UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

BOOK REVIEW: A Glass Full of Miracles

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A Glass Full of Miracles is an inspiring autobiography written by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Vintner and Co-Owner of Napa Valley’s Grgich Hills Estate Winery.

Fleeing his native homeland of war-torn Communist Croatia in 1958, with only a stack of viticulture books, a wooden suitcase and his life savings of $32.00 sewed into the soles of his shoes, Grgich set off to America in search of a better life. His dream was to become a winemaker in the rugged Napa Valley.

While his journey was riddled with setbacks, Grgich always saw his “glass as half full” and would be showered with much good fortune and “miracles” along the way.

The book reads like a Hollywood script, with all the major Napa Valley players of the day ~ Noted 1960’s Winemakers Robert Mondavi, Andre Tchelistcheff, Lee Stewart, August Sebastiani, Joe Heitz, Lee Paschich and Jim Barrett were a few of the early working friendships formed.

Fast forward to 1972, where Grgich was now at the helm as the new winemaker for Chateau Montelena in Calistoga, at the north end of the Napa Valley.  Another “miracle” in Grgich’s life.  With the financial backing of Paschich and Barrett, Grgich outfitted the ghost winery with the necessary presses, crushers, hoppers, tanks, pumps and oak barrels and replanted the abandoned vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

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To Join Or Not To Join ~ The Myth Behind Wine Club Memberships

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On my last visit to Northern Sonoma Wine Country, I re-evaluated the value of my coveted collection of wine club memberships. In jest, I often call myself the “Wine Club Queen,” as I love to join wine clubs, but rarely stay in the club longer than the norm.   Industry statistics show members typically remain in a wine club for 25 months. So what gives? Why join a wine club? Or better yet, why do members leave a club?

For some weekend wine warriors, wine tasting is akin to a cult group activity with the primary goal of getting a buzz.  Take Southern California’s Temecula Wine Country for example. On any given weekend, there is a parade of party busses packed with pretty 20-something year old bachelorette party-ers adorned with sashes and glitzy tiaras who are seriously drinking their way through the valley.   I doubt few, if any, join a wine club, or even buy a bottle of wine.

Then, there’s the yearly Sonoma County’s Wine Road Barrel Tasting Weekend event.  The word on the wine trail is that the younger crowd seizes the challenge in drinking as much barely aged barrel wine as possible,  despite the inevitable dizzying aftermath.   I doubt few, if any, invest in the barrel futures or join a wine club.

So besides the thrill of the hunt for the perfect wine tasting event, the perfect wine or even the most beautiful winery setting, there are some benefits to joining a wine club such as meeting the winemaker, private tastings, tours and exclusive events.  For me, it’s always the story behind the vines that sparks my interest. [Read more…]

Do Wine Credentials Really Add Value?

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As Louis Pasteur reportedly said, “Chance favors the prepared mind”.  This may be true, however, Wine Spectator‘s Matt Kramer believes otherwise.  In a much contested Wine Spectator editorial, “Not A Trivial Pursuit,”  dated February 16, 2016, Kramer rants:

“The modern demand for a credential is larger and more substantive than mere careerism… We now insist on a kind of professionalization that has less to do with the benefits of an education and more to do with jumping through hoops held by others in order to acquire a diploma of some kind.”

At the time, when I read his column, I, too, was miffed, as were countless Sommeliers, Wine Educators and those pursuing professional wine education certificates and diplomas, dissing Kramer on social media.   I had personally just tested for the WSET Level 3 (Wine Spirit Education Trust) certification after four months of intensive study and  substantial cost.  Was I wasting my time?

Another month passed before I received my results from London’s WSET office that I had passed the exam with Merit.  Now I could finally add a set of initials post nominal to lend credibility to my future wine career.

I let Kramer’s remarks fade away until I sat for my FWS (French Wine Society) certification a few months later.   Once again, Kramer’s ignorant editorial surfaced in my mind and I questioned the worth of obtaining another wine certification.  Alas, I had passed the FWS exam with Highest Honors and added another set of initials post nominal.

Proud of my two wine certification achievements, I thought, why not one go for one more certificate?  To help me on my way, I applied for and received two scholarships to offset the cost of attending the Napa Valley Wine Academy’s crash course for the CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine).  After several months of countless hours of studying, I passed the CSW exam with flying colors and added yet, another set of initials post nominal.

Despite Kramer’s dim view of flaunting one’s wine milestone accomplishments, I am proud to be certifiably certified.

Deborah Mines, WSET Level 3, FWS, CSW

NEW BOOK RELEASE: Pinot, Pasta, And Parties

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At first glance, Pinot, Pasta, And Parties co-authored by actor Paul Sorvino and Emmy award winner Dee Dee Sorvino, reads unlike most cookbooks.

Paul and Dee Dee engage the reader in an intimate first-person dialogue about their relationship at the beginning of each chapter.  Sated with dozens of snapshots into the personal life of the Sorvinos, the cookbook resembles a script more like an indie film with still photography.

Pinot, Pasta, And Parties features 10 themed multi-course Italian menus from apertivos to dolce.  To kickstart the party, each chapter showcases one of Dee Dee’s Special Cocktail recipes.

Each of Paul’s recipes are described in simple form with step-by-step cooking hints that even an unabashed novice chef can appreciate.  

For Italian wine lovers, there is an excellent appendix with descriptions of the major red and white grape varietals.  And if you’re curious about the title, Pinot, Pasta, And Parties, the Sorvinos are referring to the infamous Pinot Grigio grape grown in northeastern Italy.

Last but not least, kudos to Photographer Vincent Remini for capturing the mouthwatering dishes so beautifully.

Pinot, Pasta, And Parties will be released April 18, 2017 by Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group. http://www.centerstreet.com

NEW BOOK RELEASE: A Perfect Score ~ The Art, Soul and Business of a 21st Century Winery

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unknown-3A Perfect Score ~ The Art, Soul and Business of a 21st Century Winery is an interesting read for wine aficionados everywhere.  Written and narrated by Craig and Kathryn Hall of Napa Valley’s Hall Wines, the book takes readers on an arduous journey from the vine to the glass.

Kathryn was rooted in the family wine business in Mendocino County long before meeting Craig in 1991.  Circumstances drew Kathryn away from her beloved vineyards and into a political career in Dallas, Texas where she met Craig by happenstance.

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While Kathryn had winemaking in her ancestral blood, Craig had the business acumen to financially launch their dream of making world-class Cabernet Sauvignon in the then-sleepy Napa Valley.

Together they forged ahead and purchased a neglected vineyard with a fixer-upper house and began custom crushing wine.  The rest, per se, was history.  And what a great history it was!

The Perfect Score narratives between Craig and Kathryn painted the colorful, yet often heart-wrenching tale of building a wine business from the vineyard to the bottle.  Intimate details of the toil in the fields, marketing snafus and disappointing crop failures resonated throughout the book, yet the will to succeed was tantamount. Emotions ran raw as the losses mounted  Yet, the Halls prevailed. [Read more…]