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Tuesday 26 May 2015
Zest
There are few moments of pleasure and satisfaction that are better than going to eat at a restaurant where a former student is in charge of the kitchen. Even better, my great friend and fellow chef Ruth Nixon and I were able to prop ourselves at the counter of the open kitchen and gaze at [...]
The drought files: Calera edition
Drought has been wreaking havoc on all of California, including the wine industry. Producers have varied their responses to it, with some irrigating as much as they still can and others calling for ?dry farming.? Yesterday, Josh Jensen (right) of Calera Wine told a packed seminar at the In Pursuit of Balance tasting in New […]
The post The drought files: Calera edition appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/RLtCYYylBXo/
Competition Winners Announced
The winners of the 70th annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced today and the list is an impressive one! A box wine, a Scotch whisky, repeat winners (Armida Winery and baseball legend Tommy Lasorda) and so much more! Take a look at the winners here then check out the buzz on [...]
A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone
The Smith Brothers are living legends in Napa Valley. This great interview tells their story. via Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/nAKzbE3qYKs/
How Wine Became Modern: Design + Wine 1976 to Now; an SF MOMA Exhibit
The wine world can basically be compartmentalized into two worlds: The New World & The Old World. The Old World is France, and basically any other country within a trebuchet’s throw of France. Wines have been ratified by treaties, classified by region and not varietal, and are poured in chatea�s beckoning you with long dusty [...]
Monday 25 May 2015
Field Notes from a Wine Life ? Cover Story Edition
Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass…
The Wine Spectator Affect
When I received my November 15th issue of Wine Spectator on October 11th, featuring a cover shot of Tim Mondavi and an feature article on him and his estate winery Continuum, I captured some online research reference points so I could have a baseline to measure the effect that a flattering Wine Spectator cover story might have on a winery in the digital age.
Using Wine-Searcher, CellarTracker and Google Keywords search data to track various data points, the results, while not directly linked to conclusions, do indicate a small bump in interest as a result of the cover piece.
For example, Wine-Searcher data indicates that the average bottle price, an indicator of supply and demand, rose $2 month over month, from $149 a bottle to $151 a bottle.
In addition, the Wine-Searcher search rank (always a month behind) indicates that Continuum was the 1360th most popular search in September. By Friday, November 11th the Continuum search rank had increased to 471st for the month of October. (See the top 100 searches for October here).
Likewise, interest at CellarTracker increased, as well. The number of bottles in inventory from October 11th to November 11th increased by 177 bottles, likely no small coincidence.
Finally, Google searches increased fivefold from an average of 210 monthly searches to approximately 1000 monthly searches.
What does this all mean? Good question. The truth is, a Wine Spectator cover appears to have moved the needle a bit, and while the easy route is to take a righteous Eeyore approach to mainstream media and its blunted impact in the Aughts, as contrasted to what a Spectator cover feature or glowing words from Parker meant just a decade ago, I believe a more tangible takeaway is to realize that these sorts of cover stories don’t happen in a vacuum and that Wine Spectator cover and feature was likely a result of weeks, months or even years’ worth of effort from a PR professional.
In an attention-deficit, social media-impacted, offline/online hybrid world of information consumption with mobile and tablets proliferating, in order to break through to (and ultimately assist) the consumer, the value of the PR professional, an oft neglected part of the marketing hierarchy, in reaching out and facilitating the telling of a winery’s story seems to be more important than ever.
It’s not about press releases, it’s about people supporting and telling the winery story, repeatedly, as a professional function – that leads to media notice, and that leads to 14 cases of wine being sold and inventoried at CellarTracker in a 30-day period of time. It’s perhaps obvious, but not adhered to.
Wine Labels
To me, a wine bottle is a blank canvas that can either inspire in its creativity or repel in its insipidness. While I have a reasonably conservative approach to the kinds of wine I want to drink relative to technological intervention, I am unabashedly progressive when it comes to the kind of wine labels that appeal to me. In support of my interest with wine packaging, I keep an eye on The Dieline wine blog to see what’s happening in wine label design (another example from The Coolist here) and I also pay attention to the burgeoning field of wine label design contests.
What say you about progressive labels? Like ‘em? Loathe them? I placed a poll to the right.
Below is a slide show of winners from the recent International Wine Label Design competition.
Reconciling the Contradiction
I will lobby the nominating committee of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences on behalf of anybody who can help me understand how it is that in the span of a week I can see multiple research reports (here and here) on a revived sense of fiscal austerity by consumers yet other reports (here and here) indicate that wine above $20 is the fastest growing segment this year.
These two clearly don’t jive with each other, yet I’m witless to understand why wine is “trading up.” Help!
Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_cover_story_edition/
TasteCamp East:Bloggers Arrive in the Finger Lakes
This is one of my favorite times of the year.� I’m fortunate enough to be included on the list of wine bloggers and writers who get asked to attend TasteCamp East, organized by Lenn Thompson and Evan Dawson at The New York Cork Report. Last year, Long Island Wine Country hosted our group and although […]
Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/tastecamp-eastbloggers-arrive-in-the-finger-lakes/
Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray
State dinner wines: a lucky 8 for Shinzo Abe?
