Archive for June, 2009
Randall Grahm, an American Original
June 26th, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in Wine
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Randall Grahm started the Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1983.
Talk about “of cabbages and kings”, we chatted with Randall and a great group about Rhône varieties, the ungly duckling grapes, Riesling and Gruner Veltliner (everyone except Eve loves Riesling), biodynamics, cork taint, eastern Washington vineyards, terroir and its importance, screw caps and much more. See our Delicious bookmarks for more info.
Here is a notion we will be developing:
“I am also really interested in producing wines that have life-force. Another word for this might be minerality, another term might be the ability to resist oxidation. I think that one of the keys to this is learning how to master the oxidation/reduction states of the wines at varying points in the wine’s elevage.”
Special Rhone Ranger music on guitar by Zip Caplan.
Armagnac and how it differs from Cognac
June 25th, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in Video
It was a pleasure to meet Gilles de Boisséson at Vinexpo and chat with him about his Armagnac. The poster in the beginning was designed by his son Jean. You may recognize the background as that of the Train Bleu restaurant in Paris.
Croatian Wines
Turkish Delights
Today: Zinfandel Madness in Bordeaux!
June 23rd, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in Wine
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ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) came out to Vinexpo 2009 to meet people from all over the world and show them my favorites California wine, Zinfandel.
Richard Flores spreading the Zin gospel
Do not be fooled by Richard’s avuncular manner, he’s an inspired advocate. Everyone I saw interacting with him went away delighted to have learned more about Zinfandel.
Interviewed in the above recording :
David Phillips, Lodi Vineyards
Ginger Vodka!
June 22nd, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in Video
Distillerie G. Miclo
I am a sucker for originality in products, and I immediately had to talk to Marie-Andrée Lutt-Miclo about this bottle, visible from afar.
The site will be up soon here: http://www.distillerie-miclo.com
Vinexpo 2009: Spain, Emilio Miró Salvat (Reus)
June 22nd, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in Video
Economic Crisis? I Got Yer Crisis Right Here
June 22nd, 2009 by New Wine Consumer in The Rest
After four days of interviewing mostly foreign wine producers, I happened upon a stand that was selling Absinthe produced in Provence. I don’t wear my badge because it has a tendancy to fall off and I’d have lost it the first day if I hadn’t just stuck it in my pocket. When I asked about the Absinthe, the guy looked annoyed, he was discussing the crisis with colleagues and they all agreed, if I didn’t have a badge, I could go bother someone else.
Walking away, I happened upon this scene:
Let me see, which is the better commercial approach? D’UH!
Vinexpo 2009: Lebanon Cave Kouroum