Archive for the ‘Wine Places’ Category

Jan 2, 2008

A New York Moment

Can someone please explain to me how it is that I’ve not been to New York City for almost 20 years! I’ve set up countless dinners, events, lunches and media meetings for clients in that time, but I’ve never been. It’s not emberassing, but a considered a personal failure on my part. I’ll be rectifying that over this weekend as I take off to NY for business. There will be little time for exploring, with the exception of making sure…

Nov 27, 2007

Whimsy

One thing you don’t see on TV too much is Napa Valley being dissed. It’s even less common to see Sonoma be hailed over Napa. Yet this very occurrence was brought to my attention today in the form of a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Derek, played by Patrick Dempsey, is soliciting advice from Mark, played by Eric Dane, on whether he should take his girl to Napa or Sonoma for a couple days. The advise he gets back is…

Nov 8, 2007

Intimidated By Wine

I bet there was a time when the White House, under no circumstances, would have served a California wine at a State dinner for a visiting leader from Europe. That time would have been long ago, but nonetheless I’ll bet there was a time. And the reason is probably the same that explains how Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius could have been led to make this comment about her state’s wine: You should be thankful we don’t make wine in Kansas….

Oct 29, 2007

The Nexus Between Golf & the Tasting Room

Professional golf came to Sonoma Wine Country this week. Specifically, it came to Sonoma Valley in the form of the Champions Tour and Charles Schwab Cup at the Sonoma Golf Club. Jim Thorpe won for the second year in a row. So did the wineries. Based on what I saw of cars on the roads and from talking to a couple tasting room folks and owners, sales were way up at tasting rooms this week. It was a bit of…

Oct 18, 2007

Pollock & Vaughn in Carneros

There is no time of year better than this moment (mid to late October) when the vineyardlands of California are more beautiful. What makes them so compelling right now is a rich combination of order and chaos. Driving though Carneros today I witnessed that annual display of orderly rows of vines cascading up and down knolls and hills all painted by a chaotic wash of greens, yellows and the occasional disease-inspired red leaves. It is nothing less than stunning. Let’s…