Soggy Wallet

A funny thing happened to me the other day. I am a predictable person in most areas in my life. I have a routine for almost everything, not to the point of being obsessive, but definitely predictable. A couple of days ago I was performing my pre-bed ritual which involves me checking my phone one last time before setting it to vibrate, letting the dog outside one more time, double checking my alarm is set by turning it off and back on again (ok, a little obsessive), and setting out my keys, wallet, phone and pocket knife on my desk. I had almost settled in for the night when I noticed, my wallet was missing. In my head I quickly ran through the day, highlighting the times and places I had taken it out. After taking the three extra seconds to do this I realized it must still be in my pants pocket. Oh no! I just put the clothes in the washer! Would I get to it in time before the water reached the pants? Nope. I ended up having to drain the washer and pull out the wet clothes and rifle through them on the garage floor only to find my wallet thoroughly marinated with soapy water.

While I was drying out the wallet and wiping down my debit card and the various gift card I had in there, I kept thinking to myself, "what are you? ten?" I haven't left anything in my pocket to be washed in years. And then it hit me: I have been doing a lot of things in the last few weeks that I haven't done since I was ten. Here are the top five things I have done lately I haven't since I was ten:

1. Washed my wallet
2. Scraped my knees (mountain biking accident. another story.)
3. Went on a bike ride
4. Watched Sesame Street
5. Took a picture with a camera that uses film

So why did it take that long? Except for the wallet mishap, I enjoyed doing all those things. I hope I will never grow too old to appreciate those simple little things that make us feel like kids again. Try it out sometime and if you feel like a fool while you do it, you'll know you're doing it right.

Temeekunga

The place of the sun. Or sometimes translated as the "place of the sun and mist".


However you translate it, the area of southern California known as Temecula maintains it namesake. It is a place where the evening air brings in the moisture over the mountains into the valley below and when the morning sun hits it, the mist rises and slowly leads into sunshine filled days and clear skies.


People were settled in this area hundreds if not thousands of years ago and once you see the place you know why. In every direction the majesty of creation is all around. It seems that along with people, everything thrives here. Temecula has been known for decades as a leader in the production of produce such as avocados, oranges and other citrus fruits, and now it has earned a reputation for growing the fruit for some of the nations greatest wines.

Similar to the contrast between the sun and the mist, Temecula is divided within itself whether to become an attractive place for outsiders or maintain its integrity among the locals. This separation is most obvious once one enters wine country. When you turn off the freeway onto Rancho California, you don't feel like you are in a place of ancient tradition. There is the Target and the Embassy Suites next to the chains of parasite stores and restaurants that have become common place in those areas. You will feel like you are in every other small suburb trying to make a name for itself by looking like all the others. Until, that is, when you reach wine country.

Almost like taking a misstep down a small flight of stairs, you will feel a little shaken and confused when you reach it. It doesn't seem to belong. You take a second to check yourself; "didn't I just see a Starbucks two blocks back?" but it is no mirage. The busy suburb turns into a countryside complete with rows upon rows of grape vines intermingled with small flocks of livestock and sprinkled with the occasional chicken coop. It seems almost unspoiled.

Many of the wineries are ran by their founders and they are committed to the area, producing great wine, and preserving the land and traditions of Temecula. But there are also business owners that have purchased wineries as though they would be a fun way to pass the time in between vacations to Europe. The struggle occurs when the winemakers realize they need people through the doors in order to sell wine but not to the point of sacrificing quality. On the other hand if you are willing to let your customers do anything from foot stomp junk fruit to weddings, to yoga in the vines...doesn't that take away from the traditional? Doesn't that take away the integrity of the others in the valley trying to produce world class wine?

And so the battle rages on between sun and mist, tourist and tradition, integrity and money. It is an old story, you just have to decide which side you are on.

Wine Snob IV

Exploring The World Of Wine


Wine is created for many reasons. Some winemakers are in it for the cash. Some are gentleman with easy retirement money who come to town, purchase a vineyard, and call themselves winemakers. Some are in it for the party. (Hey, if you're the one providing the booze, who is going to say anything bad about you.) But the wine you should be seeking no matter what, is that of the purest, the true masterpiece creator.

