Taste Morgan manager finds that tasting rooms are always a happy place.

Deborah Canepa has spent much of her professional life behind bars. No, not the thick iron ones, but rather the polished tables found in drinking establishments and fine wine tasting rooms. A Carmel High graduate, she started as a bartender before moving into the wine business. Canepa has been the tasting room manager for Morgan’s spot in Carmel’s Crossroads for the past 12 years.

Weekly: Is it tough being surrounded by wine all day?

Canepa: It’s probably like a candy store or ice cream parlor. When you start it’s like “wow,” but after awhile you get used to it. We’re here to work.

How do you learn all you need to know?

You just keep up with it. The owners and winemaker are good at tutorials, so we get continuing education. And they are just a phone call away if we have a question. But Morgan is consistently good.

Can you be sad in a tasting room?

If they are sad when they come in, they’re happy by the time they leave. We’re kind of like therapists. We’re not just pouring wine. It’s a social atmosphere. People are here to interact. The wine is a vehicle.

So it’s like bartending.

Kind of. It’s been a long time since I was a bartender, but it’s developing relationships. And because this is a tourist area, we meet people from all over the world.

What’s the strangest thing that’s happened?

A very old man came in and ordered a glass of wine. I poured it and walked to the register when I heard him say “Thank you. Good bye.” I thought “Did he not like the wine?” But I turned and the glass was empty. We still talk about it. One sip and he was done.