Wine Outlook

I was avoiding writing by looking at my May statistics, and one search string really stood out to me.

1 14 4.23% wine outlook
2 8 2.42% -
3 8 2.42% wine poems
4 5 1.51% wine poem
5 4 1.21% black chicken
6 4 1.21% giesen sauvignon blanc 2005
7 4 1.21% ideas for cool wine names
8 4 1.21% office 2007 wine
9 4 1.21% teens h-
10 3 0.91% couple hol-
11 3 0.91% i drink a bottle of wine a night
12 3 0.91% riedel pronunciation
13 3 0.91% teens holdin-
14 3 0.91% wine office 2007
15 2 0.60% acceptable tv
16 2 0.60% baby grapes
17 2 0.60% birthday quotes wine
18 2 0.60% black chicken wine
19 2 0.60% black chook how to serve
20 2 0.60% bramare malbec

It would be funny, had I not had so much wine last night…

When the Winehiker hit me with my first meme, I thought I had kinda answered the question “Why do I blog?” a few months ago with this post. Except that didn’t really explain why I got started initially.

How Wine Outlook began
Mine is not a romantic tale. Destiny for me was searching Craigslist for freelance writing jobs to help make ends meet. When I replied to 451 Press in its offer to “write about what you love,” I mentioned possible topics as WINE, cooking, hiking, poetry, etc. Thankfully, they gave me the wine blog.

I have since come to find the revenue from the ads doesn’t add up to all that much. So while I might have started to make extra money, that is definitely not the reason I continue to do this (almost) every day.

So here are 5 reasons I do:

~With my terrible memory, it is nice to have a record of the wines I’ve consumed, what I ate with them, and what I thought of them. Pictures usually included.

~The kind words from readers can brighten up otherwise gloomy days. Especially kind words from strangers who have no reason to make me feel better unless they really mean it. (See the responses to above-linked post.)

~I knew nothing about blogging when I got started. Now I’ve come to find blogs I love to read, full of useful information, suggestions, and inspiration. (See sidebar and check out some yourself)….What’s even better is that I’ve come to know some of the people behind the blogs. Sometimes it’s through conversations in comments and e-mails. Or sometimes it’s in person, like when I had a lovely dinner the other night with Sonadora of Wannabe Wino and her husband Matt. Or how I plan on finally making it over to Twisted Oak tomorrow to talk to El Jefe for more than a few crowded minutes. And the meetings that have yet to happen. (Ryan and Ben and Dr. Debs have promised to come tasting with me. Just say when.)

~Blogging brings all kinds of surprises. It could be a random comment from a long-ago classmate or something as delightful as Elsbeth graciously sending me a bottle of the much coveted Petit Verdot.

~Finally, wine writing is my dream, what dragged me from Mississippi to California. This blog gives me an outlet for that. And who knows? Maybe someday the “right person” will read it and give my dreams a more solid (i.e. more financially stable) form.

And now it’s my turn to ask, why do YOU blog? (more…)

Hmmm. Suppose you know a wine girl who’s about to hit a milestone birthday and you’re wondering what to get her. Don’t worry about Le Nez du Vin, she knows it’s too expensive and should make her own aroma kit at some point anyway. But how about a wine preservation system so she stops pouring so much wine down the sink? Or a subscription to Food and Wine, where she would love to have a job one day? Then again, there’s always her hero–Jancis Robinson: her Wine Course dvd, The Oxford Companion to Wine or this one.

Ok, my parents say they read this….a girl’s gotta try.

wine gifts, happiness for wine lovers

Gotta give some more love to my old stomping grounds:

Hot news from the Jackson Free Press:

Best Wine Selection: Bravo! 4500 I-55 N. # 244, 601-982-8111
Getting wine in Mississippi is a real pain in the neck compared to most places—chalk it up to being the last state to give up on prohibition. But you would never know it from the list at Bravo!. Their Cabernets, for instance, take up an entire page, and range in price from $20 to $300. There are incredible bargains for a frugal fellow like myself, but there are also astounding treasures for those with more scratch on hand. I know Jesus doesn’t want us to rob banks, but that 1989 vintage Krug Champagne is really calling out to me, Lord! Until then, it’s Castle Rock Pinot Noir for $25. — Brian Johnson

Second: Nick’s (1501 Lakeland Drive, 601-981-8017) / Third: Julep (1305 East Northside Drive #105, 601-362-1411); Char (4500 I-55 N. #142, 601-956-9562) / Shapley’s (868 Centre St., Ridgeland, 601-957-3753)
——-
And to old friends: (more…)

Anniversary update: At the end of the work day, I had co-workers come into the tasting room for sparkling wine to celebrate. And then when I was out last night at Slide (where the preferred form of entry is actually a slide….) for a friend’s birthday bash, I had more sparkling and told people I just met how I’ve been in California for one year now.

I can’t help talking about it because I wasn’t sure I’d still be here. There were periods of time after I moved that I thought I had made a huge mistake. Tears, rants, freak outs, hours of drunk dialing. That initial uncertainty and craziness makes the passing of one year that much more special.

But here are things I need to do in the next one:
1. Join a wine club. Because I can.
2. Explore more wine regions. Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Amador, Calaveras County perhaps?
3. Buy one of those pumps so I stop pouring out so much wine.
4. Drink some Charles Shaw, lovingly called Two Buck Chuck. Hey, I know people say it’s bad, but I’m not the type to let others make my opinions for me. And even if it’s terrible, I’m only out 2 bucks.

Any items I should add to the list?

wine resolutions, Two Buck Chuck

p.s. Happy Birthday, Brett!

