10 Years of Two Buck Chuck, and Fred Franzia’s Opinion on Wine Snobs.
February 22, 2012 
2012 year marks the 10th anniversary of Charles Shaw, better known as 2-Buck Chuck, which made its debut in a Trader Joe’s store 2002.
According to Fred Franzia (NB: he’s the multi-millionaire, standing in a vineyard, wearing the unironed trousers in the photo on the left), the $2 bottling has made your “average wine snob” think twice.
“We have won the battle with snobs and other elites who didn’t believe we could provide excellent wines at an inexpensive price. This changed the wine culture in the U.S. … we are also on the radar in many wine-drinking cultures and we get calls from all over the world asking if we can provide Charles Shaw-quality wines.”
Posted in News | Tagged 2 Buck Chuck, Charles Shaw, Fred Franzia, Two Buck Chuck | Leave a comment //Keeping it Crafty!
February 22, 2012
The Art of Toasting – My Top 10 Favorite Wine Toasts
February 22, 2012
I truly do think it’s unfortunate that the art of reciting a proper “toast” is a lost tradition.
Only at weddings do we hear the occasional “Cheers!” but a toast (when it’s done right) can make an otherwise forgettable “clink” of glasses that ever-the-more memorable. For this reason, if you’re going to attempt a toast, I recommend it be short, witty and appropriate to the situation (NB: you may want to skip toast #10 in any formal gathering)!
The history of toasting can actually be traced back to the ancient Greek practice of raising goblets in the air (to the gods) to ensure the wine was not poisoned. However, the actual term “toast” came from the Roman practice of adding a burnt piece of bread to inferior wines in order to reduce their acidity. (NB: I felt like adding a piece of burnt bread to a glass of wine I had last night…but that’s another story)
I spent a little time scouring the Information-Super-Highway, and these are my 10 favorite wine toasts from what I could find:
Posted in Facts | Tagged Champagne toast, How to make a Toast, How to toast at a wedding, Toasting at Weddings, Wine Toasts | 2 Comments //Prohibition Did What?!
February 21, 2012
A beer/wine-goggled look at the Volstead Act of 1920.
(Click for larger view)
Open That Bottle Night 2012
February 21, 2012
I’m so glad I checked the date on this! It almost got away from me…
Open That Bottle Night is this Saturday (February 25th).
An event created by former Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, the night marks the much needed occasion for people around the world to crack open a bottle they’ve been saving, but have never been able to find that “special occasion”.
As Dorothy and John put it “…the bottle doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, what matters are the memories!”
If you haven’t participated in OTBN before, now is the chance! I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to open yet, as my Saturday is going to be quite hectic; but I can assure you that even I’ve fallen into the trap of hanging onto wines for too long, only for them to be over-the-hill. Make sure it doesn’t happen to you!
To catch-up with Dorothy and John, click here for their Facebook Page.
Posted in News | Tagged Dorothy J. Gaiter, John Brecher | Leave a comment //Fiftyrow Spring Mountain Syrah, Napa Valley, California.
February 19, 2012
Grape
100% Syrah
Facts
- There was such a huge amount of press over previous years on how Syrah was supposed to be “the next big thing”, and then more recently how that just never really panned out.
Personally, I don’t see any need for people to wait around for a grape / wine to be named “so hot right now” before you give it your attention (i.e. hard earned $’s).
Look at what happened to Malbec! The grape started to get popular based on the favorable price-to-quality ratio of the wines on the market; but then huge brands started to pump out watered-down garbage and flood grocery store shelves with it, leaving the consumer with a skewed opinion on what the grape is really capable of. I’m not looking for that same thing to happen to Syrah.
Why Social and Selling Don’t Mix….Another Nail in the Coffin for the Question of ROI in Social Media.
February 19, 2012
The news this week reported on Bloomberg.com doesn’t exactly help provide the answer businesses were looking for, in respect to the question: “What is the true ROI of social media?”
Bloomberg reported the following:
“Last April, Gamestop opened a store on Facebook in an attempt to generate sales from their growing fanbase of 3.5 million-plus customers who’d declared themselves “fans” of the video game retailer. Less than 6 months later, the store has been quietly closed.
Over the past year, Gap Inc., J.C. Penney and Nordstrom have all opened and closed storefronts on Facebook Inc.’s social networking site.
