[B]It's not often that people can combine their passions that seem to have no relevant link. But when they figure out a way, the end result can be very fulfilling.[/B]

Enter Mike James, a videogame junkie from California that discovered the joys of wine just after he graduated from college. With a little help from friends and family, 8Bit Vintners was formed. We caught up with James as he was traveling in Arizona, spreading the good word about his wine.

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[B]GameCulture: Videogames and wine are not something you usually think of together. Beer, maybe, but not wine. What prompted the marriage of the two?[/B]

[B]Mike James:[/B] For me, it really didn’t come about as "I love wine and I love games so let me put the two together." I looked around and saw the wines I loved and people that I respected had cool stories to tell. There is lots of sameness in the industry. Everyone was doing the same thing. There are more than 6,000 wineries in California alone. How do people differentiate among them if you aren't following it? Maybe it's cool to be niche and focus on the people that are like you and like the things you like. I wanted to create something was unique and distinct.

I wanted to create a nostalgic feel that gamers could connect to. People that grew up with Nintendo and Atari have fond memories. I get excited about talking to people and their game experiences as kids. That pairs well with wine as a social experience.

[B]GC: How did you come up with the name for the winery?[/B]

[URL=http://www.gameculture.com/2010/01/20/chat-man-behind-8bit-vintners]read more[/URL]

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