Rebel Rose

Wow, these sound like amazing wines! I imagine they are not available in the U.S. or Canada? Barrel tasting at these producers sounds like quite a privilege, given their small productions. Since you have visited the wineries, can you give us a "visual," as they say in the news? Perhaps a brief description of the winery, vineyard and winemaker?

I haven't read Rex Pickett's novel (yet) but from comments I've heard, the book is even more ironic and acerbic than the movie, with some rather pithy comments about central coast wine producers. Okay, now I have to go to Amazon and order it . . . my bathtub stack is about to fall over!

As everyone in the wine industry knows, "It takes a lot of good beer to make great wine!" Winemakers of the world, what's in your fridge? What beers do you drink while you're cleaning the crusher? What else is in the fridge? At Dover Canyon, the Beer(s) of choice are: * Sierra Nevadas, various * Home brews, pale ale Other items found in the winery fridge: * 6 -10 varieties of yeast * Lysozyme * One door shelf of vitamins: B-complex, bee pollen, cranberry liver cleanse, etc. * Miscellaneous partly eaten lunches and leftover pizza * 1 gallon of aloe vera juice * 1 full shelf of still and sparkling bottled water Freezer: * 30 pounds of lambsicles * various locally produced wild game sausages * 2 tritips (Oh oh, we seem to be getting low on protein.)

Is it true that Edmund St. John cut its production by nearly half this year? What varietals or vineyards didn't make the cut, and which did? Is there a new focus for the winery? Oh yes, and it's time for my annual crush beer roundup, so I have to ask, what's the favorite beer for the ESJ crew?

Great wine suggestions, bethala! You might give our resident food pairing expert, Katie Loeb, a run for the money!

Wow, what a menu. I kept thinking pinot, pinot, pinot. There are a range of pinot styles, from tight, sexy acidity to fuller voluptuously licorice styles. It might be interesting to select a range of pinots from a variety of regions, and demonstrate how the various styles pair well with different flavors. The dessert will undoubtedly inspire suggestions of dessert wines with corresponding caramel flavors, but I suggest going with something lighter or it will be a caramel-flavor overload. Not a riesling, but perhaps a dessert viognier?

Welcome, Cole! And thank you for your excellent and detailed barrel notes. From your notes, the 2005 pinots seem to be the style I really like. Now when my parents ask when I plan to come visit, I can say, "Are the 2005's out yet?" (Just kidding, mom!)

Jim, what was your daily routine as a cellar rat? Any fun/quirky/disastrous moments? Where did you stay during your visit? Did you miss Diane's cooking?

According to the Sonoma Press Democrat, there's a lotta, lotta merlot out there for sale. And cab, and . . . On the Turrentine Wine Brokerage site, you can search the available bulk market by using the drop down search boxes at the top of the page. Prices are not available on the site (the market is always in flux), but it sure gives you a picture of what's out there waiting to be adopted. If you follow the wine market, Bill Turrentine writes some interesting online newsletters. In Where the Buyers Are, Bill reports that pinot noir is selling hand over fist--and a lot of it is going to start up wineries who don't have vineyards or grape contracts. Hmm, I wonder what sparked that phenomenon? 10,000 gallons of Napa Valley merlot, anyone?

Critics of wine in food stores cite fear of more drunken driving First of all, I'd like to say that I do not support drinking and driving. But the logic of refusing to offer wine products with food totally escapes me. On Saturday morning, I nearly got hit 4 tmes, once at farmer's market by a woman who wasn't looking, and 3 times in Paso Robles as I was dodging 'Pioneer Day' traffic. Here's my script to support the liquor stores' position. ______________________________________ Open: A chic woman in a business suit is standing on the street outside a grocery store. She begins walking toward the camera, which is zooming in from across the street. "As you know, proponents of open liquor licensing are trying to get alcohol products into family markets like . . . aaargh!" (Chic screeches as she tangos past a station wagon running a red light. The woman driver has a Starbucks in one hand, cellphone in the other. She waves the phone in apology while steering away with the Starbucks hand.) "Like this one. Alcohol would be readily available to anyone who wanted to buy it, any time. This would endanger . . ." HOOOONNNK! (Chic gasps as a truck screeches to a stop within inches of her. "Hey lady," the driver yells, "what the [bleep] are you doin' in the middle of the [bleep] street?" And he throws a sticky Krispy Kreme at her as he drives away. (Smoothing goo off her jacket) "Alcohol should be limited to liquor stores, and not placed in family food, uuuggggh!" (As Chic reaches the opposite sidewalk, a wino in a ratty coat barfs on her shoes.) Looking down at the mess sadly, he says, "Well, loohk at it thish way. No chunks! The likker store didn't have no food." He pats her arm reassuringly, causing her to shudder slightly, as he walks away. Chic looks at the camera, looks at her shoes, forgets her lines. Cut.

