Archive for the ‘Wine Places’ Category
It’s the burning question that divides Wine Country locals, visitors, and artists: During which season of the year is Wine Country most beautiful? The deliberations, debates and fisticuffs that have resulted from this question are innumerable. And this is so for the simple reason that each season—Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter—brings with it a special and truly unique palate of colors and array of textures. I bring this burning question up today as we are now, in the Northern Hemisphere…
I recently read an essay in which the author submitted the notion that one of the best strategies for easing the burdens of life is to do what is necessary to unbridle one’s self from as many decisions as possible. The idea is that we spend too much of our precious time on earth making mundane decision and we invest too much psychic energy in decision making where the consequences of our decisions are of very little importance. It got…
A holiday in Northern California’s wine country usually means heading to Napa Valley, Sonoma County or a little of both. In realty and for most people, it means choosing between one or the other. Choosing between Napa and Sonoma isn’t required necessarily by geography, but the vast majority of folks do choose one region and stay put. Having lived in both spots and having spent a good deal of time exploring and working in the wine realm in both areas,…
Noob: So when these wine experts taste wines, it's not just a matter of whether they just like it I see. It looks like there are 100 different levels of quality. Me: You mean the 100 Point system? Yes. Well, No. The 100 Point system is really a 50 point system because no wine is given 50 points. That's really the starting point. Noob: So when a wine is rated 88 Points out of 100 points the wine has really…
The demise of the Mendocino County Winegrape and Wine Commission by a no confidence vote of its members is bad news for that region's industry. It also points to a perennial gulf that exists between the two fundamental elements of the supply side of the wine industry, growers and wineries, that is reliably difficult to bridge. In the case of the Mendocino County Winegrape and Wine Commission, a promotional organization founded in 2006, reports have it that when the membership…