The fact that this post follows one telling you how you can make money just by commenting here should in no way be seen as a bribe.

Tom Wark over at Fermentation is organizing the very first American Wine Blog Awards. When it was announced, it seemed like a very cool thing, something I could strive for next year, being so new. Well, readers and drinkers, as I scanned the nominees for Best Wine Blog Writing, what should I see but this very blog listed. And then again. Two fellow wine bloggers completely made my day! (BTW, thanks Megan and Jeff.)

If you have the slightest inclination, please go there as well. I might not make it to the voting with all the other great blogs people are tossing around, but it’s an honor just being nominated. Check out the other 5 categories while you’re there.

American Wine Blog Awards, surprise

A while back, I vowed to make a list of the best wines I’d had in 2006. I said my list would be more affordable and accessible than that of say, Wine Spectator. And well, er, I think I lied. Not on purpose, mind you.

But as I’ve thought about it over the past month, I realized my list is rather short and not that easy to locate. Oh, sure, there’s Gloria Ferrer sparkling, which is in every store, but it was their special 1996 Carneros Cuvée that I really adore. I had it at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, where it was a Sweepstakes Winner. It’s a little pricey, if you can find it. Another sparkling I loved was from Domaine Chandon, a limited edition sparkling red (get this: Pinot Noir and Zinfandel) only available at the winery and now gone. Though I’ll drink the Blanc de Noirs from either of these wineries any night of the week.
(more…)

Last night was all about wine. And seeing one of my best friends (the sommelier) for the first time in ages. With her, it’s always all about wine. I told her it’s funny that living in California I still haven’t found anybody to drink wine with how we used to drink wine together.

While we were eating, she pulled out her little journal, in which we would record tasting notes and reactions to bottles. For every entry there were at least 2 or 3 bottles that were consumed in restaurants, at someone else’s place, or when we were just too drunk or busy to put pen to paper.

Here are some of my favorites: (more…)

A beginning to the reviews of wines assigned for this trip home. First, I must say my case was Fogarty/Martella heavy. When you can combine quality and value, that is always a plus in my column of numbers. In addition, I want to share what I do for a living with the people I love. Wine has always been important to me; now it’s a part of almost every aspect of my life.

Therefore, bottles I carted from CA to MS:

2005 Martella Fiddletown Zin (not yet released)
This one had a makeshift label, as it has been bottled but isn’t for sale yet. Everyone really liked it, maybe the near 18% alcohol had something to do with it. That, and it went beautifully with the shrimp and crab gumbo my aunt had waiting when I arrived home Christams Eve. The heat of the dish was the right accompaniment for such a peppery full-bodied wine.

2003 TF Fiddletown Barbera (x2) These grapes come from the same vineyard in Amador county as the Zin—farmed byRichard Martella, our winemaker’s big brotherOne of my favorite Fogarty wines ever… this one is no longer available, except for the few I whisked away (adding more to my wine bill) before it disappeared. One is for a gift, the other I opened Christmas morning to share with the fam. I thought it especially appropriate because we’re Italian. The smoky vanilla and juicy red fruit results were better than I remembered.

2002 TF Lexington Meritage
Present for the parents

Yet to be consumed:
2003 Martella “Heart Arrow Ranch� Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Karly Orange Muscat, 2004 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux , 2005 TF Rose of Barbera/Cab Franc, 2003 TF “Fat Buck Ridge� Syrah, and the big ones:1997 Franciscan Magnificat & 1996 Ridge Monte Bello

Thomas Fogarty, Michael Martella, gumbo pairing, Barbera

Wine Enthusiast just released the results from its readers’ survey in the December 15 copy. While you can check out some of the issue’s features online, those results are not among them.

But don’t worry, I’ll share some highlights of the items I find particularly interesting. I didn’t see the original survey, but thousands of readers did and sent or mailed in their choices.

*Despite the fact that those polled are Wine Enthusiasts, the favorite red variety is still Cabernet Sauvignon and the favorite white is still Chardonnay.

What are my picks, you ask? Tough to say, but I’d have to go with Petite Syrah and no, it’s too hard. Gewurz? Sauv Blanc? Riesling?

*The same percentage of people (20) would like to invite Jesus as they would Oprah Winfrey to their fabulous wine dinner.

* 3% consider themselves experts. Not me

* 54% say the label influences their purchase and 2% prefer erotic ones. 30%, however, dislike erotic labels.

*Like me, 46% drink sparkling wine whenever the mood strikes.

*41% call Emeril their favorite chef. Hmmm. Now here’s the kicker. Paula Deen was not listed among the choices! If only I’d known about this, I’d have started a write-in campaign.

survey, Wine Enthusiast, Paula Deen

I’m a little late to the game with this one, but here goes. Local Wine Events is a great site for finding out what’s going on with wine in your area. I’ve used it before to advertise events at the winery. Well, apparently they’re having a contest for the best wine and food blogs. Since I write about both, I just submitted mine for voting. Not sure how long this is going on, but I’m way down the list.

So please give a girl some love.Vote for my blog here.

Thanks, y’all. And check out some others while you’re there.

The end of the year is approaching quickly and with holidays and such will be here before we know it.

I plan to compile a list of the most delicious & interesting wines and would love some help. If you’ve had a bottle in the last 11 months that stands out in your mind, or if you have one in the next few weeks that knocks your socks off, let me know! Tell me what it is and why it spoke to you. You can add a comment here or contact me directly.

Wine Spectator has already released their Top 100, and I promise mine will not be that long and will include wines that you can actually find and, more importantly, afford.

favorite wines, end-of-the-year list