There was a state dinner last night at the White House–the eighth for the Obamas–in honor of visiting Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. About 200 people attended, new china was revealed (above), and “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto was in da haus. Recall that Obama and PM Abe ate at the counter of sushi master Jiro Ono […]
The post State dinner wines: a lucky 8 for Shinzo Abe? appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/LEoNcjBWc-c/
Zest
There are few moments of pleasure and satisfaction that are better than going to eat at a restaurant where a former student is in charge of the kitchen. Even better, my great friend and fellow chef Ruth Nixon and I were able to prop ourselves at the counter of the open kitchen and gaze at [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/MjUGcA1O68I/zest
25% Off and Free Shipping from Dion's with code GIVETHANKS [MA Only]
Waltham, MA based Dion's (formerly D&L Liquors evidently) is offering 25% off mixed 12 bottle cases with code GIVETHANKS. Offer expires 12/4/2014.
They also offer free shipping to MA addresses on $100+ orders. With no tax on wine in MA these offers can be stacked for some compelling deals.
"Net" items are excluded but do count towards the 12 bottle minimum.
Of note:
2012 Alto Moncayo $49.99 before discount (drops to $37.49 fully loaded)
2012 Elk Cove Mount Richmond Pinot Noir $54.99 (drops to $41.24, 94WS)
2012 El Nido Clio $49.99 (drops to $37.49, but it's cheaper here)
They've also got a good assortment of "net" priced items like Caymus for $54.99 and Belle Glos Pinot Noir for $39.99 that might be worth considering.
And check out their sub-$10 Spanish reds like this one and others for filler wines to get to 12 bottles.
These are some nice buys that can be had without venturing out in the snow/holiday shopping traffic. With a solid discount on great wines, free shipping, and no tax, this is one to consider.
Like wine deals?
Check out WWP advertiser Wine-Nabber who efficiently sends you tailored wine deals to your inbox
Happy Thanksgiving!
They also offer free shipping to MA addresses on $100+ orders. With no tax on wine in MA these offers can be stacked for some compelling deals.
"Net" items are excluded but do count towards the 12 bottle minimum.
Of note:
2012 Alto Moncayo $49.99 before discount (drops to $37.49 fully loaded)
2012 Elk Cove Mount Richmond Pinot Noir $54.99 (drops to $41.24, 94WS)
2012 El Nido Clio $49.99 (drops to $37.49, but it's cheaper here)
They've also got a good assortment of "net" priced items like Caymus for $54.99 and Belle Glos Pinot Noir for $39.99 that might be worth considering.
And check out their sub-$10 Spanish reds like this one and others for filler wines to get to 12 bottles.
These are some nice buys that can be had without venturing out in the snow/holiday shopping traffic. With a solid discount on great wines, free shipping, and no tax, this is one to consider.
Like wine deals?
Check out WWP advertiser Wine-Nabber who efficiently sends you tailored wine deals to your inbox
Happy Thanksgiving!
Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak
Monte Carlo ? Find Your Dream Home
Expensive real estate is the thing that tops the list of the luxury items like gadgets, food and clothing. According to a recent survey by the Global Property Guide, the most expensive real estate market in the world is Monte Carlo. Named as ?Mount Charles? after Prince Charles III of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a […]
The post Monte Carlo – Find Your Dream Home appeared first on Vagablond.
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Sunday 24 May 2015
A List of Wineries that Ship to Massachusetts
It has been a long time coming, but as you may have noticed some out of state wineries are now able to ship to Massachusetts!
Some spring release mailers have included a special shout out saying they'll be able to ship here. What it really means for me is cheaper shipping and fewer hassles.
I'm looking forward to being able to order directly from my favorite producers in a recurring manner to develop a persistent relationship with them. Sometimes when I was on the fence about reordering from a pricey producer I'd decide against it because of shipping costs and the hassle of shipping to a neighboring state.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can out of state *retailers* ship to Massachusetts now?
A: Not legally. The provision passed in 2014 only allows out of state *wineries* to apply for a permit.
Q: A winery I know ships to Massachusetts isn't listed. Why would that be?
A: In the past, some wineries may have found creative ways to ship to Massachusetts. They should now go through the process of getting a permit because it's the right thing to do and will likely lead to lower shipping costs for them and you.
Q: If I know a winery was recently approved but isn't listed what should I do?
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
Q: I'd like to encourage a winery to obtain a permit, what should I do?
A: Contact them and tell them you'd buy from them if they get a permit. The permits aren't cheap, wineries need one for each state they ship to, and small wineries need to know they have enough demand for it to make sense.
Q: I thought FedEx and UPS weren't going to be able to deliver in MA because each truck needs a permit. What happened with that?
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
Q: What does it take for a winery to get a permit?
A: Massachusetts is now similar to many other states that allow winery direct shipment. Here's a post from ShipCompliant on what's needed.
Q: Where did you get this list?
