February, 2011

The Rugged Maniac!

Not that this post has much relevance to wine and furthering your knowledge of it, but I thought you might possibly appreciate these photos. The Rugged Maniac mud race took place this past weekend, and for some reason I was convinced to participate, along with my wife and a bunch of my very close friends.  I ran before her at 9am, so fortunately there aren’t as many pictures of me, since I was the one…

Read More

The £1-a-day red wine wonder pill to combat heart disease, cancer and poverty in Africa.

Ok so I made that last one up…but seriously!!! The U.K newspaper the Daily Mail recently reported on “a £1-a-day red wine wonder pill that claims to ward off heart ­disease, cancer and diabetes is to go on sale in Britain for the first time.” “Makers Biotivia claim the resveratrol supplement – derived from an anti­oxidant found in grape skins and ­naturally present in red wine – is as ­beneficial as exercise. They say the…

Read More

A Quick Chat with Ted Henry, Winemaker for Jarvis.

How long have you been with Jarvis? Three years at Jarvis, previously before that I was at Artesa in Carneros working on their Chardonnay and Pinot but also working on an Alexander Valley property they purchased called Ridgeline. So about three years ago the opening at Jarvis came up. To me Jarvis is the ideal winemakers paradise. It’s an estate model so it’s all about the vineyard, but they have some of the best equipment…

Read More

Jayson Woodbridge and his Charity Case

  Charity Case is the latest side project by winemaking superstar Jayson Woodbridge. Whilst Jayson isn’t exactly a household name, the wines he produces are certainly getting that way. You may know Mr. Woodbridge from such wines as Layer Cake and Hundred Acre. The Charity Case Foundation was formed in’08 as a long-term project in support of Napa Valley Charities. Jayson started by calling wineries in the Valley to see if they would donate their…

Read More

Publix, “The Big 3” and Free Goods in Florida.

  If you are not in the wine industry, you may want to switch off because this article (more of a ramble really) will probably bore you to death. You have been warned. If you’re in Florida and working in the beverage industry, you’ll know that there has been a little shake-up with regards to grocery store chain Publix and “The Big Three”; namely wine distributors SWS, Premier and RNDC. From what I can assert,…

Read More

Groth Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Grapes Sauvignon Blanc 96%, Semillon [SEM-ee-yawn] 4% Facts The warmer weather is coming folks, so let’s get some more white wine reviews up in here!!! Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are the main two whites grapes of the Bordeaux region of France. If you ever see a white Bordeaux, most likely it’s going to be a blend of the two. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle are the only three grapes that are allowed in white “Meritage”…

Read More

YUMMO!!! Grading Rachael Ray’s 5 Ways to Become a Wine Expert Overnight.

I get sent press releases all the time, most of which I don’t even bother opening. This was one of the rare few that I didn’t happen to click “Send to Spam” on. The email was titled “FIVE WAYS TO BECOME A WINE EXPERT OVERNIGHT!”  and being featured in Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine. The only reason I opened the email was that I was ABSOLUTELY FUMING that someone has been keeping these “five…

Read More

Catching up with Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher.

Open That Bottle Night is always the last in Saturday in February, making it Saturday February 26th this year. You therefore better get thinking what you plan on opening! Every year since 2000, on a special Saturday night in February, friends, couples and groups around the world get together to enjoy “special” bottles of wine, champagne and spirits. The bottle that you enjoy, traditionally, is one that you have been saving for some special event…

Read More