How do you find this most amazing wine? Simple. Drink wine. Not just the one you like to drink, but several. The broader experience will lead to the greater experience. I do of course have some favorites, but I also enjoy a good two buck chuck once in awhile. In my own meager collection I have several, hundred dollar bottles of wine. I have tasted the wine from several, thousand dollar bottles. I will still sometimes drop by the local supermarket and find the cheapest bottle I can. Why? To have a comparison. If I only drank reds, or if I only drank Viognier, I would be limiting myself to only one good thing without appreciating the others.

Let me stop rambling and offer some practical advice. If you are new to wine there will be one that makes itself obvious to you. It may be a Merlot, or a Sangiovese. For me, I will always have a bottle of 2007 CabSav in my collection. This was the first bottle I found I actually enjoyed (being a former beer man myself, it was hard at first to adjust). When I found it, I made a note of it, and when I would go out to taste, I would be sure to try the '07 CabSav. I would be able to compare wine styles from that point and became very familiar very quickly with the CabSav as a grape. What it could produce, its characteristics, and so on. Then I tried others and the journey continues.

My advice is if you want to get a fast grip on wine, pick a varietal or year or region and work your way out from there. Don't overload right away by trying a South American SavBlanc and then the next night try a Missouri Zinfandel. Instead try sticking with SavBlanc for a week or two then move on to something new.

Whatever it is you are trying, it is going to be good. Maybe not always good tasting but good that you are growing in your knowledge of wines. It can be fun, rewarding, and when someone at a party says something about the wine, you will have something to say based on personal experience. Good Hunting! Cheers!

Wine Snob III

Finally, The Fun Part: Tasting


It was my understanding when I began drinking wine, that this was the easy part. I was dead wrong. I had no idea what I was looking for or how to find it and when you take a journey like that you only end up lost and confused. I wanted to take a little time out for the first timers and work through some basics, but I haven't forgotten about you too, people that think they have forgotten more about wine than I will ever know.

Tasting is not a chore. It is an adventure that, if you let it, will open you up to a world you didn't know you were already so familiar with. Tasting wine should begin with your attitude. If you walk in somewhere in a bad mood, you will more than likely not enjoy the wine, but if you make it an exciting experience, you will carry those memories with you when you taste the next time. When served, take a look at the wine. Examine the color and clarity. Is it a deep red or a see-through blush? Does it remind you of pear juice or like liquid gold? Once you have taken not of the color, smell it. Really get your nose in there and smell it. (For me, I like to do all this before touching the glass. Then I will pick it up and do it again with the glass at an angle to get my nose closer to the wine.) What do you smell? Summer sea breeze? Sweet apricot? Caramel? Vanilla? Toast? Blueberry pie?

It doesn't need to be this nerdy but you get the idea

Once you have a smell registered in your brain for that wine, maybe a fruit or hint of something, or maybe even a memory, then taste it. When you taste you are looking for a variety of things. I will not take the time to list all of them. This is your activity. You can find anything from oak notes to varying kinds of fruit and so much more. You are also looking for texture. Is it soft, smooth, harsh/hot, acidic, sweet, or dry. As mentioned the list goes on but this is really about what you taste. Think about it. Talk about it. Smell it again. Swirl it to give it some oxygen and then smell it again. Taste it, yes, again. It doesn't matter how many times you do this, each time you will be able to get a little something else out of it. Try to focus your taste buds and find the tastes on the front, mid, and back pallet and then focus on the aftertaste. Once you have your idea of the wine in mind, then and only then, read the tasting notes provided.

Winemakers or cellar managers provide these to help you along, but do not use them as a crutch to base everything on. You will surprise yourself at how many of the things you find when you taste are listed. Now there will always be one or two you don't. Should there be wine left in your glass, then take the time to find those too. If you can't, no big deal. In the end it really only matters if you liked it or not.

Now if you really want to get crazy, taste it as usual, then take it outside. If the wine was made on site, the fruit has a tendency to pick up some of the neighboring smells and characteristics. You may be able to pull out scents you weren't able to before or get a completely different experience.

Think about the fruit on the vine. Think about the weather the berries saw. How much sunshine, how much rain? Think about the hands that picked it, the crushing of the fruit, the storage, the agonizing wait it endured in the barrels. Think about the people that put their lives on hold and made other sacrifices to produce this little bit of wine for you to enjoy, and you will taste it in a totally new way. Cheers!