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
Here is a list of wineries approved to ship to Massachusetts as of January 30th, 2015:
- Aaronap Cellars
- Abacela Vineyards and Winery
- Adelsheim Vineyard
- Adirondack Winery
- Alpha Omega Winery
- Amuse Bouche
- Ancient Peak
- Andrew Murray Vineyards
- Anomay Vineyards
- Arietta
- Arkenstone Vineyards
- Armida Winery
- Aubert Winegrowing
- Alexander Valley Vineyards Winery Co.
- Andretti Winery
- Banshee Wines
- Barnett Vineyards
- Batam Cider Company
- Bells Up Winery
- Bennett Lane Winery
- Benovia Winery
- Benzinger Family Winery
- Bethel Heights Vineyard
- Betz Cellars
- Blackbird Vineyards
- Blankiet Estate
- Bressler Vineyards
- Bridge Lane Wines*
- Caduceus Cellars
- Cakebread Cellars
- Cape Cod Winery
- Carlisle Winery & Vineyards
- Castrucci Wines
- Chateau Diana
- Cherry Hill
- Chiarello Family Vineyards
- Chimney Rock Winery
- Canyon Wind Cellars (Christianson Cellars)
- Cameron Hughes Wine (Clara Street Company)
- Clos Du Val
- Conway Family Wines
- Copper Cane
- Corbett Vineyards
- Coup de Foudre
- Scott Harvey Wines (Creative Wine Concepts)
- Crew Wine Company
- Cuvaison
- David Family Wines (Davids Pinot Vineyards)
- Dehlinger **
- Del Dotto Vineyards
- DeLoach (Wheeler Winery, LLC)
- Denner Winery
- Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines
- Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard (Diamond Mountain Vineyard)
- Domaine M.B.
- Doubleback
- Dry Creek Vineyard
- Dunham Cellars
- Duplin Wine Cellars
- Dutton Goldfield Winery
- Elyse Winery
- Epoch*
- Et Fille Wines
- F. Kobrel & Bros
- Far From the Tree Cider
- Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
- Field Stone Winery
- Firesteed
- Far Niente
- Foley Family Wines
- Fontanella Wines
- Fortunatus
- Fox Run Vineyards
- Foxen Vineyard
- Francis Coppola Winery
- Scherrer Winery
- Frost Wines
- Gamble Family Vineyards
- Cass Wines (Geneseo Partners)
- Grgich Hills Cellar
- Hartford Family Winery
- Heitz Wine Cellars
- Homestead Hard Cider
- Honig Vineyard
- Houdini
- Husch Vineyards
- ITO Wines
- J Vineyards
- J. Lohr Winery
- Jackson Family Wines
- Joseph Phelps
- Jordan Winery
- K Vintners/Charles Smith Wines
- Kenefick Ranches Winery
- King Ferry Winery
- Kistler Vineyards
- Kosta Browne*
- Kuleto
- Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
- Laird Family Estate
- Lieb Cellars*
- Long Meadow Ranch Winery
- M.A.C. Wines
- Marimar Estate
- Martin Ray Winery
- Mercer Wine Estates
- Merry Edwards Winery
- Meteor Vineyard
- Mira Winery
- Mirasol Wine
- NakedWines.com
- Navarro Vineyards
- Nimrod Wines
- Marilyn Wines (Nova Wines, Inc)
- Dalla Valle Vineyards (Oakville Hill Cellars)
- Orin Swift Cellars
- Pahlmeyer
- Paloma Vineyard
- Patz & Hall
- Paul Hobbs Winery
- Pazdar Beverage Co.
- Peju
- Pernod Ricard
- PharoahMoans Wine
- Presqu'ile Winery*
- Michael David Winery (Phillips Farms)
- Pina Cellars
- Plymouth Bay Winery
- Pride Mountain Vineyards
- Radio-Coteau
- Rarymond Vineyards
- Red Car Wine Co.
- Robert Foley
- Robert Young Estate Winery
- Rocca Family Vineyards
- Rombauer Vineyards
- Rutherford Hill Winery
- San Antonio Winery
- Sanford Winery
- Saxum Vineyards
- Schrader Cellars
- Sea Smoke*
- Sequoia Grove
- Seven Hills Winery
- Shafer Vineyards
- Six Sigma
- Skalli Family Wines
- Sokol Blosser
- Sonoma-Cutrer
- Spring Mountain Vineyard
- St. Francis Winery
- Staglin Family Vineyard
- The Steven Kent Winery
- Stolpman Vineyards
- Stony Hill Vineyard
- Sulphur Springs Winery
- Swanson Vineyards
- Talley Vineyards
- Robert Biale Vineyards
- The Morlet Selection
- The Ojai Vineyard
- Tobin James Cellars
- Treana Winery
- Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod
- Turnbull Wine Cellars
- Twin Peaks Winery
- V. Sattui Winery
- Villa Amorosa
- Vineyard 29
- Wagner Winery
- Washington Vintners
- Wente Vineyards
- Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards
- Winery Fulfillment Services
- WINZ of Sandown
- Wolffer Estate
* - Confirmed by winery
** - Said to have applied, permit pending
Still Does Not Ship to Massachusetts (but I wish they would!):
Unknown Entities:
- A W Direct
- BWSC
- C And C Wine Services
- GBF Enterprises
- Gene M. Kosinksi
- Icolebe
- J. Cellars Investments
- Jack John Investments
- Kangaru Enterprises
- Modern Development Company
- New Vavin
- Nuage
- Mathew Reid and Martha Webb
- TSG
My thanks to the Massachusetts ABCC for sharing this list, to ShipCompliant for sharing useful updates on this process, and to Free The Grapes and other organizations for their part in making direct shipment to Massachusetts.
