Archive for the ‘Culture and Wine’ Category
Tomorrow the United States Supreme Court will hand down the anxiously anticipated ruling on the Federal Affordable Healthcare law. And if, as many expect, the decision comes on a 5-4 vote of the justices down party lines, I greatly fear the consequences. Wine lovers possess a simply way of understanding the consequences of this kind of outcome I and they should fear. More than simply dismantling a law that is already in partial effect or upholding a controversial piece of…
Napa Valley and Sonoma County are neighbors, separated largely by a mountain. From southern Napa Valley, from its mid point in Saint Helena and from Calistoga, you can get to the major cities in Sonoma County in half an hour or less. And yet, they remain worlds apart culturally. This point was driven home once again when I attended the Wine Spectator's Napa Valley "Big Bottle" Party at Tra Vigna in Saint Helena last Wedenesday. This annual affair, which is…
It's been said by some that a large majority of my articles here over the past 8 years have been derogatory or critical in nature. Maybe they have. But the fact is, I get my greatest pleasure when I can point readers to something brilliant, unique or important. Today we have something brilliant: ARTISANAL, RELUCTANT BRANDING PIONEER, DIES AT 474 Jen Doll penned this piece of culinary/semantic commentary/satire for Atlantic Wire, the on-line presence of the great "The Atlantic" magazine….
The latest article at “Bigger Than Your Head”, a blog maintained by long-time wine writer Frederic Koeppel, is evidence of many things, not the least of which is Frederic’s talent to compose an excellent essay. It demonstrates why, after having won two Wine Blog Awards for “Best Wine Reviews”, his blog also ought to be considered for “Best Writing” on a Wine Blog. But this latest article, “Wine & Vulgarity”, also demonstrates the extent to which judgement of the most…
"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" If this isn't one of the most monumental non-sequitrrs in the history of film and literature I don't know what is. The film, based on the book (which I read with a great deal of glee), is coming to a theater near you very soon. It will, besides offer another opportunity to see how vampires react when their heads are chopped off, provide something of an "alternative history" for students of Lincoln. However, the real prize…
