A Little Competition Never Hurts!

That’s right – it’s time. The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition begins tomorrow. Nearly 100 international judges, more than 3,000 international wines. Who will take the gold? Keep coming back to find out more information about the 3-day event and watch for judges to be blogging and twittering in between judging!

Source: http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/wine/?p=60

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South African Chenin blanc and wine twiticism

In today’s NYT, Eric Asimov writes about their tasting panel’s assessment of Chenin Blanc from South Africa (“A Wine That Isn?t What It Used to Be”). He says they found little to like, perhaps because of “difficult” vintages of 2010 and 2011, high yields or the unforgiving nature of screw caps. This is a change [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/wlsC-92WC9A/

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Steve Wynn Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Sets a New Record

There can be no place on the earth except Las Vegas, Nevada, that can be the home of the most expensive casino of the world. It took almost 5 long years to build this exclusive den of the gamblers across the world. The place is worth US$2.7 billion to build. Billionaire Steve Wynn is the [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/TlTl-8gepGk/

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Pimp my ride: La Gramiere?s wine truck

La Gramiere’s wine tasting truck (see inset of truck before Amy pimped her ride) Have you eaten lunch or ice cream from a food truck and thought there was something missing? I have. Where’s the wine truck? It has been found in the south of France. Amy Lillard, an American who is living the dream [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/m_9mogiNZoU/

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Tasting Leelanau 2012 ? Verterra Winery

We don?t need much in the way of coaxing, convincing or cajoling to get us back up to northern Michigan wine country. It seems like every time we visit Traverse City and the nearby Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas (we?ve been going since the late ?80s), we find at least a couple more good reasons [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/E-SEpshaLHs/verterra

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New York Wine Retailers Dealing Aces Lately

I've noticed some enticing deals from wine retailers lately - especially from New York. Here's a few that caught my eye the past couple weeks:

Sokolin

Is it just me or do flash sale sites typically come out of the gates strong then fizzle? That may be the case, but it's all the more reason to jump on Last Call by Sokolin. Their first offer was impressive: 2006 Oreno for $39. Compare at around $110 in Massachusetts!

Empire Wine

I visited this place last year on our way to Michigan. I've never seen on operation quite like it. At noon on a Friday and they had 5 registers ringing people up as fast as they could and the line was still 20 people deep. Their latest Ship 4 Free deal is a nice one: The 2008 Betts & Scholl The O.G. Grenache for $17.95/btl with free shipping on 4.

Zachys

I'd heard of Zachys for years but never associated them with deep discounts. Until now. Have a look at this list of California Pinot Noirs before they're all gone. Littorai, Cobb, Black Kite, Radio-Coteau, Pisoni, Loring, etc. Quite the list. Free shipping on $100 or more. (thanks to my friend who sleuthed this from this deals thead on the CellarTracker forums and the original poster)

Grapes the Wine Co.

If you're not on Daniel Posner's email list you're missing out. He's always offering great deals but you've got to be on the list to hear about them. Sign up for his newsletter if you like wine deals.

And subscribe to The Wellesley Wine Press if you like hearing about wine deals.

Question of the Day: Where are you finding wine deals lately?


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/n_D6ddMwISU/new-york-wine-retailers-dealing-aces.html

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A Wine for Tonight: 2011 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won?t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week?s selection, the 2011 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of [...]

A Wine for Tonight: 2011 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/nN71HvSGkK8/

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Field Notes from a Wine Life ? Autumnal Equinox Edition

Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass…

The Power of Intent in Biodynamic Wine

I wrote a heady post in September about Biodynamic wine.  The story is too complicated to summarize here (link to post), but one of the things that I touched on (and that interests me on an ongoing basis) is the notion of “intent” in the vineyard particularly as it relates to viticultural quality and Biodynamic preparations.

They say that you can taste “love” in a food dish, so, while not scientifically quantifiable (at least not yet), it stands to reason that extra attention and loving preparation with BioD preps. might have a positive benefit on the vines and subsequently the wines.

This notion of intent isn’t my idea; I culled it from Voodoo Vintners, Katherine Cole’s Biodynamic-related book published earlier this year (she has a different supposition about ‘intent’ than I do).  A passage from the book notes, “The belief is that the preparations aren’t merely herbal treatments for plants; they’re carriers of the farmers’ intentions, which have been swirled into them through the powerful act of stirring.  While it isn’t a requirement for Demeter certification, intention is that little bit of witchcraft that separates the most committed practitioners from the unbelievers.”

