Valentine’s Day gets mixed reviews every year. Some of my friends hate it. Some say it is their favorite holiday. I land somewhere in the middle. Overly commercialized “moments” have never drawn me in, and yet it is fun to get a box of homemade sugar cookies and scribbled cards from my niece and nephew, and somehow rewarding to have my partner call me from work gushing about the beautiful flowers that were just delivered. The question is, am I selling out if I participate? Am I giving in to the commercial machine? Perhaps I can take a step back and think about outcomes this year.

The kids love giving gifts, writing cards, and are so proud of what they are able to present. Would I ever want to take that away from them or devalue it?

All weekend I have seen couples being kind, thoughtful, romantic, and downright cute with each other. I’m not talking about excessive PDA. I mean there has been a spirit of gentleness and caring for the most part. Do I wish to mock a holiday that has brought more of this attitude to the surface?

And finally, we get to break out the bubbly. I’ve been holding on to a couple nice bottles and this weekend has provided an excellent opportunity to pop those tops and enjoy. The day is starting out with brunch at TMacs (T. Maccarone’s), which will include delicious beverages. The rest of the activities for the day (finishing a finance paper and a PowerPoint presentation) will require a celebratory drink when completed. And I believe that there is a nice line-up of classic films tonight for which the only appropriate drinks would be Champagne or martinis.

Here is hoping you have a beautiful Sunday, regardless of your feelings about Valentine’s Day. And remember how fun it can be to add some bubbly to a Sunday morning. I think we will start off with a little Riondo Prosecco, maybe the Pink Prosecco, and we will go from there.

Photographs by Richard Perry/The New York Times

We are all familiar with Gary Vaynerchuk and his gen-crazy style of marketing and wine tasting. But the truth is, the guy is incredibly successful. He is a tour de force in the wine world, gathering more new wine lovers than any other wine critic or writer in the world, I’d dare say. The following is an article in the New York Times. Check it out.
The Pour – This Wine Critic Can Drive People to Drink – NYTimes.com

One of my favorite episodes contained this description, which is also mentioned in the NYT article.

[W]hen he talked about another pinot noir from the Sonoma Coast, a 2006 Kanzler, he seemingly went off the deep end in describing its flavor:

“You hit a deer, you pull off to the side of the road, then you stab the deer with a knife, cut it, and bite that venison, and put a little black pepper and strawberries on it and eat it, like a mean, awful human being. That’s what this tastes like.”

I’ve got to love his ingenuity, his uniqueness, his passion. Gary Vaynerchuk makes me laugh: bottom line. And for that reason, I will continue to support his crazy antics. And I can guarantee that I’ll learn something along the way.

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I wrote a guest post for Jeremy over at the Union Bulletin on what makes Walla Walla wine special. I talk about a few specific wines with tasting notes, at least my style of tasting notes.

I could take the time to pick apart my own article here, but I’ll spare you the horror of my self-editing. Suffice it to say, I think there is something profound about this place–Walla Walla. And the wine made in this valley embodies the magic, the kind of hopefulness that springs up from deep within as we grow, as we find ourselves in a global market but still focus on hand-crafted goodness–quality wine made with pure intentions, for love of the land and the harvest. Okay, I love the wine itself too.

What do you think makes Walla Walla wine special? I want to know. Leave me a comment.

May 28: What makes Walla Walla wine special?

Check out this great video from Jeremy Gonzalez.

Thought you all might like this. Ashley is a star in the Walla Walla wine scene and I’m a huge fan. Glad to see even more publicity for her.

The show is called Roots & Vines.

Roots (Rootvik) and Vines (vines–>grapes–>wine).

There are other angles as well: personal history in the area (I was raised here), being rooted in a place, the history of winemaking, terroir, etc. Bottom line, though, is that I’m thrilled to be involved in a show where I get to share my love for Walla Walla and the wonderful wine being produced here.

So here it is, the first show to go live on the Wine and Dine Walla Walla site. I’d love some feedback. This show features Charles Smith Wines 2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling.

Roots and Vines #001 from Walla Walla Union-Bulletin on Vimeo.

I am consistently intrigued by the various descriptions, instructions, and functions of wine tasting. The Wall Street Journal published this video recently, showing how it’s done at Wine Enthusiast.

While all of the technicality has it’s place, I have deep appreciation for the approach of Susan Kostrzewa, Senior Editor. As she clearly states, most wine drinkers do not get so technical. So she makes an effort to think beyond mere technical specs, to consider how this wine fits into real life scenarios. And that is what leads, in my opinion, to the most helpful notes.

Of course wine tasting (even the technical part) is largely subjective, and tasting notes are even more so. But if we, as tasters, can think of ways in which this wine might play out in everyday life, then perhaps we can make more tailored recommendations to buyers. That does not mean I ask for line after line of poetic notes, but rather for simple, straightforward suggestions for well suited contexts for a consumer’s maximized enjoyment of said wine.

How do you taste wine?

I have a weakness for Rhone wines. I do. And travel there did nothing to help my weakness. While writing a dissertation I was required to make a couple research trips to various parts of France. I was there to study art and found myself much distracted–and assisted–by wine. What a lovely thing, wine.

Now I find myself enjoying so many local Walla Walla wines, feeling ever so lucky to live on this lovely and productive valley. Still, every once in awhile, I find myself with a wine like this:

It’s a joy to drink this lively, earthy, bright and juicy wine. The Domaine de la Cote de L’Ange 2006 Cotes du Rhone is an enjoyable wine at the end of a long day at the office. I had it with salad and capellini. It reminds me that not all of life is spent indoors. Much of the good stuff happens under open skies, with sun and wind and dirt and even rain. It reminds me that Spring is on its way. In fact, although I am unsure what February has in store, some plants are pushing up sprouts. Fresh tulips adorn the front room. The world keeps moving and changing. I keep breathing and growing. And I am grateful for still moments with a good — and good value — wine, moments in which I remember the beautiful process of the seasons, of crafting wine, of life.

Next on the list: Flying Trout NV Malbec.