What with my old college roommate touring New Zealand with his family, and sending tempting missives back every few days, today’s release of this slide show seems most appropriate! NZ Wine Country at its best…
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Archive for the 'Travel' Category
When Simon and Schuster’s publicist asked if I’d review George Taber’s latest book, I didn’t hesitate. I’d enjoyed his previous books “To Cork or Not to Cork” and “The Judgment of Paris” and a new book from the retired journalist, wine collector and author was likely to provide hours of enjoyment.
But his new book arrived at a bad time. I was in the middle of a wine club shipment and all my spare reading time was already divided between two biographies – one on Robert Parker and an out-of-print book on James Beard. These were forced to the back of my night stand with only a minor amount of fisticuffs and complaints, the books embodying the self-promoting characteristics of their respective subjects. And then I dove into “In Search of Bacchus“, and it was like taking a mental vacation to 12 of the best wine regions in the world.
Summary
This book is partly a travelogue written during his visits to a dozen of the world’s premium wine-growing regions. The reader is introduced to each new region with a relatively brief (~25 pages) overview of regional winemaking history and the three or four wineries most critical to its current level of success. Each region could easily justify a book unto itself, perhaps even several several volumes, but “In Search of Bacchus” is a useful introduction to each growing region. A temptation to travel.
These introductory sections are written in Taber’s identifiable style – high-toned, well-researched and erudite – reflecting his chops honed during his years as a journalist (and a well-schooled wine enthusiast). I found each of these sections quite useful, packed with useful bits of insight and information. As you complete each chapter, you’ll swear you’ve found the location for your next wine pilgrimage (honey we’ve got to go to this one, no wait, THIS one! no, no…)
Following each detailed section is a brief story about Taber’s experience at one of the wineries mentioned. While the entire book is written in the first person, this is where the reader feels as if he/she is actually looking over Taber’s shoulder. It is less fact-driven, more intimate, and only slightly frustrating in that many of the experiences Taber relates are not available to the average wine tourist without his insider connections.
Picking Nits
I’m a fan of Taber’s work. But I do find his style a bit dry. Never does he squeal with delight, moan in the pain of a hangover, or admit to a lusty thought or other human foible. With his apparent writing skills, I’m sure Taber could craft an ode to make a lover swoon. But he doesn’t reveal that side of himself here, and while I appreciate his dispassionate professionalism, I’d also welcome a glimpse behind the Taber curtain from time to time. Otherwise, he might as well be writing about economics instead of the greatest, most sensual beverage on earth. I mean, the Romans also called Bacchus “The Liberator”, a God who could free one from one’s normal self through madness, ecstasy or wine!
In person, Taber strikes me as someone you’d enjoy sitting next to at a long dinner – interesting, unassuming, and friendly. See for yourself:
Wine & Tourism – Finding the Right Balance
One of the issues surrounding wine tourism is the issue of access. Taber doesn’t shy away from the fact that some wineries actively discourage tourists (well, mostly in Bordeaux, not surprisingly) while others put wine on the back burner with massive, tightly-packed tasting rooms, huge (and barely-trained) pouring staffs, and more souvenirs and paraphernalia than wine. Such differences exist between individual wineries more than between wine regions, with both extremes even found in tourist-hungry Napa. This book quietly raises the issue, and the wise wine pilgrim can then rely on the internet to develop an itinerary that suits their particular style.
Buying “In Search of Bacchus”
Despite these nits, with its release date so close to the holidays it seems obvious that “In Search of Bacchus” will be one of the biggest wine books of this holiday season, and I can’t think of another new wine book I’d rather read. Those interested in buying a copy for their favorite wine-lover can simply click here (also available as an eBook, though in Epub format only. I make no commission on sales of this book).
And now that I’ve completed the book and am nearing completion of this review, my books on Parker and Beard are over on my nightstand, fighting to see which gets read tonight. It appears to be a pretty good fight.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
“I think that’s your bag, honey!” she said.
“It’s not the last one off the plane? Yay!” I said
“I’ll get it” she said.
“Thanks” I said.
“I hope the wine’s OK” she said.
“It always is” I said.
