My twin sister? Yes, she's into wine as well!

^twin

noun

1.  either of two children or animals brought forth at a birth.

2.  either of two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other

Pretty self explanatory...unless?

Just off Hwy. 49

On a recent hot, lazy, Saturday afternoon, I realized that it had been a long time since my twin sister and I had seen one another. Oh, you didn't know that I had a twin? You are not alone in this well kept family secret.




Heading to yet another gas station, I teased Kenji's belly with a whopping $20 worth of sustenance. I seem to have a propensity to deprive Kenji of a full tank of gas, lest I starve myself. (For you new followers of this blog, my car is named Kenji, and he plays a significant role in my travels.) Belly teased, we head up Jackson Highway(CA.16) to the ever so small, bustling town of Sutter Creek where my equally passionate, wine loving twin sister, manages a small winery.

The drive seems longer on this day...probably because the outside temperature is rapidly approaching the triple digit mark, and Kenji is doing his best to conserve the precious snack of $20 worth of gas. Doing everything to avoid using the AC, I drive as fast as the speed limit allows, for this is CHP country, and officer Bubba and his cousins enjoy nothing more than pulling over hapless motorist who are unfamiliar with unmarked speed traps.(They don't do a good job of disguising themselves, just look for the front end of a cruiser poking out from a large bush or tree on the opposite side of the highway.) Anyhoo, we arrive at our destination about an hour or so later.

Sutter Creek had grown since my last visit about two years ago. There were now at least four winery tasting rooms, and I would have to visit again to sample their wares. On this day though, it was all about my twin, and I wanted nothing more than to visit and enjoy her company. The wine would have to come second...which was initially the plan.






Chink-Wah! Yep, that's how it is pronounced. As I entered the door of this five generation owned and operated rare gem of a tasting room, there was no one to greet me! Boo, hiss! Not good! I wasn't expecting a red carpet or a confetti laced parade...okay I was, but it caught me off guard that the tasting counter was devoid of a human presence. Fortunately, before the big girl panties bunched up in a knot, my twin had it all under control and quickly surfaced to greet me with a huge hug and a even bigger radiant smile.(Turns out she was handling some business only a few feet away and would NEVER ignore or allow a visitor to be left unattended. We were raised right...ya know!)

Foyer at Cinque

My twin, Alicia, is one of the most thoughtful, warm, intelligent and genuine people in this realm. Her infectious, upbeat demeanor is truly appreciated in the world of pretentious wine snobbery, and visiting her always results in a few unpredictable pranks that only twins can play. This visit would provide yet another "Gotcha" opportunity.

Five in Italian

After settling in, Alicia produced a wine glass and expertly directed and encouraged me to sample the plethora of wine available from this facility and its' sister winery located a few miles away. Being the older sister, I duly complied, and was taken on a wine journey that involved not only a great selection of all things grape, but also included a few surprises in the form of hard ciders.(Going to have to return for a visit to describe these gems)

Chardonnay

Beginning with a Pinot Gris...and my twin knows that this is NOT my favorite grape, I take in the atmosphere of the tasting room. Save for a few microscopic water spots on the entry door, the room is immaculate! Seriously, there isn't a speck of dust anywhere! The displays are neatly filled with an assortment of wine, wine stuff, and wine goodies. The signage is written in an easily readable font..(Lord, I can't stand weird fonts!) and, the temperature is near perfect to preserve the precious life of each bottle of wine. (Considering that the outside temp has arched over the century mark...impressive!)



Alicia by now has a few more customers, so I amble over to a simple plate of patriotic treats she has laid out for guests.

Yummy!

Strawberries, cream cheese, and blueberries paired well with the wine that I am sampling, and Alicia did not hesitate to keep my glass wet with the next selection of wine as she multi-tasked between guests and myself. What was also impressive is that despite being a family member, she only poured the requisite one to two ounce samples of wine.(I,m so proud of her!)

To secure my place at the next family holiday meal by not forgetting to mention that my niece, Desiree...whom I had just met (We are a slightly dysfunctional family) also works in the tasting room. Like her mother, Dez (I think I can call her this) was a natural at customer service. Taking cues from Mummy, Dez was enthralled to finally meet her full monty auntie.

Sauvignon Blanc

As we laughed, talked, hugged and imbibed, Desiree could not help but laugh out loud at our antics. She had heard the stories of how her mother and myself would dupe unwitting customers with our near identical appearance while we worked for two single owner wineries. This and other pranks were a daily ritual for my twin and myself and reliving these happy moments made the visit that much more special.

