Aug 23, 2007
The wine industry takes a lot of heat for being elitist. It’s the way we talk about wine, the way we seem to revere it and it’s the trappings of the industry that cause this impression. One of trappings of the wine industry that can’t be disputed is that we all tend to surround ourselves with what many would call “high culture”. The kind of music that tends to find its way to wine industry events and into wine country…
Aug 22, 2007
One of the very best (meaning fun) winery events I’ve ever attended was the Roshambo Rock-Paper-Scissors World Championships. As Virginie Boone at WineAbout Blog points out, there was fear that Roshambo would not be able to carry on with this contest of skill, wit and intuition after having sold their winery to Silver Oak. Naomi Brilliant wouldn’t let that happen. The 5th Annual Roshambo Rock-Paper-Scissors World Championships is set for October 6th at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa, Sonoma…
Aug 13, 2007
Some time ago, and I can’t quite recall when, I posted about the pleasure of finding just the right place to drink wine. I’m sure I stated unequivocally that the best place to do so was in laying in my hammock, in my back yard, with a glass of Rose on a warm summer evening. It turns out there is a contender for the crown. In the middle of Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe, on a warm summer day with…
Jun 22, 2007
Anyone who isn’t dreaming about a better life or at least a lifestyle more suited to their disposition probably isn’t very imaginative. So, count me among the imaginative. Now and again I’ll peruse the various wine/vineyard real estate listings, usually just to see who is selling what, to discover what the going prices is for vineyards and wineries, etc. Yesterday I came across this Anderson Valley/Mendocino Ridge property that looks pretty tempting. and gets the imagination going: Anderson Valley/Mendocino Ridge…
May 14, 2007
The Sunday Santa Rosa Press Democrat had an interesting ad in it placed by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission. In it they identify Sonoma County restaurants where 75% of the wines on their lists. are from Sonoma County and restaurants where 50% of the wines on their lists are from Sonoma County. These restaurants are congratulated for supporting Sonoma County, its growers, etc. This is a nice way to both encourage more Sonoma County-centric wine lists and to let diners…