“(Grunting) Got it!” she said.”
“Daddy it’s all sticky” the little she said.
“Something must have leaked onto it in the hold” I said.
“I just hope it’s not the honey we bought.” she said
“No way.” I said, knowing in my heart she was right.
Next to several bottles of wine, I’d packed two jars of honey. It was special honey, from bees who make their living pollinating plants in Spain’s fertile Montsant region. (Actually, I doubt whether bees respect appellational boundaries, so some of their pollinating likely took place in the neighboring Priorat DOC/DOQ. Blessed little trespassers!)
During my years of travel to foreign wine lands, I’ve always brought samples safely home by wrapping them in excess clothing and then snugly tucking them inside my checked luggage (article here).
But not this time – the photo at right shows the honey-clad suitcase after unpacking the sticky mess. You should’a seen the clothes.
Up to now, I’d had a 100% success rate in bringing home wine samples unscathed. So, why were the odds Gods working against me this time? Before you abandon hope of using this (usually) reliable technique, you may want to consider two refinements to the basic technique:
- I packed so lightly, saving room for my eagerly anticipated wine booty, there was insufficient clothing to adequately wrap the honey jars. Your goal is to prevent movement of the bottles, especially when your bag is mishandled. If need be, recruit partially empty rolls of toilet paper and stuff them into your empty spaces.
- Three bottles of our wine were housed in a wooden box from Clos de L’Obac, and it was contact with the corner of this box that broke the honey pot. Despite the attractiveness of wooden wine boxes, I recommend mustering your restraint and leaving them at your hotel, IF you plan to transport other breakables in the same bag.
All in all, I am still a confident supporter of this (usually) reliable technique, and continue to recommend its use for safely returning with wine samples intact.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
866-746-7293
Quote of the Day
“”The only reason for being a bee is to make honey… and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”
~ Winnie the Pooh From ‘House at Pooh Corner’ by A.A. Milne
“It’s like cancelling the 4th of July to keep everyone at home” said one patriot, who shuddered at the idea. But that’s what the fear of Swine Flu has done to Mexico’s traditional Cinco de Mayo celebration – an annual commemoration of their unlikely victory over the French in 1862.
What’s an online merchant to do? The hordes of would-be Cinco de Mayo celebrants, once searching the internet for last-minute pairing advice, now sitting at home with idle keyboards.
Unless, just maybe, I can find an alternative celebration that generates millions of alternative web searches. And thanks to the power of internet search tools, I’ve found one – the birthday of Michael Palin (CBE) who was born back in, well, some years ago.
Michael Palin for President
Palin Wine?
Palin is best known for his work with the comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus, back in the latter part of our prior century. He then launched a second career as an award-winning travel writier and TV guide. Then in 2000, he was beknighted. Aftersuch career success most people would be content to fade into retirement. But in 2008 Palin anted up his fame and fortune to launch a failed campaign for President of the United States, an ill-advised move that left a bit of a stain on his otherwise stellar and tasteful reputation. I’ll bet McCain still won’t talk to him.
But enough silliness (is there ever though, really?). Speaking of tasteful, and of something completely different, I’d like to turn the conversation to wine. As always.
Whether raising a toast to Cinco de Mayo, or to Palin’s birthday, here is a wine that makes the best of both celebrations. This was one of eight wines selected for our various wine club shipments that went out in April, and it’s proven to be one of the favorites, if subsequent re-orders provides any indication!
Nevada City Winery, 2005 “Contour” Bordeaux Blend – Affordable Luxury
The 2005 Directors’ Reserve Contour is a blend of all five of the classic Bordeaux grape varieties. This wine melds the structure, charm and personality of each variety into a balanced, complex wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead role at first, but more complex and layered aromas and flavors emerge as this wine opens up in decanter or glass (or cellar).
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.2% (perfect for food pairing). Total Acid: .62 g/L (pH 3.79).
Click to Buy Nevada City 2005 “Contour”
Price does not reflect club member discounts
The Back Story
More than a few small wineries have started in a garage. In Bordeaux they’ve even coined a word for it – Garagiste – generally referring to Mavericks who choose to operate outside the restrictions of their local winemaking traditions, and charging arm-and-leg prices for their product.
