I’ve always envied Dan Berger’s insightful mind. Clearly one of America’s best wine writers, he is also one of the writers willing to address the complex and often controversial subjects. He most often does this via his weekly newsletter, "Vintage Experiences," a must for any serious student of wine or anyone in the wine business. Dan doesn’t disappoint with his last issue that arrived via email this morning. In the latest issue, Dan asks if vintners will pass their own…

You like getting good deals on interesting, hard to find wines. Good. Do this: 1. go to: http://www.winebid.com2. Click on the "advanced search" in the upper left hand corner3. Make the maximum price $254. Choose "United States".5. Click "Search." …………………..Cool, eh? What you are looking at is the perfect way to taste through past vintages at a reasonable price and see for yourself what age does to California wine. You’ve got lots to choose from at this wine education bazaar:…

I’m not sure Matt Skinner matters that much that I should write about his opinions. However, his opinions on wine drinkers merit a response. Nay, a rant. Listen to what this wanker has to say: "If you think of the wine industry as a pie then the snobs are a tiny slice of it. But they’re the slice that f***s it for everyone. Yeah, they’ve got a bit of a conspiracy to mystify it for everyone, to keep the younger…

I’ve always loved those stories that appear now and again about a no-name wine or a wine perceived to be mediocre beating better known and more appreciated wines in a taste-off. Of course the most famous of them all is the Paris tasting of 1976 when California’s Montelena Chardonnay and Stag’s Leap Cask 23 beat out French First Growths in a taste-off. You hear about these upset events these days in the context of wine competitions. Last year, I believe,…

CELEBRITY WINE NEWS CONGESSWOMAN TO OWN NAPA VALLEY WINERY Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Husband Paul Pelosi are the latest celebrities (politicians are celebrities these days, aren’t they?) to put down stakes in Napa Valley. They just received approval to build a 5000 gallon winery in the middle of the valley. The property is located on Zinfandel Lane on the east side of the Valley near Silverado Trail. It appears however that Congresswoman Pelosi will be an absentee owner, given her…