Let's talk wine...after we introduce the Scotto Family

Rare White Blend

The name Cinque means five in Italian, and five generations of the Scotto family have been sharing their passion for winemaking. Beginning in 1903, when Dominic Scotto emigrated to the United States from Ischia, Italy. Settling in Brooklyn, New York, where he worked as a ship's caulker, he taught his sons to make wine. The wine was then stored in gallon crocks and sold from a horse drawn wagon. A few years later, Dominic opened Scotto's Liquors, a small neighborhood business, which is still open today.(The Scotto Family Story)

The current superstars of Cinque and Serafina wineries, Natalie, Michael, Anthony, Paul and Anne Scotto, are the grandchildren of Anthony Scotto Sr. who began his wine career in 1940 selling gallon jugs of his fathers red wine from a pushcart.(This method of selling wine was common among Italian emigrants) Eight years later, he and his brothers created "Villa Armando," and Italian style rustic red wine. Today, Villa Armando is one of the oldest U.S. wine brands and has filled more than 200,00,000 glasses.(The Scotto Family Story)

The Wine

Visitors at Cinque are treated to one of the most diverse selections of wine from the Scotto family portfolio. Labels include, Sera Fina Cellars, Dancing grape, Scotto Family Cellars, Villa Armando, Nightfall, Regio, and Rare Bubbles. Each has its' own unique flair, and I can honestly say that my favorite was...uh, the, uh, okay, we will talk about that later.

There is definitely something for every palate in this tasting room, and visitors would do well to stop by more than once. Alicia was an expert at fielding questions on each of the labels offered. After three tastes of different white wines, she reminded me that there were a few surprises lurking in the small refrigerator and that she would be sure that I sampled them.

One of two hard ciders

Dark and Naughty!

Perusing the tasting menu as the room began to fill with anxious and familiar customers, I noticed that a young man who happened to be African American had entered the room. Mind you, Sutter Creek is not exactly the urban hub of the lower Sierra foothills. With a 2012 population index consisting of 86% white, 8.3% Hispanic and 2.4% Asian, it was good to know that the remaining 3.3 percentage of inhabitants contained at least one African American.(Rumor has it...there may be more!)

Being mindful of his presence and nonchalantly slipping into research mode, I began a series of innocent questions about his experience living in Sutter Creek. He told me that he loved living in the area, and that he valued the peace and quiet of small towns. He also thoroughly enjoyed learning about the local lore and said that he had not experienced any issues that made him feel uncomfortable.(Boo yeah!) This not only put a smile on my face, but I knew that my twin with all of her wisdom, charm and warmth had made his visits to the tasting room all the more special.(Btw, she does this for everyone!) Cinque was definitely scoring high points from the way he spoke of his experiences while visiting. I was proud to be standing in a tasting room where I could see first hand how an African American was being treated with kindness, dignity, respect and appreciation.

More About the Wine

As the young man retrieved his wine club order, we bade one another farewell and promised to keep in touch. Alicia by now was also in a hurry to get to her next gig. Realizing that I had only sampled a few red wines, She grabbed a bottle of cider laced with Pinot Gris white wine. I refrained from tasting this and asked for more of the Serafina Barbera. I love Italian varietals, and Barbera is a popular grape. The hot climate, hilly slopes and extended growing season lend character to this otherwise nondescript blending grape. The Serafina Barbera was phenomenal.

Barbera!

Because I am a fan of blends, the Regio Dark Red wine began to speak volumes. I might add here that the Scotto family has roughly 35 additional wine labels in their portfolio. For the novice to the expert, this family owned winery clearly has something for everyone.(I know...I'm repeating myself)

Let's Talk Dessert Wine

My Favorite...today!

For those who prefer the sweeter tastes of dessert wine, the Scotto family does not disappoint. Included in their vast portfolio of wine are nine...count them folks, NINE dessert and specialty wines! Though I am not a fan of the sweet stuff...this place is the go to for those who are. (Call ahead to be sure which ones are available for tasting) Alicia knows this is not my forte, but she did insist that I try the bubbles!. Lord, I am not a bubbler, and I graciously declined.

So, you wanna know what my favorite wine was?