Facebook, which just this month filed for its IPO, was tipped to be a top shopping destination for its 845 million+ members. The stores’ quick failure shows that the social network doesn’t drive commerce and casts doubt on its value for retailers.”
So the upshot of it all is that you can’t sell to people when they’re socializing. When you put it like that, it’s hard to understand why businesses are so hung-up on trying to assign a $-value to their online social efforts. It probably needs to be pointed out (although it shouldn’t have to be) is that there is a huge difference between "the internet" and "social media." That difference is the word "social".
Posted in News, Social Media | Tagged Facebook, ROI of social media, Social Media, Social Media for Wineries | 4 Comments //Chateau Drew Barrymore.
February 18, 2012
Drew Barrymore is the latest celeb that has entered the wine business. Wilson Daniels Ltd. has been named the U.S. importer for Barrymore Wines. Drew’s first offering is a Pinot Grigio from Italy.
Barrymore Pinot Grigio is an IGT Delle Venezie, made from grapes grown the Triveneto area, comprised of three of Italy’s most northern regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto—regions renowned for producing crisp and fruity white wines.
The Barrymore label showcases her family crest and was designed by Shepard Fairey, the popular street artist/designer behind the Obama Hope poster of 2008.
Drew Barrymore joins an esteemed collection of celebrities in the wine business around the world that includes Francis Ford Coppola, Antonio Banderas, Wayne Gretzsky and Sam Neill.
The wine will launch in California, with broader distribution planned for spring 2012 and has a suggested retail price of $19.99.
Click here for the full link.
Sh*t People Say When Ordering Wine.
February 17, 2012
Ok, so I felt that EVERYONE ELSE was making one of these “Sh*t people say…” videos, but no-one had really scratched the surface with regard to wine. Not that it surprises me. The wine industry takes itself faaaaaaar too seriously anyway!
Now it’s worth pointing out that I promise you I didn’t make up a single one of these. Everything said in the clip is something that I (or someone I’ve worked with) have had said to them at one time or another whilst working in a restaurant / wine-bar.
May I present to you: “Sh*t People Say When Ordering Wine.”
Posted in Funny | Tagged Sh*t people say funny, Sh*t People Say When Ordering Wine, Shit people say, Shit people say video, Shit People Say When Ordering Wine | Leave a comment //Moët-Hennessy to Produce Red Wine in China
February 17, 2012
Bubbly-maker Moët-Hennessy has invested in a vineyard in China that will produce red wine for the Chinese market.
The luxury Champagne brand has been aggressively pursuing the Chinese market in recent years, having acquired a Chinese spirits brand five years ago. Last year, Moët-Hennessy also began production of a premium sparkling wine in the province of Ningxia Hui (NB: good luck pronouncing that!).
The explosive growth of middle and upper classes in Chinese society has been attracting major wine brands from around the world.
Posted in News | Tagged Champagne, China, Chinese Wine, Moët-Hennessy | Leave a comment //Controversy as Beverly Hills Wine Festival Honors Whitney Houston.
February 17, 2012
The Beverly Hills Wine Festival (NB: my invite clearly must have been lost in the mail), which happens to be taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (the hotel where Whitney Houston passed away), had planned a tribute to Whitney. The event was scheduled for February 26, and would have featured a cognac and champagne tasting.
It’s worth pointing out that the Houston family had never approved this event. Here’s what’s being said about it:
"It was a tacky, and tasteless tribute to Whitney. A wine festival honoring Whitney at the hotel where she DIED? Members of Whitney’s inner circle conveyed their concerns to Beverly Hilton Hotel management and they were assured the event would be quashed. There was no way the Beverly Hilton would allow this event to take place at the hotel where Whitney had just died.” Continue reading →
Christian Salmon Sancerre Rose, Loire Valley, France.
February 15, 2012
Grape
100% Pinot Noir
Facts
- This would happen to actually be only the 3rd Rose Sancerre I’ve ever tasted.
Rose Sancerre isn’t made in huge quantities, but when you do find it, it’s always made from Pinot Noir.
Personally I’ve always found Sancerre to produce some of the most reliable wines coming out of France. At least one wine from the region should be a staple on every wine list.
- Domaine Christian Salmon have been growing grapes in Sancerre for 6 generations. They only grow Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc on their property, as these are the only two grapes permitted according to French law.
- Every style of wine imaginable is produced in the Loire: red, white, rose, sweet, and sparkling. The region is 2nd only to the Champagne region in terms of French sparkling wine production.
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