Nevada City Winery started out in a garage in 1980. Since that time, this successful winery has enjoyed many expansions, but each has preserved the historic Miners Foundry Garage. Visitors are often surprised by its smallness – about the size of a large living room. The winery building, now centrally located, was on the outskirts of this two-street town back when the garage first served its residents.
By the way, the “town” is pictured on the label, the Gold-Rush town of Nevada City, California, where the wooden plank sidewalks and Victorian-era building facades make you wonder if you’ve just stepped into the film set for an old western.
But this is the second incarnation of this winery, the original was founded over a century ago during California’s first wine boom – sadly put asunder by the one-two punch of the devastating phylloxera epidemic in the late 1800’s, followed by the ruinous experiment in legislating morality known as “Prohibition”. After that, the California wine industry was sidelined for four decades.
In 1880 there were over 300 acres of grapes in Nevada County. A century later the county was home to just one small vineyard. Today there are again over 300 acres of grapes and the wine industry is flourishing once more.
Hard work, but somebody’s gotta do it
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
866-746-7293
Monday, August 25th, 2008
About 8 years ago, I left the world of corporate marketing to pursue a life of wine. One of my early consulting gigs was with Bonny Doon Vineyard, the iconoclastic, rule-bending producer whose marketing mantra is "Don’t be boring". It is the only client I’ve ever had where the prevailing paradigm included phrases like "if we don’t get a few complaints from everything we do, we’re not being creative enough!"
In early 2002, I started consulting on a six-week project that expanded into 2.5 years worth of activities. Working at "the Doon" is like going through boot camp. I still have friends from those days. And, though we have mostly scattered to the far corners of the wine world, we enjoy keeping in touch, swapping new wine discoveries and recipes, attending each other’s weddings, and supporting new career moves.
So this news of the closing of the old Bonny Doon tasting room north of Santa Cruz marks the end of a chapter. It was a dilapidated facility, held together with personality and chewing gum. I’m not surprised it’s closing, but will miss the idea of it, though it will always remain alive in my mind’s eye. Here is the announcement from Randall Grahm, replicated here by permission. As usual, it is a good read, as one expects from the pen of the "President for Life":
Message from Randall Grahm
Pine Flat: An Appreciation and Reminiscence
(Visit our Bonny Doon Tasting Room Today! We’re moving in November)
It’s been a while since I’ve spent much time hanging out at the tasting room and old winery in Bonny Doon; the penultimate time was the night of the recent Martin Rd. fire, rummaging around by flashlight for precious, indispensible objects. There was plenty of wine at peril – well, we could always make more wine – but I observed so many artifacts, subtle reminders of all of the goofy schemes, initiatives hare-brained or brilliant that were undertaken at one point or another, the zillion D.E.W.N. art labels that John Locke had engineered. The Castanedan term "controlled folly" came to mind – though it was not clear how much control there ever was or ever would be. There were still reminders of tasting room staff who had been there forever. Kathleen Proffitt’s cackle reposes in the DNA of the building.
I have lately been flooded with memories of the old winery and tasting room, and some are indelible. I remember when the winery building was originally built out to its current footprint – it was essentially a remodel of a remodel of an equipment rental shed. I don’t remember precisely what month it was in 1984 – I’m thinking November, just after harvest, but it was a Sunday morning and I came in very early to check on something or other, only to find that the water heater shed was on fire. It was a dreamlike experience, reaching for a garden hose to try to douse the flames, but of course, the electricity was out and the pump didn’t work and the fire sprinkler system was inoperative for some other reason – yes, I think that it was just due to be installed. So, I just watched the flames grow and grow until the Bonny Doon Fire Team arrived, rather in the nick of time, to put the blaze out. We rebuilt the winery, didn’t lose too much wine and there was ample opportunity for some heavy toast humor – Charredonnay, Cabburnet, Côte-Rotie, etc.
I remember the dark day when a diversion valve – that which diverted the run-off from the crush pad into a storage tank rather than into a culvert which fed into Mill Creek – malfunctioned and we inadvertently dumped 100 gallons of spent wine from the distillery into aforesaid creek. The officer from Fish and Game was not very happy, but not as unhappy as I was.
