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If you want to connect with me beyond leaving comments, email me at jim [at] vinegeek [dot] com

“…the faintest soupçon of asparagus…”

“Let me show you how this is done. First thing, hold the glass up and examine the wine against the light. You’re looking for color and clarity. Just, get a sense of it. OK? Uhh, thick? Thin? Watery? Syrupy? OK? Alright. Now, tip it. What you’re doing here is checking for color density as it [...]

On Winespeak

But maybe, at the end of the day, we should be happy that most wine talk is so ridiculous. In a world that is oversaturated with overdetermined meaning, there’s something decidedly cheering about this mischievous drink that resists plausible description. from Liquid Memory: Why Wine Matters by Jonathan Nossiter

Never De-Cline A Fine Mourvedre

Awesome sign out front of Cline Cellars today. As regular readers know, Cline has been a favorite of mine since I got into wine, and one of the first to turn me on to Mourvèdre way back when. (After adopting a mascot last week, perhaps this could be #TeamMourvedre’s new motto.) (hat tip)

Table 23 doesn’t give a fuck that you [can] list the wine regions of Moldova in alphabetical order. @MikeMadrigale (Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer for Bar Boulud, Epicierie Boulud & Boulud Sud) on sommelier certification, quoted in Eater. (hat tip @trouty)

#TeamMourvedre’s New Mascot

I was very happy to receive this little monster in the mail last week. I think #TeamMourvedre may have itself a new unofficial mascot, courtesy of Bonny Doon Vineyard. I think he/she needs a name. Morris? Maurice? Morty? Èd? (avec accent grave, bien sûr) Feel free to offer your own suggestions. You may recognize the [...]

Wineshop-within-a-bookstore

Cool wineshop-within-a-bookstore retail concept for Grapy.nl in the Netherlands. Click link below for more pics. via:  Storeage creates Grapy store in Roosendal Bookshop » Retail Design Blog.

10 Most Ridiculous Pairings in Wine & Spirits August 2011

I really enjoy Wine & Spirits magazine. I’m a subscriber. Of the major wine publications in the US, it’s the one I end up spending the most time with. I like it because it stays focused on the wine, not the wine (insert air quotes) lifestyle. But the one thing that always makes me laugh are [...]

Tour de Mourvèdre in El Dorado County

How did this slip under my radar?! The Tour de Mourvèdre is going on in El Dorado County this weekend, July 1-4. Ten Mourvèdre producers are offering up special tastings and pricing. If only I lived anywhere close. Anyone who goes, please report back. I always love discovering new Mourvèdre wines for my #MourvedreMonday series. More, [...]

The guy I’d want designing my wine labels

If I make my own wine someday, I want Kevin Tong to design my labels. He’s an illustrator of band posters and book covers among other things. Check out some of my favorite examples below. All images are his copyright. Check out all his stuff at tragicsunshine.com

Food & Wine Festival Coming to Austin

I was excited to read this news at austin360.com today: Food & Wine magazine and the company behind the Austin City Limits Music Festival will produce the first Austin Food & Wine Festival in March 2012, organizers announced Tuesday. The magazine, which has about 1 million subscribers, has been hosting the Aspen Food and Wine [...]

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