It is unfair to say which wine I enjoyed the most as I was very picky...lest I not make it home safely. I would give the Nightfall Tempranillo two slaps upside the head...and that's a good thing! Again, Tempranillo is not one of my favorite grape varietals.(Too light...I like them chewy) However, this particular offering revealed in it's earth characteristic one of the most exciting aspects of wine tasting. If you allow yourself to have an open mind...and an open heart, the experience can be a blessing in disguise. By never criticizing a wine grape that you may have not previously enjoyed, you remove any preconceived ideas of what you do not like. I have been humbled numerous times by saying that I did not like something only to discover that I was fervently drinking whatever it was that I said I didn't like. Be open to new opportunities and allow yourself experiment.

Time to go!

By now, Alicia is frantically trying to get to her next gig.(She hides this well. No one would ever suspect that she is in a hurry) She passes the torch on to Desiree, and bids me farewell with a big sisterly hug. We promise to hook up in the next few weeks before I return to the droll of graduate school, and slip in another big hug before she closes up shop. I have to say that this experience was one I will never forget, and has contributed strongly to my research. Cinque Winery is by far one of the nicest tasting rooms that I have visited. The atmosphere was genuinely warm and inviting. The wine selection was conducive to nearly any palate and my twin sister is an expert in treating folks right. I give this little facility three slaps upside the head...and that's a good thing for being a true destination worthy of a visit. And on a final note...my twin and myself will always have the last laugh.

Twins...who happen to be 11 months apart!

Until next time,


Salute!


Cinque

83 Main Street

Sutter Creek, CA

95685

209-267-0900

www.cinquewines.com

Feedback appreciated.  Thank You!

Staggs Leap...in MY back yard?

Tintoria; Dark and Naughty!

Year three of my personal research journey as a wine blogger has taught me much about all things grape, and I have finally reached a pinnacle...or, as some would say, a boredom with the repetitive flavors of California wine. It didn't help that a recent invite to a private tasting in San Francisco at the exclusive Four Seasons Hotel, introduced me to Greek wines, and that their winemaking style is something to definitely pay attention to. (Not going to mention that the food provided was to die for! Nope, not going to say anything.) Greek wine is sooooo different from California wine, or, from any other wine region that I have experienced, so much that, oh wait, I'm writing about a new place in the Sacramento Delta. We'll talk about Greek wine later.
Meanwhile,  to alleviate the boredom, the repetitive, never ending barrage of all things California grape juice, I have had to dig deeper into the nooks and crannies of the California wine country to find that elusive, unique, dark and naughty wine that I love so dearly.

The Journey Continues!

Because I am still a full-time student/freelance photojournalist/wine blogger, I'm cash pour, but passion inspired. Translation; the car eats better than I do, which enables me to visit those out of the way, difficult to find, rare, hidden, gems so far from where I live.

After putting five dollars in my car, Kenji's gas tank, (Yes, folks, it's like this, I'm BROKE!) me and my ever so willing to ride shotgun cousin, Sojo, departed for a day of exploration and new adventures.

We began our day, roughly twelve miles from my front yard, by visiting an old favorite haunt in Clarksburg, The Sugar Mill. Sojo needed to check on her wine club at a winery that I will write about soon, and after sampling a few wines at this unnamed facility, we decided to check out a winery on the eastern side of the Sacramento River.

As we drove away from the Sugar Mill, and as luck would have it, we spotted a sign just ahead, on the levee road, about the size of a standard piece of copy paper, perched atop what appeared to be a street barrier, behind some roadside scrub weeds. I have no idea how Sojo spotted the sign, and once I slowed Kenji (That's what I call my car) to a crawl,  and put on my 2+ power reading glasses, the sign jumped out in plain view for me to see as well.

New Winery!

The sign says it all...sort of?

Initially, the sign did not indicate how far one would have to drive on this desolate back road,and not seeing anything except endless dirt and the occasional field of unknown crops, we nearly turned around twice. But Kenji, (That's what I call my car) running on fumes by now, persevered, and we continued onward to seek out this new promise of wine.

As we drove west, the road became dotted with full, heavy fruit laden vineyards bathing in the delta sunlight. Having traveled these back roads many times, I was reminded of the days of endless sugar beet and tomato trucks ferrying their loads along the nearby winding and precarious levee road. It gives me great joy to see grapevines planted in these fields, and even more joy to see the area become a new destination for wine and tourism.