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My point in September and my point now is that “intent” isn’t witchcraft, its science – science that is still emerging and not completely understood.

To that end, I read an incredible, eye-opening, mind-bending article in the current issue of Time magazine about a new technology device called the BodyWave.  An iPod sized device, the BodyWave is based on electroencephalography (EEG), the study of how brain activity excites neurons to emit brain waves that travel the central nervous system and can be measured.

So, here’s the thing.  Not only can this BodyWave device measure the fluctuations in the brain’s electrical activity, but when connected to a computer it can perform functions based on brain waves.

It’s a holy crap moment to realize that by focusing brain activity somebody can shut off a valve in a nuclear power plant, via computer, with the power of their mind, as elaborated on in the article.

The full Time magazine article is subscriber-protected (darn publishers that try to run a business…), but the intro. to the article is available here.

I’m a liberal arts guy, as far removed from science as one can get by education, vocation and lifelong learning interest, but I do have the ability to suspend my disbelief and it seems likely to me that in 10 years’ time the Biodynamic conversation is going to be around an entirely different set of conversational conditions than the current ‘bunkum vs. belief’ precept that we have now.

On Knowledge

I’ve never reconciled the “demystify” vs. “knowledge frees you” debate as it relates to wine.  Many will say that wine is needlessly overcomplicated for the average consumer and the arcane aspects act as a barrier to entry.

Well, sometimes you find defining wisdom in the unlikeliest places.

Scott Adams, the creator of the cartoon Dilbert, noted in a blog post recently what I’ve thought, but have never been able to say quite so eloquently. 

Indeed, you are what you learn.  You don’t have to know much about wine to drink it, but it sure makes it that much more enjoyable if you lean into the door…

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Thanksgiving Wine Recommendation

Thanksgiving is the wine world’s national holiday.  I get that.  It’s my favorite holiday, too. But, the attendant wine pairing articles are exhausting.  Does it really matter what you drink with Thanksgiving dinner?  Nope.  If it did, somebody, anybody would care that I’ll be having Sparkling Rose, German Riesling and New Zealand Pinot, but, really, nobody cares.  At the end of the day, the below picture encapsulates what really matters when picking a wine for Thanksgiving (Hint: Focus on the food).

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It Was a Good Week for Lot18

My eyes bugged out like a virgin at a nudist camp when I saw that Lot18 secured $30M in additional funding.  That money coupled with clarification from the California Alcohol Beverage Control (CA ABC) on some wonkiness in legalities, means the first week of November 2011 will go down as a watershed moment for Lot18.

Perhaps equally interesting to me is a passage noting, “Radical Transparency” in an email sent to Lot18 members from Lot18 (ostensibly founder Phillip James).  The email noted:

As Lot18 moves into its second year of existence, our goal is to ensure that, with more money in the bank and compliance questions behind us, Lot18 can continue to deliver on its responsibilities to our suppliers and to our members alike. We must hold ourselves accountable to ensure we maintain trust with everyone who produces and consumes goods offered by Lot18.

We do this through a policy called Radical Transparency, which simply involves sharing more than was once considered wise. We believe in this because it drives our focus and ensures that all of our employees and our members feel that they have a role in shaping our future. Together we can create a service that will not only help you find great value, but also encourage you to spread the word to friends and family so that they may also share in the delight.

We’re all aware of “transparency” as an online buzzword the last several years.  It’s a word that has been co-opted, commoditized and rendered meaningless, as well.  It seems, transparency is really code word for faux sincerity and empathy and that makes adding the modifier of “Radical” to transparency all the more interesting.

These days, every new business success story comes with hagiographic mythologizing and I wouldn’t be surprised if, in this area, “Radical Transparency” is where Lot18 stakes their claim.  After all, culture and customer service is already taken by Zappos.

Yet, radical transparency isn’t a new concept either.  If you’re interested in seeing how a hedge fund called Bridgewater Associates (founded by Ray Dalio) has codified a brutally honest feedback loop see this profile piece from New York magazine and Dalio’s 123 page “Principles” document (worth the read).

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_autumnal_equinox_edition/

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