Great story, John. I love reading your tales. Will you be framing one of these photos for display in the restaurant?

Fun show, Chris! I liked the fact that the judges weren't stuffy and distant, and were taking potshots at each other. It really added to the entertainment value. The lady was a little looped, though . . .

You mention in Wine Camp that you are also the harvest chef for the crush crew. What are you cooking? And how in the world do you manage to help out with harvest, prepare 2 meals a day, and find time to write?

Thanks for mentioning that, "Raoul"! Paso Robles does have a slew of events coming up that weekend in October, and the pasowine website has an easily navigable list of them here. Just find the types of activities you are interested in, and then click on the winery name for specific event information. I searched the Napa wine site for events at local wineries, but couldn't find any information! Huh. Guess you'll have to come to Paso Robles for some real hospitality.

Man, I'm looking at my little stash of pinot and thinking, "But P is so far away . . . " Nevertheless, let's proceed with the C's! And remember, you can always post in A and B if you have a wine you'd like to share.

Join the crowd! Wine can be a lifelong hobby. But it should not consume your life. Or, like me, you will find yourself debt-qualified, as Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars so appropriately phrased it.

Vodka, in my experience. But . . . not to make you . . .

Yes, Mark Ketcham admits that it's an old internet joke they adapted for their own use. I found out about the Ketcham version thanks to poster Michael Alberty at West Coast Wine Net.

Image used with permission of Ketcham Estate Ferrari nut partner of Ketcham Estate, Mark Ketcham also has a quirky spot in his heart for Lola, his Great Dane . . . Cars, dogs, women . . . a sense of humor . . . a love of pinot . . . I love this ad because it's outside the box, it connects about relationships, it's got a quirky, modern sense of humor, and it says hey, men have fashionista spending crushes, too! Comments?

If you were given a budget, and told to design a wine season for FoodTV (not Fine Dining, Discovery, no no no, it's got to be FoodTV) and if you were told that you wouldn't get paid unless the show was signed for a second season . . . What would you do?

Yes, I think it is. Your analogy about regional and ethnic foods is very valid. I am a curious eater, but most of my friends stick with what they know they will enjoy. For many people, the opportunity to relax over a meal or a bottle of wine is rare, and they want to order or buy something they know they can enjoy. I'm guilty of that as well. I have a favorite restaurant here in Paso Robles, Villa Creek, that used to serve this fabulous duck plate--tender, juicy slices of breast, garlic mashed potatoes, and jalapeno jelly--and since my male companions would invariably drink syrah, it was always my choice. I got so boring that when the owner walked by me, he would mutter, "Quack, quack, quack!"

Hello, jessejesse! I experience the same frustration from time to time. Those of us who love wine cannot walk into a wine store without hearing the siren song of undiscovered wines, but many people have a comfort zone that they are reluctant to leave, a wine or a style of wine that they enjoy. Sometimes it's as simple as knowing something about the winery or even being able to pronounce it. As long as they're happy . . .

Forget the ring. He'd better share the La Tache with her!

The first thing that comes to mind for me is of course the 2004 "Peasant", by Four Vines, Paso Robles (Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Counoise). It's not available in Canada (yet), but a similiar blend would do very well. I tasted this blend recently . . . pleasantly rough-hewn, deep berry fruits, clove and cinnamon like tannins. (By the way, their packaging is great--instead of labels the bottles are etched and painted. And everyone should have a black Four Vines "Zin Bitch" T-shirt! Even my 23-year-old son wears one.)

Coiincidentally, Israel winemaking made major industry news twice this month: Lebanese and Israeli Wineries Harvest Grapes in Wake of War (Reminder: please don't discuss politics. However, one may comment on vintner tenacity . . .) This interesting article contains more anecdotes, tasting notes, and weblinks to the wineries mentioned. Israeli Wine Producers Jostling for Recognition Unfortunately, the full article requires a paid subscription to the Moscow Times. (Yes, that Moscow!)