Julietta Winery

 Squinting through the glare of my windshield, we arrived at Julietta Winery, unsure if they were still open. (The Sugar Mill had just booted us for a wedding taking place at five.) Pulling into the gravel driveway, we were greeted by a couple who genuinely were glad to see us. How do I know this? Gravel driveways kick up a ton of dust, which is not good for grapevines. On more than one occasion, I have been reprimanded for driving two miles per hour on the often posted five miles per hour signs on gravel driveways that many wineries have. Thus, I was prepared to be spanked for kicking up dust...again! Anyhoo, we were spared the verbal tongue lashing for kicking up dust and greeted warmly by the owners, Craig and Julie Russell.

Julie and Craig Russell, in their tasting room

Craig Russell, born and raised in Napa, is a retired general contractor. Tending to newly planted grapevines along the driveway, as we drove in, he and his wife Julie, the director of charter schools for the State of California, warmly invited us to come in for a taste of their wines. This caught both Sojo and I by surprise. We both have a lot of experience working winery tasting rooms, and we  know what it's like for the last visitor to pull in the parking lot at closing time. Nonetheless, we took note of this genuine warm greeting and parked in the ample parking lot.

Note: Having recently completed a course in liability and risk management, I was particularly pleased to see that the parking lot was one of the most professionally ADA compliant designed features that I had ever seen at a winery. This gave me the warm and fuzzy's to know that the owners were cognizant of their duty to provide for those with disabilities.
We parked and marveled at the charming, rustic building, the westward, fast approaching  sunset and the meticulous new landscape. The air was full of warmth and the delta breeze had just begun to blow, cooling the air and beckoning us to stay a bit longer. We instantly fell in love with the atmosphere, but were just beginning to experience what real hospitality is all about.

Sign at entrance of Julietta Winery

In the world of customer service, and more accurately, in the wine industry...at least at wineries that I have worked at, when a customer arrives at closing time, you serve them. You do not EVER make them feel as though they are not welcome, or worse, that you have something better to do...like LEAVE, because it's two minutes till ??? I know this all too well;  in my experience, I once was asked to re-open a closed winery tasting room to facilitate customers who had been delayed due to some un- avoidable issue. Did I like doing this? No, but hey, it's what you do to take care of guests...and you do it with a genuine smile.

Craig and Julie did just this, and it was with a genuine warmth that gave Sojo reason to begin planning her birthday bash, to be held at this rare delta gem.

The Monet inspired tasting room

Leading us into the large, well lit, warm and cozy tasting room which had been a former corrugated steel building, the inviting layout held numerous opportunities for large gatherings, private dinners or just a day to watch the game on the wall mounted flat screen television. Leather chairs, located at the double door exit to the large covered patio were available for intimate conversations, and the western facing window provided a perfect opportunity to watch the delta sunset.
Julie assured us that they would be putting up a shade to control the vast amount of sunlight that entered through the windows, but would still allow guests to experience the view.

The room is designed with a then not known Monet inspiration that Craig had somehow mentally conceived. Perhaps it was a spiritual manifestation? He was soon given a book about artist Claude Monet's studio. While leafing through the pages of the book, one cannot help but notice that the architecture, material and fixtures are nearly identical to the design in Julietta's tasting room. The spiritual manifestations do not cease here, but I'll allow the Russell's to share the story of how the winery got its' name when you come for a visit.

Sauntering through the front door, I was enthralled by the outdoor fire pit. This feature alone would be enough to encourage me to visit often. (I should also mention that there is a slough that careens next to the winery with a promise of bass fishing. Just sayin'.) Craig, who was attentive and gracious at all times, offered the use of the fire pit for late evening date nights, or just a way to unwind with a bottle of wine as long as we gave prior notice that we would be on the premises. Similar to the days when folks left the keys to their house under the doormat in case you needed to get in while they were out, honesty and trust have become relics of the past. However, the Russell's have decided that this will be how they operate their winery; good old fashioned customer service.

The Wine

Dark and Naughty!

 Customer service aside...and they had already hooked us to the point of becoming regular visitors, the wine is...well, PHENOMENAL! Remember when I said that I was bored with California wine? Not any more!

Introducing Tintoria! Sometimes referred to as Alacante Bouschet, is a teinturier wine grape. Unlike most red grape varietals that have white flesh innards, teinturier, a French word meaning "tinter" or 'dyer" grapes have red tinted flesh that make significantly richer colored wines. Originally used as blending grapes, these dark and naughty (because they have flavors that are sometimes elusive and complex) high - yielding, easy to grow varietals are not for the faint of heart.

