So what does “waiting for the other shoe to drop” really mean? Here’s a little backstory to the ominous phrase. In the tenements of New York City in the late 19th and early 20th century, apartments were built with bedrooms stacking another. It was common to hear your upstairs neighbor take off a shoe, drop it, and then repeat the action. Hence, “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” literally means waiting for something to happen that you feel is inevitable. Much like all of 2020, California wineries are now “waiting for the other shoe to drop” and will be keeping a close eye on neighboring Oregon’s Willamette Valley during the next month.
Last week, Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown announced that a two-week statewide lockdown will begin November 18th, shuttering all restaurants, bars and tasting rooms for on-site consumption, both indoor and outdoor, to help slow the spread of Covid-19. Many wine industry experts fear the same will happen in California in the coming months. For now, wineries statewide are struggling to keep the outdoor patio areas open for tasting and bottle sales during the cooler fall temperatures. It is no surprise that the big winners are the party rental companies who supply the canvas tents, tables, chairs and portable propane heaters. Several wineries in Russian River Valley are being proactive and constructing permanent covered outdoor seating areas, hoping to attract visitors in the off-months, weather permitting.
In the meantime, as we all wait for the return to “normalcy”, check out the myriad of virtual wine tastings and events offered online. High-end wineries offer personalized virtual group tastings which bring family and friends together in a fun, festive way. So raise your glass high and support your favorite local wineries and order holiday wines online! Cheers ~