Aug 3, 2011
I fear I'm about to say something rude or inconsiderate (at least it feels that way), but I'm compelled to say it nonetheless. So forgive me. In perusing the cache of on-line wine media today I cam across an interesting poll being taken at "The Life of Vines" blog. The poll, which centered on what it is that makes ordering wine in a restaurant so intimidating for so many began with this introduction: "Do you ever get that deer in…
Aug 1, 2011
The UK's Daily Telegraph reports on a study that delivers the astounding conclusion that folks often drink to relieve stress. This revelation might be best filed in the "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" category. Conducted by "DrinkAware", a UK-based anti-alcohol organization, the study found: "73% of the women and 57% of the men who took part citing stress as their number one excuse…On being given a list of options, pouring a glass of wine (61%) came only behind relaxing…
Jul 23, 2011
What I've learned at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference…So Far 1. The choice of Charlottesville for the location of the conference is an inspired one. Not only is it a town filled with gracious and proud folks, but it oozes history. And for a long-time student of American history, it's actually kind of difficult to explain the thrill to walk amongst that history. 2. Jancis Robinson, the first keynote speaker at the Conference, might be unique among practiced and established…
Jul 22, 2011
Maybe it shouldn't be the case, but I find it far more enjoyable to look writers in the face and hear their words than to read their words remotely. This was confirmed last night when I sat in a room with a bevy of wine writers at the Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia and dined and drank and talk. The blogger face-to-face was meant, simply, to bring together a lot of interesting people and talk blogging, wine and life….
Jul 4, 2011
My first real glass of wine was on Independence Day. I must have been all of 10 or 11 years old and with the family at a fireworks display in Marin County, where I grew up. It wasn't my first sip of alcohol. I'd stolen that from my father's bottle of beer on a few occasions. But here, sitting on the grass, waiting for the fireworks to burst on to the scene, I drunk my first, full, honest glass of…