Readers and drinkers:
It’s finally ready! Check out my new blog, which will involve all wine things non-Rosenblum–other reviews, winery visits, restaurants, advice, pairings, maybe some poetry every now and then.
Drumroll, please. Ta-da! Behind the Vines
Yep, Rosenblum Cellars is right up there. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. But check out this article in The New York Times. It’s by Gregory Dicum, who seems to have this thing about Pinot Grigio, and he gets some help from blogging guru, Alder Yarrow.
As soon as I’m done unpacking, I plan to hit a couple of these wine bars, especially Yield.
Currently recovering from sunburn, mosquito bites, bruises from falling on rocks, and getting ready to go back to work, with the always fun inventory to look forward to….
But I thought I’d drop this note to let you know I’m ok. At least in the sense that I made it back from the wilderness in mostly one piece.
In the meantime, check out my JFP column about one of my favorite grapes: Riesling
I saw this on the Winehiker’s blog and wanted to see how I stack up.
Apparently, my PG is based on the appearance of the word breast one time, which, by the way, was preceeded by chicken. However, the times I was inclined to use hell and damn didn’t seem to register on the radar. And I guess they aren’t worried about all the wine consumption either.
Regardless, happy reading and happy 4th of July!
Readers and drinkers, it’s gonna be a long day. After the tasting room closes, we’ll be counting wine for the end of the month. That’s right–no getting away from inventory for this girl. At least it’s not every day, though!
Much later this evening, I’m heading down to Paso Robles, to secure an early start in the morning. I’ve had some fantastic suggestions but haven’t even had time to look and see when those wineries are open. I’m hoping to get a map in the very near future to make some specific plans.
In the meantime, here’s a link to my last Jackson Free Press column on Zinfandel, which I actually began before I even knew I had the job at Rosenblum.
When I get back, I’ve got to get working on my next column, that new writing project, and catch up on older posts, including the fantastic meal I had last night.
Funny that my post about women & wine stirred up Dr.Debs and Catie to address issues with Wine Spectator. Funny because my last column for the Jackson Free Press also addressed the Wine Spectator, except my point was not so much gender-focused but more income-based.
Therefore, I advised readers to look online for free and helpful info, giving special shout-outs to some of my fellow wine bloggers. With only 400 words, I couldn’t get to them all.
But to the ones who did make it in (El Jefe, Josh, Megan, Russ, Dr.Debs, Alder, Beau, and John) and those who couldn’t fit–happy drinking and writing!
p.s. The quotation marks were added later. They make it seem like Vinography and Alder yarrow are two separate blogs. Oops.
Farley Walker
I have what I hope to be an inspiring response to a recent tag floating around in my head, but since I’ve been swamped at work and with writing and rewriting my wine column, it hasn’t actually materialized.
In the meantime, here’s a video promoting Martella wines, direct from the fruitbasket of labor from the best friend’s visit back in December:
As appreciating wine obviously involves the senses, check out this senses challenge my mom forwarded me. The second half especially relates, and I found it much easier. But I’m still not sharing my score…
Thanks to Ryan over at Cal Wineries, I found out about Fantesca Estate and Winery, located in Napa Valley. Having never had the wine, I was drawn to the site by the chance of winning a magnum of 2005 Estate Cabernet. All you have to do is submit a short quote, which might be chosen to decorate a cork in the previously-mentioned bottle. They wittily call them fortune corkies. And when you combine wit with free wine, what more could you want? (Well, at least it’s a start.)
What I found was this: the winery was started by a couple from Minnesota and the winemaker is none other than Kirk Venge, with his father Nils acting as consultant. This was exciting news, as I’m a great fan of Saddleback and Venge wines.
I couldn’t determine when the deadline was, so feel free to try your own hand at a corkie fortune. Here was my attempt, taken from “Feast” by one of my favorite poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay:
I drank at every vine.
The last was like the first.
I came upon no wine
So wonderful as thirst.
The last two lines graced the front of a t-shirt I made several years ago. The ironed-on piece is faded and cracking, but I can’t stand to throw it out.
More character, I say.
Fantesca Estate and Winery, fortune corkie, Edna St.Vincent Millay
As I mentioned briefly before, I wrote a wine column for the Jackson Free Press. After my trip back home, I contacted one of the editors to see if he’d want my newly up-close perspective, only to find that he’d tried to get in touch with me.
The column is actually a combo of my first and third versions. Unfortunately, I found out I couldn’t write about Fogarty wines, which, thank god, isn’t the case here. I was only going to do it for the first piece because
A) it fit nicely into my story of the wine journey out here and
B) I had become a fan of Fogarty wines back home, where they are readily available.
Apparently, MS is one of our best out-of-state markets.
The next one will be due in a week or so; therefore, I’m asking you–readers and drinkers– southern or otherwise, for idea suggestions…
It’s time for parties galore, and if you’re having trouble setting just the right mood, here’s where to go for help. As I mentioned a couple days ago, it was Wine Blogging Wednesday, where the blogging community picks a theme to examine and experiment. With wine, of course.
I already gave you my notes on the 2003 Mumm Pinot Meunier, but here’s a handy collection of many more reviews:
Culinary Fool.
Unfortunately, as so often happens with a name used mostly by men, the Culinary Fool referred to me as a ‘he.’ I won’t hold it against her, cause it was much work to put this whole thing together and quickly, at that. In fact, it simply gives me an excuse to drink….
Palate (noun): the tool which allows us to preceive the taste of wine, as it’s swished around in the mouth, letting the flavors settle where and how they will. Subjective and dependent upon each individual. It changes with time and experience (and sometimes mood).
Some people think they don’t have sophisticated enough palates, but really the most important thing is that they like what they drink, no matter the cost or prestige. A regular reader requested I address this subject, as she’s worried about the merit of her own. Now, I freely admit mine needs more fine tuning, but that’s because I write this blog.
Most have no need to feel inadequate, but if you do– read this article. What makes me feel less intimidated is The Red Wine Haiku Review. Lane Steinberg has over 200 wine reviews disguised as poetry. Some funny, others poignant, all inspiring. In fact, they led me to write this:
Tasting notes scare me
due to my humble palate.
Haikus give me hope.
….Farley Walker
I had a very good friend (one who is not very much into wine) send me a link to this article, thinking I might like it.
Well, the greater part of me did. The part that wants people to never take themselves too seriously, especially when it comes to wine. I try not to, and if anyone sees that I’m being a snoot, feel free to point it out. Immediately.
Read Dave Barry’s piece now.
PBS has a new reality show lined up. PBS, you ask? And I answer, “Well, yes. I suppose anyone can.”
This one knocks loudly on my door, though, cause the name is The Wine Makers. The contestants compete on levels of growing, making, and selling. They just started filming in the Central Coast a couple of weeks ago. Starts with 12, thins to 6, then finishes with 1, who gets his or her own wine label. Airs in early ‘07, I think.
When I mentioned this at work, it seems our cellar rat bitterly related his anger at not being chosen. Seems that he missed the deadline. Besides, he already has his own wine label: Bonfire Vineyards. Visit his wife’s blog, aptly named The Winemaker’s Wife. She’s a fellow food and wine lover. Let’s just hope she doesn’t want her own show like I do.
This site is your go-to for answers about wine, courtesy of someone in the business. Firsthand knowledge and hours of research logged each week provide informed and impassioned suggestions for what wine to serve with meals (sometimes with recipes), places to go for education or fun, and what to buy or not buy. Wine Outlook is where you go when you’ve had too much to drink or not enough.
Wine Outlook Author(s)
