Archive for the ‘Culture and Wine’ Category
A damned interesting event occurred recently that has nearly slipped under the radar. "Damned interesting" may seem hyperbole to most of you but to those who gravitate toward the historical, political and regulatorial (that's not really a word), this event is pretty interesting. Not long ago, the good people at the Center for Alcohol Policy (a National Beer Wholesaler of America creation) took it upon themselves to see to the re-printing and re-release of what might be the most influential…
AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICA'S STATE ALCOHOL REGULATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS Dear Alcohol Regulators and Administrators: Once again, as you have every year since 1934, you are gathering together under the auspices of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators for the annual conference of America's administrators and regulators of state liquor laws. This year you find yourself in Vegas. My understanding is that there are a number of accomplished poker players in your midst so this venue is appropriate. However,…
The morning routine at the Wark-Berez house is fairly regimented: Tom, Cats, Dog, Read. My morning coffee is the first priority, for without it little else carries much import…or gets done. The cats then get their food. The dog is next as I need a little time to recover from the fog of sleep to deal with Louie, who is demanding, quick and unpredictable, while the Cats are merely predictably demanding. The caffeine helps. But then it's time to consume…
What's coming down the wine literary path? That's what I wanted to know. Looking at Amazon's list of future releases in the Wine Book category we see a bevy of interesting reading material coming our way in the future. Here are those I think most worthy of consideration. Note the date of release for each book. Voodoo Vintners: Oregon's Astonishing Biodynamic WinegrowersBy Katherine Cole (Oregon State University Press)June 1, 2011Today is the official release date for Cole's study of Biodynamic…
Thinking About… THE REVELATIONUpon reading Anthony Lane's remarkably thoughtful analysis of Terrence Malik's new film, The Tree of Life, in The New Yorker, it finally hit me why wine critics likely won't rise to the quality challenge laid down by critics surveying other pursuits such as film, literature, dance and music: As an object of analysis and thoughtful critique, a wine provides no interpretation of the human condition, giving its critics little to grasp on to in order to engage…