Widely planted in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, Spain and Portugal, and to a lesser extent in parts of Italy, Israel, Chile, Africa and California, the varietal is a clone of Petit Bouschet and Grenache first cultivated by viticulturalist Henri Bouschet in 1866. One of the grapes more historical contributions is that it was used to help rebuild the 19th century Phylloxera epidemic that devastated the European wine industry. During prohibition in the United States, Alicante Bouschet was grown in California and sold on the east coast as table grapes. For wine production, its' thick skin allowed wine makers to press the grape several times to make sure every drop of color and tannins were extracted to give wines their rich color and texture. Alacante Bouschet has always been one of my favorite varietals and is becoming more difficult to find. With a little prodding, Craig unselfishly allowed us to sample this wine more than once...lest we not be sure that we like it.

Blue residue from the Tintoria

As a bonafide Rhone wine connoisseur,  Syrah is also another favorite. Julietta winery does not disappoint with this palate puckering varietal. I'll avoid the over described fruit forward, smokey, yada, yada, yada, wine speak.  This wine was...Orgasmic! Yes, a bottle of this, a Teddy Pendergast CD and the outdoor fire pit...can you say, "Date Night!"

In the words of Teddy P., "Come here!"

Winemaker Brian Brown, formerly of Trefethan and Round Pond Wineries, and now at Onyx in Paso Robles, knows what he is doing when it comes to creating wine that Craig and Julie enjoy sharing with their guests. Because they are not winemaker themselves, they entrusted Brian to do his thing in the process, but he on the other hand, was more interested in creating what they enjoyed drinking and wanted to share with their guests. This made Craig a bit uneasy in the beginning, but he soon understood that winemaking is a visceral art form and that passion is one of the most important components in the formula. Brian was able to translate their passion for wine, life and sharing of their blessings through the creation of a selection of both red and white wines that are sure to impress the most astute wine drinker or the novice who just wants to enjoy a great day on the delta.

Speaking of Staggs Leap?

Craig samples, "The Cab!"

 Remember when I said that I was bored with California wine? Pulling out all of the stops, Craig allowed me on a second visit to sample their Staggs Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. This Napa Valley/Oakville/Saint Helena grown wine is 96 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/4 percent of a unknown to Craig white wine varietal. That quarter percent of something proves that Brian is a master at making red wine. It is not uncommon to add white grape varietal juice to red wine as most red grape varietals have white flesh. The skins are what give red wine its' color.
Drooling in anticipation, Craig produced the professionals choice for wine retrieval, a turkey baster, to draw a sample for me to taste. Sniffing, swirling and sniffing some more, the wine was beyond good from this standpoint. Now it was time to introduce it to my over saliva filled mouth. Boo Yeah!  Unbelievable, and indescribable! I was too engaged with my glass to get minor details such as when the wine will be ready, how much did they produce and what will the price point be. Call them and ask for yourselves, or better yet, visit! I'm still thinking about this amazing wine!

Click on label to enlarge

Another special wine, and quite nice to drink on any given day, is the red table blend aptly called, "Beverly's Legacy." The wine was named in honor of Craig's mother, Beverly. According to Craig, his mother enjoyed a popular Napa wine blend that inspired the creation of this wine. However, the most unique thing about the wine is the dual year marked on the label. This is a rarity, as the TTB (Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau) do not allow two vintage dates...or any date on a non-vintage wine label. Again, you will have to visit the winery to get the full story on this.

As I wrapped up my second visit, the Russell's  filled me in on future plans for the winery. A bocce ball court, dog park and small pond are in the works, and they plan to add a VIP tasting parlor to their nearby home.

For now, the warm, genuine hospitality, creative operational hours (Remember, date night?), outdoor fire pit, covered patio, large tasting room (Don't forget the careening water better known as "Duck Slough...bring a fishing pole. Just sayin') and excellent wine provide guests with enough reasons to make this new winery a destination worth visiting. I give this location three "slaps upside the head," and that's a good thing!

Julietta Winery, Get in there, Damn it! (Julie's words)

Until next time,
Salute!


51221 Clarksburg Road Clarksburg, CA 95612. Tasting Room Open Thursday - Sunday, or by appointment. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 
www.juliettawinery.com

Date night for sure!

Seriously...I've been busy!

This is going to be short...I'm tired! New posts coming this week! Salute!

I'm baaaaaack!