If you've received official communication from a winery that they've been approved for direct shipment to Massachusetts and they're not on this list feel free to leave a comment below and I'll add them to the list.
If you're a winery and you've recently been approved leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll add you to the list.
I'll reach out to the ABCC again in the next couple months for an update.
Hope this is helpful!
Alan Kerr?s Vintage?s May 2nd Release Notes
The release for May 2nd has three features. One can choose to peruse through some wines from New Zealand, a small allotment yes, but there are some tasty Sauv Blancs. Fans of Germanic wines can sample some of Germany?s next generation?s style of wine. Or, to make us really believe that summer is just around [...]
Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas
This is my Vegas go-to restaurant. The menu is not overdone, i.e. good selection but not so large that the kitchen is in mass production mode. We ordered a 8oz A5 Wagyu strip to share as an app. One bite and it ruined any other steak I will ever eat again. Recommend any of the […]
The post Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas appeared first on Vagablond.
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Mostly Morgon
At least a few folks have told me that they?ve noticed a big uptick in my activities here lately on the Gang of Pour blog, and they would be quite correct. Since late last year and on into 2015, I?ve been exploring wine with gusto again, sharing my findings here and having a fine time [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/uUwtbAka8-Q/mostly-morgon
St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara
Win Tickets to ZAP?s 2011 Grand Zinfandel Tasting at Fort Mason!
You heard correctly. Beyond Napa Valley is giving away 4 tickets to ZAP’s Grand Zinfandel Tasting at Fort Mason. All you have to do is write a Zinfandel-inspired Haiku. Click the link below for all of the details. We hope to see you at the Grand tasting in January. Win Tickets to ZAP’s 2011 Grand [...]
Source: http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/win-tickets-to-zaps-2011-grand-zinfandel-tasting-at-fort-mason/
Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz
On Self-Actualizing Wine Interest, Purple Pages, the Kindle Fire and Gutenberg
While it has been cited that we’re living in a “Golden Age” of wine writing, what is interesting to me these days is NOT the subject of wine writing.
My interest is in a broader understanding of the consumption of the wine writer’s output – self-identified wine interest by consumers who are seeking out wine information. This is a seismic shift more important than the vagaries of who writes what, where, when and for how much.
Something much bigger and amorphous is at work.
It used to be that people self-identified by their job or some other affiliation that produced recognition from others, a status-marker of sorts—“I work for IBM, I have two kids and we’re Protestant.”
However, nowadays, people, principally online (which is moving center stage in our life), are self-identifying by their personal interests which, often times, diverges greatly from their profession and their family situation.
Look at Twitter profiles or a body of status updates from somebody on Facebook. People are no longer duotone and defined by work and family. They’re multi-layered and complex and defined by their interests. The modern day self-description goes something like this: “Passionate about wine and travel. I build furniture, follow the San Francisco Giants, and work in a non-profit by day. I also volunteer to ensure clean water for sub-Saharan Africans. Dad to two wonderful kids”
In diamond-cutting terms, it’s more Peruzzi than table cut and it seems we’re all on a journey to be the most interesting man person in the world.
This kaleidoscopic advancement in sense-of-self is a very important development because, on an individual level, we tend to project externally how we see ourselves in the mirror. By stating publicly online that we’re a wine enthusiast, a foodie, a jazz lover, who does dog rescue and loves college football with a fascination for all things digital, it’s like writing down a goal. A goal written down means something to most people and people are likely to actuate their activities around it, even if aspirationally.
This is a very subtle point and I hope I’m conveying it faithfully: Societally, we’re changing how we view ourselves, we are stating how we view ourselves and consequently we’re more likely to pursue knowledge around those interests because we’ve put it out there.
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we’re all self-actualizing.
So, when it comes to wine writing, while I’m very happy for Alder Yarrow’s assignment in writing a monthly column for Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages, I also tend to look at it within a much broader context because there will be more Alder Yarrow Horatio Alger-like stories in the years to come.
More to the point however, and within a bigger picture, what Alder writes now and in the future on his own site or at Jancis’ site is likely going to be viewed by an increasingly larger audience who, based on the aforementioned self-actualization, have become more inclined to seek a wide-range of information that supports a myriad of personal interests, including wine.
This online growth in information-seeking is, indeed, a very good thing particularly for the wine business who is caught up in a focus on Gen. Y, when the more important point is that there is a mass of people of all ages who have increasingly ready access to information online that allows them to easily pierce the veil of wine. And, the implications for that for shouldn’t be understated because the view of the wine world is likely to be altered to be much more inclusive of all types of viewpoints – think the streets of New York instead of Pottery Barn.
The Kindle Fire tablet by Amazon.com may represent the next step in this evolution, driving the potentiality of mass on-the-move content delivery. No, it’s not as important as the printing press or any other God Complex hyperbole that is assigned to Steve Jobs, but it’s an important step forward nonetheless.
