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THE BACHELOR FINDS A BRIDE
by Brooke Comer
There are plenty of single men in Santa Ynez Valley, but just say "the Bachelor," and everyone will know who you're talking about. But he's not a bachelor for long; Andrew Firestone and Jen Schefft are engaged. "We haven't set a date yet," says Andrew, who met his bride-to-be, as everyone with a TV set knows, on the show "The Bachelor." There is no wedding date in place just yet, because the bachelor and "the missus," as he fondly calls her, want to take the time to really get to know each other. After all, they met for the first time in mid-January, 2003. They need a little time.

Andrew and Jen are using their getting-to-know-each-other time wisely, taking advantage of summer wine promotions as a way to travel the country, promote Firestone wines before Fall harvest, and, well, get to know each other. What better way to learn about someone than to travel with them, in the celebrity spotlight, in a professional capacity?

For Jen, an Ohio native and marketing major who worked in sales at Getty Images, a Chicago stock footage house, wine is a new world.

"I knew I liked wine," she says, "but I've never really known much about it, except that I liked red more than white. But Andrew is easing me into it. I'm learning to pick things up as I go along." Now, for instance, she has a few favorites-like Firestone Merlot and Firestone Reisling.

"You don't need a degree from Davis to enjoy wine," Andrew points out. "I'm not teaching Jen by forcing her to learn a lot of new terminology. I'm just giving her the chance to respond to different varietals and see what she likes. One of the nice things about studying wines is that you don't have to sit in a classroom. You can go out to dinner."

Summer is a busy time for winemakers, who want to get their product on the shelves for the fall, and for Andrew, who serves as San Francisco Sales Manager for FirestoneWalker Brewery and Firestone Family Estates, the stakes are even higher; he and Jen are promoting Firestone wine-at wine tastings and wine dinners around the country-in the celebrity limelight, with the dual job of getting to know the woman he's chosen to spend the rest of his life with.

Not that Andrew doesn't enjoy his work, he loves educating-he prefers the term "educating" to promoting-the public about California wine. "We're very spoiled here in California," he points out, "because California wines are the best in the world. What we try to do is expose people to wines they wouldn't normally find and let them know there are small specialty wineries here in California, not just huge conglomerates."

But after a few straight weeks of work, Andrew and Jen are happy to take a break from the road, and spend time relaxing in the Santa Ynez Valley. "I've never lived in an area with ranches and horses before," says Jen, who grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland. "It's a huge change of pace." She's not only learning to taste the nuances of a range of varietals, she's also learning to ride. "Well, I sat on one of Andrew's dad's horses," she admits, "and Andrew led me around the stable." She also got a few golf tips from Andrew's dad, Brooks Firestone, on a family golf outing at the Alisal Ranch Course. "Four hours in the sunshine," Andrew recalls, "in the gorgeous hills, with family and no phones."

Everyone who watched "The Bachelor," which probably includes everyone in the Valley, remembers when Brooks Firestone asked Jen if she could picture herself living here.

"I couldn't," she reveals, "not because it isn't beautiful-it is-it's just that I'd never been anywhere like this before. But I can see why everyone loves living here." And, after the wedding, the Santa Ynez Valley is the place-both Andrew and Jen agree on this-that they'd like to settle down.

Will they have a large family? "We talked about it," says Jen, "and we'd like to have two or three." Andrew adds that "family is relative; I have a big family and we could add to it, or enjoy what we already have."

Even though Andrew lives in San Francisco now, "I'm a country mouse," he admits. "When I moved to the city, I was shell-shocked. You take things for granted when you grow up in the Valley, things you think are routine. As you get older, you realize how lucky you are." During their rare free time, Andrew managed to share the beauty of the Valley with his future wife. One of their favorite ways to unwind is to drive around the ranch in his old jeep.

Privacy is a luxury; on the road, in tasting rooms, at wine shops-even in the Valley at local restaurants-they're recognized by eager fans who ask for photos and autographs. The couple are always gracious, not only allowing photos, but offering to include their fans in the shot. "We were rooting for you," women often tell Jen.

The Brothers' at Mattei's Tavern is one of the few places where the couple can relax. The mostly-local crowd is familiar enough, and discreet enough, to leave Andrew and Jen in relative peace, to enjoy a lamb dinner (one of Andrew's favorites).

"The Brothers, Matt and Jeff, mix up the menu a lot and that's what keeps them interesting," Andrew notes. "They understand that you have to take chances, the way winemakers took a big chance on Rhone varietals. People weren't used to it, but now you see it on the menu more and more."

Speaking of taking chances-Andrew and Jen took a big chance themselves, by participating in "The Bachelor." Was it love at first sight? "I hate to say love at first sight," says Jen, "because I had no expectations. A girlfriend sent me an online application for the show and I never thought I'd actually get picked."

Instead of being nervous when she made the cut, Jen decided "to just have fun." She was pleasantly surprised to find that Andrew was attractive. "He was really a great guy! Everyone made such a big deal because he was a Firestone. But he didn't act like he was better than anybody else. He was sensitive and considerate. He was surrounded by women, and he was very aware of each one, and he didn't want to exclude any or hurt their feelings. But most of all, he was fun to be with. I felt very comfortable with him."

What made Andrew choose Jen? "She had a certain confidence that was noticeable. It was obvious, because she was in a difficult situation, with 24 other ladies and one man. It was hard for her and hard for me. I had to pick up on tiny little indicators, as to whether or not each woman was a good fit."

"With Jen, it was different. I didn't have to try so hard. And we had an easy give and take. There has to be a certain play off one another, a certain give and take in a relationship, be it in conversation or activity, and we had an easy give and take, and a very natural play between one another from the start. And she didn't laugh at all my jokes. She was not only honest, but outspoken in her honesty."

The confidence that both Andrew and Jen appreciate in one another might come from their family backgrounds; both are from tight-knit families who enjoy each others company. Jen has one brother Jason, 24, a teacher and basketball coach, and Andrew has two sisters and a brother. "I have seven nieces and four nephews, ages two to 16, and I have to get back here as much as possible because I'm very much a part of their lives, and I miss being around them when I'm not here."

The match sounds almost too good to be true. "People ask me," says Jen, "how this relationship could possibly work given the way we met, and if it hadn't happened to me, I'd be one of those people too. But you know when it's right it's right."

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