Hey Y'all,

Yes, I have been MIA, but...let's see, where to begin? Okay, grad school, going well. The pain associated with research, annotated bibliographies of no fewer than 300 journals, articles, book chapters, interviews and endless, mind boggling, pointless, but necessary, reading of long winded, egomaniacal, "I need to be published, or I'm going to die!," rhetoric, feels good! It is finally coming together. Now, we begin the first of many in depth research projects that focus on my true passion, nuclear physics. Just kidding. It is obvious where my passion flows,wine. Literally and figuratively. (I actually know quantum physics...just sayin')

As I navigate through the myriad of peer reviewed journals associated with all things grape, I will be sharing my findings with a broader audience. Please keep following.

Until next time,

Salute!

Got to love "FREEDOM" of speech!

I recently participated in a discussion on the validity of amateur wine bloggers as journalists, versus traditional journalist, and came away with a few tidbits of interesting information. But, before I go into what was learned, please, before you stop reading, let me say that bad or improper writing, especially writing that is full of grammatical and typographical errors is never enjoyable to read. In my opinion, and by the way, this blog is all about my opinion, anyone, who at least warmed a chair in a primary english class, should recognize proper writing skill.

Using personal opinion based on the true or false question format, here are my findings. Please note that the discussion involved a small group of highly experienced, so-called wine experts with a collective dislike of traditional journalists.

1. Amateur wine bloggers, who write while partaking of the grape juice make a tremendous amount of typographical errors...and are proud of it! True.

One such blogger who participated in the discussion, was unapologetic about her lack of skill in writing and proud of the fact that she could read and fully comprehend her numerous typos and blatant grammatical faux pas. She was especially astute at making these errors while ranting about a wine she did not like. She further explained that the best way for her to develop a clear evaluation of a wine, was to consume the entire bottle in one sitting and write about the offensive, vile, liquid while she had the frame of mind to do so. Remind me NOT to read too much into what she shares with her audience. Just sayin.'

2. Professional journalist who visit two or more wineries in their lifetime...which is all of 24 years for one in particular, do have the necessary skill to inform the public that they are wine experts. True.

There is nothing more enjoyable than being bored to death by a journalist who has been handed an assignment to go "wine tasting" and report what they found interesting about a particular wine.
The participants in the discussion took great care in ripping this J-guy to pieces. Admittedly,  I took a few below the belt shots at him for writing skills that would send a wine drinker to the nearest beer tavern. Seriously, J-folks...and this is an acronym for journalists,  unless you write copy for the wineries visited, acknowledge plagiarism and don't repeat the tasting notes word for word...without citations! By the way, not all Chardonnnays...(Yes, that's how he spelled it) have an oaky clairvoyance, that is indicative of innumerable months spent in oak casks made from oak trees grown in oak forests. Moving on..

3. Amateur wine bloggers, especially those who just started writing their blogs...and drinking wine, because they recently went wine tasting and have always wanted to write a wine blog, know everything about writing a wine blog because they have always been told that they can write, and should write about something that they know very little about, but enjoy nonetheless. True.

I suddenly understand how my college english professors could check their emails, update their Facebook posts and balance their checkbooks while listening to endless, mind boggling, unapologetic, poorly written essays as they are presented by chair warmers who suck the life out of their classmates who actually DO know how to write! I wanted to friend this lady on Facebook just to become her personal grammar Nazi as well as someone who would tell her that she should perhaps try writing after a glass or two of something a little stronger than wine. Just sayin.'

4. Professional journalists hate wine blogs, wine bloggers, and social media writing with it's influx of acceptable bad grammar and spelling errors...(got to love those tiny keyboards and the abundant amount of space between each letter), but have been forced to learn the intricate nature of Tweeting which has made it perfectly fine to LOL and say WTF, it's just grape juice! True.

Many self respecting journalists do hate bloggers...simply because it is now acceptable to be a bad writer...and get away with it! Nuff said.

5. Lastly, blogging is not going away. True.

Until hell freezes over and heaven requires that one pass an english grammar class before entering the pearly gates, bloggers will continue to expose us to all things grammatically incorrect. Additionally, we will have to accept that after a glass or six of a good Chianti, those bright red underlines beneath misspelled words seem to enhance a bloggers inability to care whether caps lock is perpetually stuck in the on position or if the word or words are actually misspelled. (Admit it, have any of us ever paused and questioned spell check?)