Where laptop computers are functional machines designed to execute work, and tablets (like the iPad) are a lightweight, portable device that act as a multi-functional hybrid between a smartphone and a laptop, here comes the Kindle Fire which is a device designed almost exclusively for content consumption, all kinds of content – blogs, digital magazines, digital books, videos, music, etc.
The Kindle Fire, to me, is a device that enhances the trend we’re seeing in the increased complexity of how we define ourselves because here’s a device that lets users pursue content around their interests anytime, anywhere and it’s reasonably affordable at $199, at least half the cost of other tablets on the market.
For example purposes, let’s say I have an interest in German Riesling, but I don’t really want to buy another paper-based book because I already have a stack of 14 books at my bedside that I haven’t read (or, perhaps, I don’t buy that many books, period). Likewise, it isn’t convenient for me to read a book on my laptop because, well, that’s not really a form factor that works for me because I’m already hunched over my laptop for 12 hours a day. In addition, I don’t want to print out a 150 page pdf because that’s paper I have to carry around. Previously, with all of the aforementioned caveats, I would have let a deep dive into knowing more about German Riesling be a fleeting thought—an opportunity that would lay fallow.
Ah, but the Kindle Fire will let me consume this German Riesling content in a nice, portable, convenient, lightweight manner that is designed to do expressly that. I’m now looking forward to pouring through Terry Theise’s 2011 German Riesling catalog and reading part II of Mosel Fine Wines 2010 vintage report.
All of this distills down to an essential takeaway: When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type, the tangible output was the ability to have ready access to print books. However, the bigger impact was the spread of knowledge which led to the Renaissance period which inalterably changed the culture of the world.
That’s where I think we’re at now, particularly with wine and the spread of information. The conversation can be about who is writing and where they come from, but the conversation with far greater impact is what the end game is for this mass adoption of personal nuance lived out loud.
In simpler terms, the wine writer, like Descartes in the Renaissance era, had a great, lasting influence, but the Renaissance period was much bigger than Descartes.
The key for the wine business in this seismic shift in wine affiliation and the pursuit of information thereof is to decide whether they want to support the status quo and perpetuate business as usual or open themselves to all kinds of thought.
Wine writers already are and so are the consumers seeking out this information.
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Source: http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/hello-world/
Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray
The Real Reason Wine Bloggers Are Not Relevant To Advertisers
Almost all of us don’t treat blogging as a business. And those few who do find building a community around a wine blog very, very difficult. Without hundreds of thousands of pageviews a month, advertising on blogs of any topic is not a viable business. Source: Typepad Via: FERMENTATION There are are a grand total […]
The Real Reason Wine Bloggers Are Not Relevant To Advertisers originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
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Sette Ponti Oreno for $39.99 w/Free Shipping on 12+
New Jersey retailer Wine Library is offering the 2011 Sette Ponti Oreno for the amazingly low price of $39.99. They're also offering free shipping on 12 bottles.
Oreno is the Sette Ponti's flagship label. According to Wine Spectator, the 2011 carries a $107 release price. New York and New Jersey retailers in particular seem to regularly offer this wine in the $50-$60 range. But this is the lowest price I've ever seen it.
I first tasted Oreno at a Wine Spectator Grand Tour event in Boston.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Sette Ponti this summer.
Like all out of state retailers they can't ship to MA.
But with prices like these it's worth finagling shipping to a nearby state.
Hat tip to jtinto.
Oreno is the Sette Ponti's flagship label. According to Wine Spectator, the 2011 carries a $107 release price. New York and New Jersey retailers in particular seem to regularly offer this wine in the $50-$60 range. But this is the lowest price I've ever seen it.
I first tasted Oreno at a Wine Spectator Grand Tour event in Boston.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Sette Ponti this summer.
Like all out of state retailers they can't ship to MA.
But with prices like these it's worth finagling shipping to a nearby state.
Hat tip to jtinto.
Saturday 23 May 2015
Alan Kerr?s Vintage?s May 2nd Release Notes
The release for May 2nd has three features. One can choose to peruse through some wines from New Zealand, a small allotment yes, but there are some tasty Sauv Blancs. Fans of Germanic wines can sample some of Germany?s next generation?s style of wine. Or, to make us really believe that summer is just around [...]
Wine Event Announces Winners
The winners of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced June 10 at a media roll-out in Los Angeles. Find the winners here.
Old World vs. New World in More Ways than just the Wine
In the increasingly close quarters of our global village, Europe is responsible for bringing at least three different substantive and prodigious professional wine journals to market over the last several years. Each is written by a ‘Who’s Who’ of wine experts. Meanwhile, stateside, the U.S. has experienced an explosion of pithiness with amateur wine writers writing online.
This juxtaposition becomes relevant after reading a recent post titled, “Are wine blogs going tabloid” by professional wine critic and writer Steve Heimoff. In his brief post, with a decidedly American point of view, Heimoff summarizes his thoughts with the rhetorical query, “Why do certain bloggers revert to sensationalist stories that don’t, in the long run, matter?”