There were some incredible moments. I remember when I first met André Ostertag, the brilliant winemaker from Alsace, who has subsequently become my friend. André had just flown in from Paris, apparently taken a bus from the airport to Santa Cruz, another bus to Davenport and seemingly walked the balance of the way. (Maybe he hitch-hiked.) He was very tired and very sweaty. This had to have been 1985 or so, and André’s command of the English language was not yet perfect. "It’s such a great pleasure to meet you, André," I said. "Thank you," he said, and in very halting English, "but if I may bother you, what I really need now is a douche."¹
Sammy Hagar came to visit one day ("Man, like I totally missed Davenport.")² and spent the afternoon tasting through everything in the house. We loaded up his Porsche with eight or nine cases of wine and Potstill Brandy and observed him depart into the twilight, his red taillights now just a flickering retinal after-image.
John Locke himself showed up at the doorstep of the tasting room one day, his red Honda Civic packed to the gills with Lockean impedimenta. He had driven cross-country from Washington, D.C. – one imagines non-stop – to come and work at Bonny Doon, having learned about the winery at a shop in the East Coast. The thought of actually calling before showing up had just never occurred to him. "I’ll work for free," he offered. "You’re on," I said. Many illustrious Bonny Doon alumni – Ted Pearson, Rebecca Foulk and Anita Cabanilla come immediately to mind – began their wine career working in the tasting room.
Marco di Grazia brought his entourage of "Barolo Boys" to visit the winery in the late ’80s. These were my heroes, the greatest winemakers of Piemonte – which is essentially equivalent to saying the greatest in the universe – and they were here, sitting on the deck of the tasting room, feasting on abalone, which we procured from the abalone farm down on the coast. Many of them had never left Italy to that point, i.e. had never had seen a redwood tree, and they were really digging the awe-inspiring beauty and peacefulness of this unique place that we have been so lucky to enjoy for so long.
I think mostly of the extraordinary people who have come to work at the tasting room – the charismatic managers, Sandy Mast and Katherine Stalmann, who were there for decades, and who had the keenest ability to ferret out talent and personality among the stellar people who had come to work in the tasting room over the years. I am not exaggerating at all when I report that I have been all over the world and virtually everywhere I go, someone, a stranger, will report to me that he or she has recently visited our tasting room and have been enormously impressed by the warmth and knowledgeability of the servers they have met there.
I cannot say how much I already miss the old place and what sweet memories of it will remain. Our new tasting room, which will be located at the winery in Westside Santa Cruz, has a different feel. Obviously no redwoods, no spectral apparitions suddenly appearing from out of the mist – Bonny Doon has always in fact been Brigadoon. But, the opportunity we have down at Ingalls Street is to really show our customers what we are doing – to delve deeper into an exposition of the wines, how they were made, how they work with food, for example. The new tasting room is under construction and despite the context of its gritty industrial neighborhood; it already shines like a precious stone. It is as magical as it is unexpected, and reflects the real depth of our commitment to producing great wine. I can promise you that you will be delighted… Stay Dooned! and I invite you to experience where a passion and lifelong quest for vins de terroir began more than 25 years ago in the bucolic hamlet of Bonny Doon.
____________________________
¹ (Fr.) Shower
² He can’t drive fifty-five.
Good bye, Pine Flat. I’ll remember you fondly.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com
Today’s Quote:
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard"
I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY!
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
Justin, Turley, Firestone, Bridlewood, Meridian, Fess Parker… everyone knows the big names among Central Coast wineries. A lucky few have even visited their beautiful tasting rooms. But where does one go to taste premium wines, hand-crafted by the likes of Bonnacorsi, Labyrinth, Arcadian, Au Bon Climat? The Central Coast wine pilgrim is quickly disappointed when they realize many boutique producers operate out of shared production facilities and have no tasting rooms of their own. Shared facilities are quite the big deal these days, as they’ve launched many premium brands. There are a number of reasons a talented winemaker chooses to produce through a shared facility:
- Insufficient start-up funds
- Inability to get a license of their own
- Fatigue caused by bosses who insist on compromised product quality
The Central Coast has been a hotbed for such facilities, which have attracted some of the globe’s top winemaking talent as a result. It all began with the venerable Central Coast Wine Services, founded in 1988. With facilities in Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County) and Templeton/Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County), CCWS boasts a long client list, well peppered with premium wineries. CCWS is affectionately(?) known as "The Asylum" for the crazed spirit it harbors during harvest, when every winemaker clamors for equipment that sits idle for the rest of the year, and truckloads of grapes wait to be crushed.