Admittedly, I do make a lot of grammatical mistakes, and occasionally do battle with spell check. However, at the end of the day, I am, a blogjournalist, and proud of it!

Until next time,

Karen

...and my favorite winery is? Todd Taylor Wine.

I have mentioned this a thousand times, my life sucks! Ok, not REALLY, but it is pure joy visiting as many wineries as one can in the space of a year. In all of my travels, I have met some of the most interesting wine makers. Their stories of why they do what they do, are varied. However, their passions are very similar. Of them all, Todd Taylor stands a notch above many in his own unique way.

Why?

Well, the guy can cook. Emeril Lagasse, look out! Members of the wine club at Todd Taylor wines are treated to a release party at least twice a year. What is a release party? As members of the wine club, whenever a new wine is released, whether it is a new vintage of a previous offering, or something that Todd has never made before, (we'll go into that later. Think barrel tasting), Todd throws down...(this means he can SERIOUSLY cook) on the grill. With the help of his son, T.R., and his wife Gloria, there is no end to what culinary feats he can create.

On a recent visit...who am I kidding, I stalk this winery, Todd and Gloria happily allowed me to use them as guinea pigs for my new skill of video production and editing. As compensation for my efforts, I was treated to a phenomenal lunch of Grilled pork loin and brussels sprouts. Just my luck, I was not feeling well this day, thus I was only able to nibble on a little of the food. Worse yet, I could not enjoy any of his awesome wine. One small sip, and, uhhh, where's the sandbox?

As I mingled among the guests and tasting room folks, Todd gave me a history lesson in his humble beginnings. Believe it or not, he hails from an exciting career as a package salesman! Oh wait, it gets better. His first wines were made in his garage, and...he never intended to make his blessing a life long vocation. I'm so glad that he did. He doesn't take himself too seriously, which is refreshing, and underneath his mellow personality belies a man who seriously enjoys spoiling his wine club members. Note: Everyone who enters the tasting room is equally spoiled, wine club member or not.

I could go on for days about Todd and Gloria's good natured, old fashioned kindness, but I really want all of you to enjoy this production. This is the first time that I am embedding a full length video into this blog. Please, do not bite your PC screen while watching Todd and his son prepare a feast for their wine club members.

As you can see, Todd can cook! Lord, I wish I had some aluminum foil for a to-go plate! Anyhoo, about those barrels? Yes, Todd sells his wine as futures. What are futures? Well, when a particular wine becomes popular and people begin to deplete it's supply, wineries will sometimes pre-sell a wine before it is finished. Why? Usually it is because the previous vintage was stellar, and wine connoisseurs...or those who just love wine, will buy a wine based on the prospect that the new vintage will be better, different, unique, etc. The reality is, they get first dibs and usually a healthy discount if they buy the wine as a future. The good news is, that if the wine turns out to be a whole lot better than the previous vintage, the price usually goes up. This means that a person who invests in a "future" could be the holder of a rare and unique vintage of a particular wine. (Note: futures are often sold in case (12) quantities which is why they are sometimes discounted)

Ok, enough about futures. Did you like the video? I hope that you did, because I plan to add these little productions to future blogs. A lot of work goes into putting these promo's together, and some feedback would be appreciated.  Thanks to Todd, Gloria and T.R for sharing their day with me, and thank you everyone who reads this blog.

PS...visit Todd Taylor Wine in the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg. He is open Saturday and Sundays or by appointment.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Karen

They came; they were charged a tasting fee. They didn't like it, but they will be back.

On a recent visit to a nearby winery, a change in personnel resulted in a few customer service glitches. Because of this, I will withhold the name of this winery and only write about my experience. Unlike previous winery visits, where I would visit a winery as a novice wine taster, I approached this winery as an aspiring researcher. My goal was to fine tune a few skills in information gathering and to practice video taping. Although I was able to get a few good clips of footage, the experience of being on the inside of the operations of this particular winery were troubling.

The initial idea of this blog was to experience wine tasting on the other side of the tasting bar as an African American woman with several years of wine server experience.  It is obvious to anyone who frequents tasting rooms that people of color are rarely if ever seen working in tasting rooms. Having visited more than 245 wineries, I have only witnessed three African Americans working  as wine servers within the last year. Since that time, none of these individuals currently work in the tasting rooms where I observed them. With the recent exception of people of Asian descent, I have not seen any other easily identifiable peoples of other racial groups serving wine. I am not saying that they do not exist; there are more than 3400 wineries in California*.  I am only writing from personal observation.