Good question. The easy conclusion suggests that controversy and hyperbolically bombastic articles lead to attention and traffic.
Certainly, two recent books that I’ve been reading bear out this discouraging notion: Newsjacking: How to Inject Your Ideas into a Breaking News Story and Generate Tons of Media Coverage and Celebrity, Inc.
Both books cover similar ground in examining how brands can subvert the 24-hour news cycle for business benefit and how the 24-hour news cycle has been subverted by celebrities using easy technology while leading our news culture into tabloidesque territory.
When considered with Heimoff’s point, it is an easy deduction to suggest that 1 + 1 does in fact equal 2 – the sensational does sell and, by proxy, online amateur wine writers are a reflection of our larger media culture.
However, in suggesting this, there is at least one bigger contextual point being missed as well as a caveat. First, it’s an exclusive view that doesn’t take in the totality of the global wine media village and second, while sensationalism may sell, the lascivious isn’t always what’s shared.
No, it seems our schadenfreude and more primal instincts are kept private, while our shock and awe comes to the fore, at least according to one study.
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania recently examined the most emailed articles on the New York Times web site in March of this year (link initiates a PDF download), looking for the triggers for what causes somebody to share an article, what makes one thing more viral than another?
Their conclusion? Positive content is more viral than negative content, but both, in general, are driven by “activation” – the notion that high arousal (emotive pleasure or outrage) drives shareable content. According to the research abstract:
Content that evokes either positive (awe) or negative (anger or anxiety) emotions characterized by activation (i.e. high arousal) is more viral. Content that evokes deactivating emotion (sadness) is less viral. These results hold (dominance) for how surprising, interesting, or practically useful content is, as well as external drivers of attention.
This brings us back to my earlier mention regarding the European wine journals that have come to market in recent years. Simply, they’re an antidote to the U.S. proclivity for the vapid.
The World of Fine Wine, the family of Fine Wine magazines based in Helsinki and Tong based in Belgium all represent an Old World counterpoint to what can be deemed as the extemporaneous and superfluous coming from the New World.
As Tong publisher Filip Verheyden notes in the Tong manifesto (link initiates a PDF download) :
We live in times of “instant” gratification. If we want to talk to someone, we pick up our mobile phone wherever we happen to be. If we want to know something, we click an internet button. We’re going at 200 km per hour.
What we seem to forget in this race against time is the trustworthiness of this quickly-acquired knowledge, and that is something we have to find out for ourselves. But who takes the time to do it?
…The articles that appear in Tong demand the reader’s attention. You can’t read them fast and put them away; you have to take the time to understand. I’d say it takes an evening to read and think about each article. These are not issues to put in the recycling bin. Even after five years or more, each will continue to convey the essence of its theme…
The World of Fine Wine and Fine Wine magazine are both similarly endowed with length and verve.
My takeaway based on the Wharton research and the stunning dichotomy between what we’re seeing in the U.S. vs. European wine content is two-fold:
1) The sometimes sensational aspect of online wine writers, especially domestically, should heed the research and focus their pot-stirring ways on matters that provoke an emotional response from readers, ideally with a positive consequence – like HR 1161 for example instead of tired, lame attempted zingers aimed at Robert Parker.
2) In addition to a legacy sensibility about the nature and style of wine, the Old World is also drawing a culturally defining line in the sand in how they view and report on wine – it’s with substance, permanence and integrity.
The conclusion is anything but. However, as the world becomes a smaller place and the U.S. and our wine media becomes a part of the world chorus, losing lead vocal, I would hate for our place in the gallery to be rendered completely voiceless based on a lack of substance which is the seeming trajectory that we’re on.
It’s just a thought…
If you’re interested in seeing an example of Tong’s long-form think pieces, you can see examples here, here and here.
Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/old_world_vs._new_world_in_more_ways_than_just_the_wine/
Tasting note: ?bitter clown tears?
This tasting note is no doubt better than the wine! But, oddly, I bet it actually helped sales of the wine (assuming people read it). It wouldn’t surprise me if there were a store out there somewhere that posted only mockeries or send-ups of tasting notes. Would resonate well with the youngs. If anyone lacks […]
The post Tasting note: “bitter clown tears” appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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Wired Tests Wine Preservation Systems, Picks Correct Winner
Private Preserve has been my choice for years. via Wired Wired Tests Wine Preservation Systems, Picks Correct Winner originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Wired Tests Wine Preservation Systems, Picks Correct Winner originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/jdtpv_fazm4/wine-preserve
Wine Blogging Wednesday #70: 2009 Bodega Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha
Gabriella and Ryan’s post inspiring wine bloggers to get creative and seek out a unique Spanish wine or one from an unheard of region for the comeback edition of New York Cork Report Executive Editor Lenn Thompson’s Wine Blogging Wednesday, fueled my determination to get my hands on a bottle or two that would expand […]
Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/wine-blogging-wednesday-70/
Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas
This is my Vegas go-to restaurant. The menu is not overdone, i.e. good selection but not so large that the kitchen is in mass production mode. We ordered a 8oz A5 Wagyu strip to share as an app. One bite and it ruined any other steak I will ever eat again. Recommend any of the […]
The post Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas appeared first on Vagablond.