"The Ghetto" is the nickname for a series of tilt-up industrial buildings situated in the seaside town of Lompoc (yes, the one with the military base shown in the old movie "Top Gun"). Here, a short but growing list of prestigious winemakers ply their craft, including Fiddlehead Cellars, Sea Smoke Cellars, Brewer-Clifton, Palmina and Piedrasassi/Holus Bolus. A few of these wineries have serviceable tasting rooms, though they are a far cry from the bucolic tasting experience often associated with wineries situated amongst the vines. Still, for those more interested in new wine discoveries than the vineyard gestalt, this is one way to taste some great vino.
Another shared production facility you’re sure to hear about is the much ballyhooed Terravant in the small town of Buellton in the famed Santa Ynez Valley. Terravent promises a shared tasting room and hospitality facility for its various producers, which should be a great boon to wine travelers. The facility is too new for me to know its complete client list, but I do know that Arcadian will be producing there in the 2008 vintage.
Tasting The Invisible Wineries
So, how does one taste the product of these "invisible wineries"? Well, they would welcome you to join their wine clubs, of course. Wine clubs provide a systematic way to sample wines from a favorite producer or area, and they can be easily joined online. But such sampling programs take a year or more to taste through the breadth of a winery’s portfolio. A more efficient way to taste the best efforts of these boutique producers is at a wine bar that features local products. This list of such tasting facilities will prove most helpful:
Tastes of the Valleys, Solvang. Featured wineries include Arcadian, Au Bon Climat, Barrack, Barrel 27, Brochelle, Core, Labyrinth, Lane Tanner, Margerum, and Qupe. (Disclaimer, the author is part owner in this venture). Premium beers and light snacks also available. 
Wandering Dog, Solvang. Featured wineries include Kenneth Crawford, Blair Fox Cellars, Falcone Family Vineyards, Nagy2, Kaena, Dragonette, Jalama, Departure Wine Co., Baehner-Fournier, Osseus and Flying Goat. They also offer some out-of-area wines, including some nice imports. 
Wine Country, Los Olivos. Featured wineries include Core, Flying Goat Cellars, Great Oaks Ranch, Huber, J. Wilkes, Qupe, Benjamin Silver Winery, Taz, Verdad, Waltzing Bear and Woodstock Ridge. Cigars and premium beers are also available for sale.- Fermentations, Cambria. It is difficult to give this shop a hearty recommendation, as I must admit I’ve never visited. Their website promises "local wines from producers without a tasting room of their own" but the internet visitor is then asked to contact them via email for a list of said wineries. Hmmm.
- Taste, San Luis Obispo. This venture has had its share of difficulties, but it is without a doubt the most technologically innovative way to taste. Visitors buy a payment card to use on their own from automated dispensers featuring wines from a range of SLO wineries. Note, many of the wineries also have tasting rooms of their own. Regardless, it’s a great way to taste local wines without driving. Tastes is owned by the wineries whose wines are for sale there.
For those planning a visit to the burgeoning Central Coast wine country, I always recommend spending the first few hours driving the back roads from winery to winery – "take in the scenery, plan a picnic and relax" I tell them, "Then spend your afternoon and evening at one of the area’s wine bars featuring wines from producers with no tasting room of their own." It’s a great way to find wines you like, and greatly reduces your risk of drinking and driving.
Unless otherwise noted, each of my recommended wine bars is independently owned and operated. Each one involves people who love wine and food, and they’ll be more than happy to help with recommendations for a great meal or place to stay. It’s a wonderful way to experience the best of the California’s Central Coast wine country.