Wine Snob II

Winery Etiquette

You are on vacation or perhaps it is just your day off and you want to go to the winery. This is a great time to relax, kick back with your favorite beverage and enjoy yourself. In order to do that, you need to first be comfortable in the place and understanding the culture of the tasting room will help you to achieve maximum relaxation. Although many of my notes are from the perspective behind the bar, several are from what I have learned as a taster and as a club member. A winery can be a confusing place for a first timer and even for some who think they know what they are doing, here are some wine tasting room tips.

If you followed my tips from before, then you have arrived at your winery. The one that fits you and your personality and serves the style of wine you prefer (dry, sweet, etc). If you are at the winery to taste, then remember that you are here to...taste. Not to drink. Common misconception, I know, but wine tasting should be just that. Open yourself to trying new things. I can not tell you the number of times people come into a winery and declare loudly, so all can hear, "I don't drink whites!" Saying that in a room full of open minded people who are just there to enjoy themselves, makes you look silly and closed minded. Keep your voice down, be willing to try something new and feel free to use the dump bucket and move on to the next one.

Dump buckets are the unsung hero for tasters. It may seem unusual for a winery to provide for customers a vessel in which to spit or dump out wine not suitable to them. It is actually the opposite. By having a bucket available, it takes the pressure off of you, the taster, to drink something you don't enjoy. As long as you understand that the wine you dump is wine you already paid for, you won't hurt any one's feelings if you pour out. It shows you are a discerning person that is ready to move on to the next great thing on the list. (side note: Do not expect your server to pour out for you unless the bar is crowded. Servers will not pour out your wine unless requested. If you do require this extra help, remember that when leaving a tip.)

If the tip I gave before about tasting and not drinking has had time to sink in a bit, let's discuss what to taste. You have already chosen a winery you like, so why not them them decide what also goes into your glass? Many smaller wineries have limited tasting menus and will charge one fee for 4-6 tastings. Some of the larger establishments will offer a wide variety of wines on a list of twenty or more and then have you select from that list 5 or 6 you wish to try. In this scenario, I always revert to the experts; the servers. Let them know what you like and let them drive. Servers, for the most part, will enjoy taking you on the journey of their favorites and will help strengthen the bond between you and them. The stronger this bond, the better stuff you will end up tasting. If you seem disinterested, prepare to use the bucket, but if you listen to their advice you will usually find yourself with a glass of goodness.

To avoid tension, when you walk in, be prepared to pay up front for what you are going to taste. Do not think you will wait until the end and if everything is to your liking, then you will pay. Pay up front and, yes, most places will except plastic. However, keep some cash in your pocket. The tasting fee does not include a tip. I know, no one likes someone else to tell them how to tip, but I will. Average tasting fee: $10-15. Average tip per customer: $4. Let's go ahead and not make ourselves look cheap and go for $5. I don't taste anywhere that I don't expect to tip. The servers count on it as part of their pay and if they are knowledgeable and friendly, offer you great service and advice, let them know by laying it down. They will appreciate it and you will feel better knowing you did the right thing.

Cheers!

Wine Snob

For the last several months I have been working part time at a small winery here in Temecula, California. If you google Temecula you will find that it is one of the fastest growing wine regions. This last season I had the privilege to handle the harvest literally from dirt to glass. From slaving in the early mornings picking to serving in the tasting room. During that time I also had the rare opportunity to glean a ton of wine knowledge from not only the other people working but the winemaker himself. I have learned much and would like to pass along what I know. I have visited many other wineries and have found that the customers that come in to taste often ask the same questions; where is a good place to go taste?, how and what are you supposed to be tasting for?, why do you pour such a small amount of wine into my glass?, and so on. I would like to begin this series with tips on:

Choosing The Right Winery For You

To choose a winery at which to taste, you need to ask yourself what you are looking for. There are as many wine styles as there are personalities and the wineries that produce that wine usually have the same attitude. If you are the party person that is just looking for a good time with friends, there are wineries that are perfect for that. They make wine that is easy to drink and not too complex. These are good places to go to if you plan on talking about other things instead of wine. However, if you are serious about the wine, what it tastes like, how complex it is, and you are in the mood to expand your horizons, there are wineries for that as well. While putting together the wineries to visit, do the research. A good rule of thumb is if it was easy to find, they probably cater to the party crowd. And that's good sometimes if you just want to let your hair down, but if you should be in that mood, do not expect the smaller, more serious wineries to cater to you. At the winery I work at, we have a "no limo" policy and still every other day there will be a limo that pulls up and eleven girls with pink boas get out to party. Not ok. We ask them to leave. Not because we don't want their business but because we know we don't offer them the wine or the atmosphere they are looking for.