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Quick Deal: 92 WS 2013 Meiomi Pinot Noir for $15.95 Fully Loaded [MA Only]
Key Link: 2013 Belle Glos Meiomi for $15.95
Boston-area wine retailer VinoDivino is offering the 2013 Belle Glos Meiomi for $15.95 if you buy 6+ bottles. Wine Spectator recently rated this vintage 92 points.
It's very hard to find a 90 point rated California Pinot Noir for $20, and since each point north of 90 is incrementally harder for a wine to achieve, this wine presents a compelling quality-to-price ratio.
Here are my thoughts on the wine when it was released. I rated it 91 points and thought it was outstanding.
With a retail price of $22, I'm happy to get this wine for $20 or less. I've seen it around for $16.99 or $17.99. But never this low. $15.95 with no sales tax on wine in Massachusetts? That's a great deal.
The WWP QPR Calculator (what's that?) rates this deal Very Good.
Boston-area wine retailer VinoDivino is offering the 2013 Belle Glos Meiomi for $15.95 if you buy 6+ bottles. Wine Spectator recently rated this vintage 92 points.
 |
| 92 Point Wine Spectator rating |
Here are my thoughts on the wine when it was released. I rated it 91 points and thought it was outstanding.
With a retail price of $22, I'm happy to get this wine for $20 or less. I've seen it around for $16.99 or $17.99. But never this low. $15.95 with no sales tax on wine in Massachusetts? That's a great deal.
The WWP QPR Calculator (what's that?) rates this deal Very Good.
How to Order
- Click this link
- Add 6 or more bottles to your cart
- It should ring up for $15.95/bottle
- Select your shipping option. In-store pick-up is free, it's only $1.95 flat rate for local delivery if you're near there stores. And $9.95 for FedEx Ground.
Pricing is valid this week or until they run out.
Bottom Line
This is a great deal. I can't imagine 6 bottles of this going to waste. I'm in for 6, especially with $1.95 same day shipping. It's such a delicious, accessible wine that reliably hits the spot.
Subscribe to the WWP to never miss a deal.
The King is Dead! All Hail Caesar!
Majestic Wine has acquired Naked Wines today for around �70 million. On the surface it is a straightforward but interesting business deal giving each a new injection of energy.�Underlying this, however, is an interesting story of conquests and empires that are a lot less regal than they are imperial. [read more here on Harpers] The [...]
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Friday 22 May 2015
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?A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found?
As with anything you eat or drink, moderation and common sense, not prohibition, often makes the most sense. via The Telegraph “A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
“A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Twelfth Night: New Zealand Wine with Massachusetts Roots
That's the decision Boston-based Vela Wines principals Max Risman, Arie Dahan, and Beth Ann Dahan were faced with a few years ago as they scoured the globe for a location. The eventually decided on New Zealand. On the twelfth day of a visit to the Central Otago region they found their mark and that night as they looked up at the stars the Twelfth Night name was born.
They now produce Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand under the Twelfth Night label, with distribution occurring mostly in Massachusetts at this point. All things considered they felt Central Otago was the best place to start a winery. After meeting with Max and hearing about the region I'm inclined to think they knew what they were doing.
While I was taking WSET courses one of my absolute favorite wines we tasted was a Central Otago Pinot Noir. For me, it's most closely aligned with Oregon Pinot Noir in style, but falls more towards California in the flavor spectrum than most Oregon Pinots. That being the case, New Zealand Pinot Noir can be a real source of value.
Especially these wines from Twelfth Night which land at appealing price points and present a compeling quality:price ratio values.
I received a couple bottles to get to know them better. Here are my tasting notes...
2012 Twelfth Night Central Otago Pinot Noir
1,000 Cases Produced
14% Alcohol
$22 Retail
Rated 89 points by Wine Spectator
Medium bodied visually with vibrant ruby shades. Baked cranberries, citrus peel, and distinctive white pepper aromatics. These notes convey on the palate with just a tiny hint of effervescence on the palate that distracts a bit from an otherwise outstanding wine.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
2013 Twelfth Night Central Otago Riesling
400 Cases Produced
12.2 % Alcohol
$18
Rated 87 points by Wine Spectator
Light golden with grey tinges visually. Classic Riesling markings on the nose with appealing citrus notes. Lively on the palate and finishes clean. Free of off notes. Nice stuff.
86/100 WWP: Very Good
Get to know Vela wines better if you're attending the Boston Wine Expo this weekend. Their winemaker will be on hand describing how Central Otago is the Burgundy of the Southern Hemisphere. I hear they'll be offering some tasty discount codes as well.
Definitely check for their wines at retail especially if you're in the Boston area. Here are some listings on Wine-Searcher.
On the web: http://velawines.com
On Twitter: @VelaWines
Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak
10 Amazing Producers Pouring at Wine Spectator Grand Tour
The event also provides an opportunity to meet up with other wine enthuisiasts. I've made some friends through the blog and on Twitter I'm looking forward to meeting at the Dallas event. If you're on the fence about which location to attend maybe Dallas would fit your schedule? Here's a post on how to get there for nearly free using points & miles. If you're coming let me know! I'd love to say "hi" and I'm hoping to pull together a small [but hopefully VIP] pre-tasting meetup at the Hyatt if we can pull it off.