Today’s Quote: I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY! . Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com
“The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes” ~ Marcel Proust (1871-1922)
Wednesday, July 16th
Ahhh, it’s a good day. Even hosting a miserable summer cold was offset by the news that I’m now $1,000 richer. It won’t pay the mortgage, but it’s a nice way to start the day.
The money was awarded for my article "Champagne Love", submitted to the new website "Field Report". This unique business pays writers only if their contribution is voted to the top of their category. But here’s the cool thing – they don’t have a Paula Abdul or Simon voting on each contribution. A posting is voted to the top of the heap by the other contributors, each of whom is required to vote on five randomly generated submissions before they can post one of their own.
The model works surprisingly well – check it out here – but before you click the link I should warn you, the writing is surprisingly good, and you’re almost guaranteed to read more postings than you have time for! But you won’t regret it.
This new site was brought to my attention by Stephanie Losee, a member of our wine club, a published author and one of the minds behind this start-up. I thank her for inviting me to contribute and wish her and the Field Report team the best of luck.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com
I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY!
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
Saturday, May 30th, 2008
I got into the car as I heard David say into his cell phone "We have everything we need Gloria, just bring Bob!" Our long-time friend and loyal customer David Alabach was driving to Tomales Bay while cajoling guests waffling about attending his 9th annual Oyster Festival. Flip-floppers surround every social event, not just politics. But Gloria was fresh from surgery so her indecision was quickly forgiven.
Ninety minutes later we pulled into Tomales Bay Oyster Company to stake out tables. Most of the group would arrive hours later, laden with chips, salads, desserts, and oyster accoutrement. The luscious bivalves were already being pulled from their beds and sorted by size and type (top photo), so we decided an oyster brunch would be the very thing to begin the day. The first of many bags was purchased and a grill was fired – though fresh oysters are great when raw, this annual event features the large oysters that are best for grilling. When done perfectly, they taste like warm ocean foam, if you can imagine such a thing.
Featured Wines
A number of people brought wines for the event, many purchased from my website. Here is a listing of the wines as they appear from left to right in the photo here (click the wine name to purchase, or for more information):
- The first wine in front on the far left in is Buttonwood’s 2006 Rose ($16). This is a refreshing wine intended for immediate enjoyment, and perfect for hot summer months. A "missionary" rose wine, one able to convert even die-hard red-only drinkers still haunted by memories of sugary-sweet White Zinfandels from the 1980’s. Speaking of Buttonwood… Sadly missing from our lineup was the Buttonwood’s Sauvignon Blanc ($14), which I think of as one of the best values from the Santa Ynez Valley, especially when paired with oysters!
- The next wine (front row, left of corkscrew) is the Trou de Bonde 2006 Grenache Blanc ($20) A small-production white wine made from grapes mutated from the red Grenache, it serves a touch of minerality along with mouth-watering granny smith apple flavors followed by pleasant peach and melon. This wine proved a popular match for the briny minerality of oysters!
- Rhone blend in plastic bottle with screwcap – This fun wine, created by Winemaker Andrew Murray for the Sunshine Brothers concert where no glass was allowed, was a sample only.
(Center of photo, above, just right of the corkscrew) Beckmen Vineyard 2007 Grenache Rose ($22) This fun wine shows the usual ebullient Grenache in a dry rose wine replete with crisp acidic structure. One of my favorite summer wines! From the bio-dynamic Purisima Mountain vineyard of Steve Beckmen.- Benjamin Silver, 2001 Cabernet ($24) Cabernet is hardly an oyster wine. But this proved a popular quaff after we’d had our fill of oysters and were seeking foods of greater depth and substance – like the grilled sausages with Dijon mustard. This wine is at its peak now and offers a rare chance to enjoy an aged wine without requiring any patience!
- (Tall green bottle) Calzada Ridge 2007 Viognier ($35.95) This is always our #1 seller during the summer months at Tastes of the Valleys. With only 100 cases produced, our supply rarely lasts through the summer. A most popular wine, with the bottle number stamped on every label.