If you happen to find a winery that you like, ask your server where you should go from there. Never underestimate the knowledge your server has to offer. While it is true that some are hired simply to fill a position on an employment roster, many of them are near experts in the art of wine. Offer them a clue into your tastes by letting them know which wines on the list you appreciated the most. Being extremely familiar with those wines, they will easily be able to point you in the right direction.

Ask the servers where they like to go. Many of the serious servers in the industry pride themselves on their knowledge of the region. They will go around on their days off and taste at other wineries to familiarize themselves with what they each have to offer and in turn will be able to provide their own customers with a better idea of what they are seeking. This is as good for business to the winery as it is to your service. They build relationships and connections with the other servers to help tie the wine region closer as a community. So if your server offers you a tip on where you should go next, ask them for their name and let the server at the next winery who sent you. Not only does this help them remember their relationships with one another but it will make you look like an insider. (this may get you an extra pour or maybe a taste of something off the list, but no promises)

Wherever you choose to taste, be open minded. Not all places do weddings or even allow flash photography. Understand that these are places of business but also, sometimes, people's homes and livelihoods. Be respectful and polite. But at the same time have fun and enjoy. maybe if you're really lucky like me, you'll find your happy place on the back patio of a winery with a glass of vino. Cheers!

Spill It

Letting go and just telling things as they are is a great feeling. Not just opening up and telling someone the truth, but baring a piece of your soul to a group of peers.

The reason I started writing this was due to several factors; my second grade teacher, Mrs. Neal, My 12th grade English teacher, Mrs. Fox, my marriage councilor, and Daniel. These people reached out to me and encouraged me to let it all out on paper and when the home computer replaced that, I began this. It was because of these people, among others, that believed in the words I wrote and the humble thoughts that provoke each article. It is because of them that you have wasted all your time reading this, so blame them.

Sometimes, I don't feel like writing. Other times, there doesn't seem to be anything to write about. Still other times, it seems as though no one cares and if no one cares and no one reads it, then what is the point. I'll tell you...it doesn't matter.

I have found writing this and opening myself up to you to be revealing, uplifting, and because I know that at any moment someone can respond with a mean comment, very humbling. I love the thought of people reading my words, passing them on for others to also read, and being slightly moved or intrigued by it. Perhaps at times I seek fame and fortune. Maybe sometimes I am just looking to vent. Most of the time, it is just me spilling my guts to you, the reader, and simply hope that it gets read.

For me, so far, it has been therapeutic. It feels good to bring others into your world and I hope this little insignificant blog has been able to bring you into mine. Thanks for reading.

Poor Man's Romance

I will not promise to meet you in Rome and sweep you off your feet. I will not promise to buy you a house as an engagement present. I will not promise you a 10 ct diamond ring or to give you the life of your dreams.

I am a hopeless romantic. A poor hopeless romantic. When I say poor, I mean that I have nothing to offer a woman but all of me. I may not be able to provide you with the finer things in life but that will not make me love you less. I promise to love you.

I will promise to take you out to places that have real napkins and some that don't. I promise to grab your favorite candy bar when in line at the supermarket. I will make sure to pick up my dirty clothes from time to time and I will always put the seat back down. I will wear the sweater you bought me and I will be happy with whatever color you want to paint the bathroom. I will not promise to enjoy it but I will watch sappy girly movies with you and promise to not make fun of you when they make you cry. I promise to love you.

I promise to think about you first. I promise to listen to you and I promise to not try to solve all your problems before you are done talking about them. I will mean it when I tell you I love you and I will tell you everyday. I will want to be with you when you are sick and I will care for you until you are well again. I will be honest and loyal. I will not bring up old wounds during arguments and I will never compare you to your mother. I promise to provide for you all you will need and do my best to give you what you want. I promise to love you.

I will not offer you the moon for it is not mine to give but as long as it stands in the sky, I will be true to you and you alone. Faithfully and forever. All I can give, I will give. I promise.