Here's a list of wineries pouring at the Grand Tour. I thought it would be useful to scan the list and share some of my favorites that I know from past experience. Events like these are good for tasting aspirational wines and developing a relatable framework for benchmark producers. I'll be on the lookout for new categories and producers but here are some of my aboslute favorites and why...
Alto Moncayo
They scored a winner with 2 recent vintages garnering 100 point ratings from Parker. Their Grenache-driven and surprisingly affordable blockbusters can get boozy at times but there's so much delicous flavor it's hard not to adore.
Likely wine: Alto Moncayo proper
Hope they pour: Aquilon
Read more...
Black Kite
I haven't written about Black Kite as much as I should have considering how reliably outstanding I've found their fruit-forward [yet balanced] California Pinot Noirs.
Likely wine: Kite's Rest
Hope they pour: Something I haven't tried but like more
Read more...
Casanova di Neri
They produce Brunello in a modern but elegant style. If you're new world leaning [like I am] but interested in breaking through to the other side check them out for sure.
Likely to pour: Tenuta Nuova
Hope they pour: Tenuta Nuova
Read more...
Elk Cove
Another producer I consistently enjoy but don't write enough about. The 2012 Oregon Pinot Noir vintage has been crushing it for me lately. So good. I popped a bottle of 2012 Elk Cove Clay Court Pinot Noir the other night and it was amazing. 93+ points with ease. And their more affordable appellation bottling is always outstanding.
Likely to pour: 2012 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Mount Richmond
Hope they pour: 2012 Elk Cove Pinot Noir La Boheme
Felsina
Their Fontalloro stikes a perfect balance between modern and old world. Fantastic place to visit with affordable prices relative to their quality. Highly recommended benchmark Italian producer.
Likely to pour: Fontalloro
Hope they pour: Rancia
Read more...
Flowers
I once [wrongly] thought of Flowers as a ripe, fruit-forward, steakhouse Pinot Noir producer. Their wines are actually beautifully balanced. Kind of like a Patz & Hall, Radio-Coteau or Gary Farrell. Not too ripe, not too lean. Just right.
Likely to pour: Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir
Hope they pour: Something else I haven't tried yet and like even more
Read more...
Kosta Browne
This hits the sweet spot of wines you can taste at a Spectator event you're not likely to see at many other tastings. Wine Spectator's ratings have been favorable to KB over the years and the guys at KB recognize this and represent, giving fans a chance to taste their wines even if they can't crack their mailing list. Definitely one to try early when your palate is sharp and can appreciate it.
Likely to pour: Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Hope they pour: Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Read more...
El Nido
Absolutely without a doubt one of my favorite producers. So consistently wow - outstanding. Semi-related someone shipping me a couples bottles of 2012 El Nido Clio this week. Popped one right open and it was right on the money. How do they do it vintage after vintage? If Loren Gil is pouring definitely chat him up. He's a wealth of knowledge about Spanish wines and other world class wines of similar style as his.
Likely to pour: Clio
Hope they pour: El Nido proper
Read more...
Chateau Pontet-Canet
Bordeaux representation at this year's events seems slightly less than in the past. I dunno - maybe I'm just not looking for them given that Bordeaux isn't particularly in my wheelhouse. Pontet-Canet is a winner though. Definitely make time to taste this one.
Likely to pour/hope they pour: 2010 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Tenuta Sette Ponti
Amazing producer who uses traditional grape varieties to produce wines in a slightly more modern/international style. At least that's what my palate tells me. So good.
Likely to pour: Oreno
Hope they pour: Crognolo (great wine, more affordabe, but Oreno is what they'll pour)
Read more..
Conclusion
I've always said these Wine Spectator are the best way I've found to quickly develop a relatable frame of reference for benchmark wines in important categories. The familiar producers listed here are ones I'll look forward to trying again, but I'll pick another category or two (maybe Portugal?) to branch out and explore.
Question of the Day: What producers jump out at you? Any chance you can join in Dallas?
Cold water on the ?red wine myth??
Researchers have poured cold sauvignon blanc on the idea that red wine is good for your health. Eegad, it was all a chimera! The new study, published in the British Medical Journal, makes a methodological point: previous studies looking at the effect of red wine an health had grouped respondents into drinkers and non-drinkers. But, […]
The post Cold water on the “red wine myth”? appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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WBW 76: Barossa Boomerang
Not too long ago I drank quite a bit of Australian wine, particularly Shiraz. Given that this grape, also known as Syrah, expresses greatness in the Barossa Valley I could not pass an opportunity to revisit this region for this months’ Wine Blogging Wednesday. Our host, Adam from Wine Zag, proposed we look for any […]
WBW 76: Barossa Boomerang originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
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Thursday 21 May 2015
Mostly Morgon
At least a few folks have told me that they?ve noticed a big uptick in my activities here lately on the Gang of Pour blog, and they would be quite correct. Since late last year and on into 2015, I?ve been exploring wine with gusto again, sharing my findings here and having a fine time [...]
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