- L’Uvaggio di Giacomo 2006 Arneis ($18) “His…Arneis are among the best of their kind in the U.S.” That’s how San Francisco Chronicle’s W. Blake Gray once described this wine from Winemaker Jim Moore. This was also great with grilled oysters, especially with a simple squeeze of fresh lemon, which complimented its acidic structure.
- (Hiding) Costa de Oro, 2005 Estate Chardonnay ($21) This is a moderately rich wine in the oaky tradition of California Chardonnay, though with enough acidity to avoid being flabby and boring. Still, it’s not recommended for oysters, but for just about anything else this side of beef. Only a small amount remains.
Mark Kurlansky’s book, "The Big Oyster, History on the Half Shell" was available for perusing, though most found it difficult to read and shuck at the same time. We were disappointed to learn that oysters contain very little of nutritional value, and that one need eat many dozens to meet even the most minimal of daily requirements. We tried, nonetheless, making our way through an estimated six bags (@ ~36/bag) plus unknown numbers of clams and mussels.
Our friends Jeff Prather (Oxbow Wine Merchant) and Kari Auringer (Winemaker, Wildside Cellars) kindly shared a bottle of 2002 Sancerre from Cotat that proved once again why Sancerre is the classic oyster pairing (I assume it is available at OxBow Wine Merchants, likely in the $40 – $45 range). They also eschewed the host’s plastic cups in favor of their own glass stemware – it wasn’t Reidel, but it wasn’t Solo Cup either.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com
I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY!
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
Friday, April 25th 2008
This morning’s news carried a story about professional truck drivers descending on our nation’s capital to protest the high cost of gas. I support their worthy desire for lower fuel prices, though suspect driving around "W’s" colorless residence might not be the most effective means to this end. I’m just thankful my Prius averages 45 MPG on my wine-soaked travels.
Frequent drivers are not alone in their concern over finances. So this seems a good time to offer a suggestion for a world where jobs are less secure and our savings rate is less than 1% of income – eat out less often! Not only will you discover more money in your checking account at the end of the month, you’ll likely eat more healthy foods and rediscover the pleasant experience of conversing with friends and family before, during and after meal preparation. You might even discover some great new wines.
To make home entertainment easier for those short on time, our seasonal recipes provide a complete meal (including wine) with a convenient shopping list of ingredients. And best of all, the host/hostess can be assured of a perfect food and wine pairing, as each recipe compliments one of our club wines. These recipes and wine pairings are being compiled into a cookbook for release later this summer. I’ll notify you via email once it’s available.
But whether you use our recipes and wines or other recent discoveries, replacing one restaurant meal a week with a home-cooked meal can result in savings of up to several hundred dollars a month. And that’s just good cents.
Sorry, couldn’t resist. Probably should have.
BBQ Chicken Sandwich & Toucan ‘06 Cuvee
Here’s a recipe and wine pairing to launch your new-found frugality. It features the popular Toucan Wine 2006 Cuvee ($24.95), a most pleasant and intriguing blend of Estate Zinfandel (55%), Old Vine Carignane (from the 120 year-old Evanghelo Vineyard – 36%) and Estate Petite Sirah (9%). This wine begins with promises of fragrant violets that also haunt the finish in a most enchanting and pleasant way. A moderate 13.9% alcohol makes it easy to drink without punishing the head or the liver. But watch out, you’ll want a case of this wine, I’m betting, which I would argue is frugal because of the 10% case discount offered and because it means you’re committed to at least 12 more meals at home.
Ingredients
- 8 slices good, dark bread (but not heavy rye) or Kaiser rolls, lightly toasted over grill
- Black Cherry BBQ sauce – to your favorite brand simply add 1 can bing cherries & 1/4 cup red wine – really good, and really fast!
- 2 large boneless chicken breasts (1 for every 2 sandwiches), pounded until evenly thick, trimmed to fit bread.
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- Juice of 1/4 lemon
- finely sliced red onion, tossed with fresh lemon juice (from above)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 8 lettuce leaves (optional)
Procedure
Prepare outdoor grill for indirect cooking, or preheat broiler. Oil grill and immediately cook chicken over high heat for one minute per side, then move to cooler part of grill (or reduce oven from “Broil” to 350 degrees) for another 7 – 9 minutes, turning 2-3 more times, applying liberal amounts of BBQ sauce in the last 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, add more sauce, and let rest for five minutes.
Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and mustard then stir in cabbage and onion until well blended. Place a chicken breast on bottom half of each roll; spread Mayo/Cabbage/onion mixture on top and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Cover with lettuce (optional) and top half of roll.
Makes 4 sandwiches. Serve with Toucan ‘06 Cuvee!
Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.
Today’s Quote
"Thrift means you should always have the best you can possibly afford, when the thing has any reference to your physical and mental health."
- Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924). Physician & Founder of ‘Success Magazine’
I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY!
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
April 1, 2008 – Robert Parker Retires. Announces Surprise Successor!
Well, we all wondered when it would happen. And we’ve wondered what the wine world will be like after it does – after The Emperor retires. Today we get to find out.
In a short press conference this morning, Robert Parker, the most powerful critic in the history of wine, announced his plans to retire "While I’m still young enough to enjoy it." People have wondered how The Emperor could ever cede his throne, particularly after the stunning departure of Pierre Rovani, his heir apparent, in 2006.
"I’ve found my successor" Parker announced. "His name is Hans Sheppard, and he may be a surprise to many. But then, whoever thought a fledgling attorney from Smallsville Maryland would become the most powerful figure in wine?" he asked, presumably rhetorically. Parker’s reassurance seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the skeptical wine paparazzi who gathered for the announcement were visibly disturbed by Sheppard’s appearance. For his part, Sheppard never made a sound as he sat obediently at Parker’s side, breathing through his mouth.
When asked how he found his successor, Parker responded "I was reading about some fake jewelry intercepted by a special police officer working in U.S. Customs. What tipped him off to the fake was the subtle scent of the chemicals used to make the fake jewels. This barely detectable nuance of scent is much like the subtle aromas a world-class wine critic detects, so it seemed wise and logical to re-purpose this talent into a safer and more useful field."
"Then I read that the cartel responsible for the fakes had issued a death warrant, forcing this gifted officer into early retirement. I had to move quickly before Shanken thought of this, and started up his well-known recruiting machine. So I contacted the authorities and succeeded in recruiting Sheppard as my protege – I’ve been working with him to hone his wine evaluation skills ever since. At first, Sheppard couldn’t resist the temptation to lap up every drop of wine I put before him, but he’s a quick study and I found him easy to train. He was a natural talent, and quickly became as discriminating as I am."
When asked about his own future plans, Parker said "I have been called to Hollywood. Seems somebody thinks there’s room on the silver screen for yet one more wine movie, and this one’s about me. Compared to the slings and arrows I have suffered, Barrack Obama has had it easy, so I’m going out there to make sure my portrayal is fair and balanced."
April 1, 2008 – Young Winemakers Embarrassed At First "Free Run" Competition
In other news, two young winemaking superstars – Dave Corey and Doug Timewell – were recently surprised after being invited to participate in what they thought was just another wine tasting contest. "We assumed this competition was to see who could make the best wine from Free Run juice" said Dave Corey, owner and Winemaker at Core Wines, as he popped some Advil to ease his bruised and aching body. "We showed up with a case of hand-labeled wine we’d bottled just in time for the competition."
"It turned out we’d badly misunderstood the invitation" Timewell said, in what might just be the understatement of the year. "Our competitors showed up with no juice of their own, so we assumed we’d won by forfeit. When we began toasting each other, they eyed us rather curiously, then took off running across, over, under, around and through the city. We did our best to keep up, but only managed to embarrass ourselves (embarrassing video), until the post-event party, at which our version of Free Run was deemed ‘Righteous Juice!’ Timewell said, satisfied.
"Sadly, the other team couldn’t drink much" Corey said, who appeared as if he may have enjoyed his share of the leftovers, "they had an early wake-up call for their cool music video the next day. We’re just hoping for a product placement!"
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Today’s Quote
"Mix a little foolishness with your prudence: It’s good to be silly at the right moment." Horace (65 B.C. – 8 B.C.)
I Need Your Vote! VOTE DAILY!
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
