Make-Your-Own Wine Shops

I often get asked about those make-your-own wine shops and if they’re any good. You know the ones I mean. You pick the style or varietal you want made and have some minimal input into helping produce it, but the majority of the work is done by the store staff. It generally works out to be substantially less inexpensive compared to buying commercial wines and you can put your own customized labels on the bottles. Most of these places utilize concentrated juice from various wine regions of the world. So what of the quality of the finished wines? I have yet to find any that are really good as it’s hard to make great wine from concentrate. However, the experience and overall cost of creating a wine can be rewarding and fun.

Napa Valley

I just returned from a short book tour to California supporting my newly released novel “Pinot Envy”. After an event in the town of Napa, my publisher and I managed to work in a quick visit to Opus One further up in the valley for a tour and tasting. Of course the visit and wine were spectacular, but what was re-enforced was the sheer beauty and uniqueness of this amazing wine-growing region. A world unto itself, it possesses some of the most, expensive, prime real estate on the planet with its own distinct microclimate. Still plenty warm in Napa (compared to San Fran), the grapes are looking great and harvest is underway. From all accounts, it’s looking like it should be another impressive vintage. Can’t wait!

A Drunken Job?

When many people hear that certain folks are in the wine business, they automatically think their life is but a party and they’re loaded all the time. There’s no question that the business is more lifestyle than job and wine folk are certainly lots of fun and enjoy themselves, but drunk all the time? Absolutely not! It’s a business after all, but most consumers only see the hedonistic side of it. Anyone in the business who abuses alcohol tends to not last in it very long. They are either forced out through their own medical problems resulting from over use, from making spectacles of themselves, or ultimately through lack of business because of it. If anything, being in the wine biz, gives one a better appreciation of its potential problems.

Stemless Wine Glasses

Ever use stemless wine glasses that look like short tumblers you’d drink water or juice out of? Although more stable when partying or sipping outdoors, I’m not sure they’re great for wine appreciation. With no stem, you hold the glass by the barrel, blocking the visual aspect of the wine. You can’t see the cleanliness, colour, depth of colour or beading. If the wine is chilled, the heat from your hand warms it up quickly. Furthermore, they’re just not very aesthetic. Lots of tavernas and bistros in Europe that aren’t particularly wine savvy, utilize similar type glasses, not specifically designed for wine, to give the dining experience a rustic, “old world” feel. If you’re serious about wine, they’re probably not the best choice.