On a recent visit to the aforementioned winery, I noticed that the tasting room had several new people working. I was pleased to see that two of the new people were of Asian decent. This was very positive as I am well aware that American wines, particularly California wines,  are fast becoming popular in China. Several wineries have recently forged strategic alliances with large Chinese companies to provide them with some of the best California wines. Having firsthand experience with a winery that is actively forging alliances, California wines will be prominently consumed on major airlines and enjoyed in the best restaurants in China.

Entering the winery, it was difficult not to notice that the atmosphere seemed heavy, and everyone in attendance seemed anxious. Unlike before, where this tasting room felt warm and inviting, the tension among those working was almost smothering. Incidentally, I only returned to do more research due to receiving a complaint from an associate that I had referred to this winery. When I entered the tasting room, those who were familiar with me were cordial. The two new people though, were suspicious, aloof and watched...yes, I said watched, every move that I made. Of the two, the person behind the tasting bar never acknowledged me, never offered wine and seemed to be frozen in place. The other repeatedly looked up from working at the computer to ear hustle every word spoken between the manager and myself. Perhaps being a new employees, there was some nervousness. However, observing from an adjacent corner of the shared tasting room, it was obvious that this person was more cordial to other customers...who were not people of color. Perhaps they were familiar with the people observed, but after 20 minutes and several waves of customers, this was most likely not the case.

The media has parodied the relationships between Asian business owners and African American's in movies such as Friday, and Don't be a Menace (to south central while drinking your juice in the hood).
Produced, and gleaned from personal experiences, by African American actors Shawn and Marlon Wayans, the films depict Asian business owners as being rude, suspicious and confrontational towards African American patrons. Having seen both films, I can acknowledge that the depictions were a bit over the top. However, in the past, I have a few personal experiences with these type of behaviors, thus, I do not believe that I was being overly sensitive to the treatment received from the new hires.

 To further understand this experience, I spoke on the condition of anonymity to someone who was familiar with the winery and who expressed concerns about the new hires. The racial identity of the new employees was not a concern of this person; it was their age. Both appeared to be in their early twenties, and that working hours for long term employees were being reduced to accommodate the new hires. With several years of experience in wine sales, customer service and hospitality, it appeared to this person that the more mature wine servers were being squeezed out in favor of younger employees.They also indicated that the new hires had no experience in wine sales that they were aware of, and little in the way of customer service.

Additional validation for a lack of customer service, came with a complaint from a group of people that I referred to the facility that this winery is located in. The group of people was comprised of African American's visiting from Sacramento and New Jersey. They reported to me that as they walked past the tasting room of this winery, they were accosted by a employee who lead them into the tasting room to taste wine. They were seated, and served cheese and crackers. After sampling most of the wines on the tasting list, they were coldly informed that they owed $20.00. This caught them off guard. Had they been informed that there would be a tasting fee beforehand,  they indicated that they may have elected to not visit this particular winery. However, after protesting the fee, they were still willing to buy wine. They paid the fee and bought a bottle of wine. (At some wineries, tasting fees are waived if a bottle is purchased. In this case, it was not)

In hindsight, one of the people in the group informed me that they felt that the person was probably new, but also added that they did not see anyone else paying a tasting fee. This annoyed them, as they had never wine tasted before and did not know that tasting fees are becoming a standard protocol. However, as they visited a few other tasting rooms nearby, they were informed before being served that there would be a tasting fee. (note: the group was not familiar with wine club member protocol; tasting fees  are usually waived. It is possible that some of the people observed not being charged a tasting fee may have been wine club members of the winery being visited) It should also be mentioned that at no time were any members of this group offered the opportunity to join a wine club. They all agreed that no one at any of the wineries engaged them in conversations or educated them about wine. By their observations, none of the tasting rooms were overly busy or  appeared to be understaffed.


Fortunately, this experience did not deter the group from considering a follow up visit to this and other nearby wineries. As first time wine tasters, the experience was eye opening, but not discouraging. Additionally,  one of the members of the group stated that their behavior was exuberant and loud and that perhaps the wine servers that they encountered on this day may not have had experience in dealing with these behaviors. It should also be mentioned that their complaints were brought to the attention of the winery manager who promptly offered a complimentary bottle of wine to be forwarded to the group.

Good save manager X!

Until next time,

Karen


*2010 statistics found here:

 http://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article124