to prominence and change his life forever: the incredible fine wines and champagnes of France that he suddenly found himself exposed to, and an insatiable thirst to learn everything he possibly could about them.