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What’s Your Wine Journey?

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The fun part of making new friends who also have a deep appreciation and joy for wine is finding out how they realized their passion. Did they taste something special? Was there wine on the table from the time they could sit up in their own chair? Or did they travel to a far off wine region and not want to return? The fun in learning the answer lies in the ability to immediately relate to or yearn for whatever their experience was: That perfect glass, the wonderful experience of sharing a bottle with someone special, an incredible trek through Burgundy vines.

So last night as I was getting to know a new friend, I found myself recalling key points in my own journey. Usually when I’m asked this question, I can’t necessarily point to a single bottle of wine that made me say ‘Wow!,’ or an event that put me on this path. But as we chatted, I began recalling some specific moments that led me in this direction. 

These were some of the sign posts I remembered:

* Something was brewing in 2004/2005. All I knew about wine was that I enjoyed drinking it. But the best wine I could point to was a Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. I was going through an awful divorce and one of the vivid memories of the many cries to my close friends was: “The next guy better be willing and able to share a bottle of wine!” Obviously, that’s not what split us up. But there was something telling in that moment – the very simple bonding by the act of sharing – that I knew was important to me. 

* Sometime soon after, I visited one of my best friends, who lives in Livermore, Calif., a wine region unto itself, but a very easy 45-minute car ride from Napa. She and her husband took a Friday off from work; we called up a driver who agreed to take us around in his town car all day; loaded it up with cheese, salami, and some rustic bread from Trader Joe’s and we were on our way. We tasted at five or six wineries along Rt. 29 and the Silverado Trail, and eventually stopped in Yountville for lunch, where we discovered Hope & Grace. Without gushing too much, this was my aha moment in the difference between a nice glass of Pinot Noir and an amazing (in my limited experience at the time) glass of Pinot. Their welcoming winery in a quaint village shopping center was helpful in feeling a sense of ‘this is where I should be.’ If I had to pick the moment of when I understood what it meant to appreciate wine, this would be it. 

* At the end of December, 2013, an opportunity to head west came my way. So I did what any wine-loving girl would do and planned a wine trip before and after the event I was attending. By now, I had gained a fair amount of knowledge about wines. I planed the first few days in Napa, and the last part of my trip was spent in Sonoma. That trip, which I’ll most likely discuss in greater detail at a later time, solidified everything for me. I came home with a clarity and energy about wine that I never knew existed. Mentors and friends literally stopped me in my tracks when I would start talking about wine. They couldn’t believe (nor could I) the enthusiasm not just coming out of my mouth, but lighting up my whole face. They even encouraged me to start a blog. I ached to learn more, taste more and understand the differences and unique attributes that not just make a great wine, but creates  the fabulous culture that transcends traditional cultures.

So those are my moments. There are many other smaller experiences that certainly answer the question of how I got to this obsession, and are important to this journey, but these are the biggies.

The greatest thing, is this journey will most likely never end: There’s still so much I can learn, and people to meet, and experiences to share, and wines to taste, and places to visit. I could go on and on.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for being a part of my journey. Tell me about yours!  Cheers! 

An Elixir That’s Still Present Even When I’m Not

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When life gets in the way of wine, it’s comforting to know wine will still get me through. That’s my corny poetic way of saying that I’ve neglected this tumblr for the past month. Fortunately, wine is still a big presence in my everyday life. So as a way of diving back in, here’s what I’ve been up to:

  • I’ve tasted some delicious wines thanks to the generosity of new friends.
  • I even enjoyed some Cabernet!
  • I celebrated the arrival of Spring with some sunshine in a bottle. 
  • And I’ve started contemplating taking the WSET Advanced courses, but instead of weekly sessions here in D.C., as an immersion course at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. The only thing stopping me is a lack of funding now that Spring release season has killed my budget. I wonder if they give scholarships to non-industry people. 😉 

Looking forward to paying a bit more attention to this tumblr again as this minor obsession continues. Here’s proof, courtesy of a fabulous friend:

Pursuing Balance In New York

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Comparing two Kutch wines at the IPOB conference in New York on Feb. 23

Today is the annual In Pursuit of Balance conference in San Francisco and here I am at my desk, fidgeting, stalking #IPOB on Twitter and Instagram, and wishing I was there – even though it was only a couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to attend the New York event.

I heard Ted Lemon give his Keynote on the history of California wine, followed by a seminar on how winemakers try to achieve their goals of “balance.” A few hours later, I took full advantage of the public tasting with 33 California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers.

As a non-industry participant, it was fascinating to hear winemakers talk about their decision-making processes, and then taste the wines that corresponded to their achievements and falters. It was as if I was eaves-dropping on their private club. Those who have followed IPOB know that the entire industry does not  necessarily embrace this group, and as Food and Wine Magazine Wine Editor Ray Isle teased in his introduction to the panel discussion, he thought he was coming to the “IPOB Church” and it was “nice to know this was a discussion and not a cult,” which gained laughter from the audience. 

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The “Getting It Right” panel moderated by Food and Wine Magazine Wine Editor Ray Isle (left), winemakers Andy Peay, Bradley Brown and Jamie Kutch, and Sommelier Raj Vaidya (right).

Rajat Parr, the famed sommelier and winery owner who hosts the event with Jasmine Hirsch of Hirsch Vineyards, was clear to point out prior to the panel that the purpose of IPOB is to have a “discussion among friends” and it’s about “learning from each other… It’s not a fight against someone, not a ‘we’re better, they’re bad,’ it’s not that.”

As a first-timer here (these events began in 2011), I believe they were successful in that. Here are 33 winemakers who all have similar goals. This is not just an opportunity for them to have internal dialogues and market their wines to the industry, but a very approachable way for enthusiasts like myself to learn. Follow this up with the opportunity to taste and have individual conversations with the winemakers during the tasting portion of the event and you can’t deny it’s a fun experience for your mind and your taste buds! 

The group has posted videos of their seminars on its website. If you’re a fan of these wines, it’s worth the watch.

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A magnum of the 2014 Red Car Rosé is chilled during the IPOB tasting in New York.

Ode to Yum

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There are certain wines you drink that once you finally agree to stop inhaling their wonderful aromas inside the glass and actually succumb to tasting, they will envelop your inner soul. Sure, the palate springs to life with a dance of almost-balanced acid and tannins while big bold fruit and subtle earth wrap themselves around your tongue. But this wine is still a baby. A 2012. I don’t have a cellar, or a wine fridge or a cold basement for that matter, so for the time being, drinking my wines young is probably my smartest move. And while I’m more than pleased I opened this bottle of Bedrock Pagani Ranch Heritage on this frigid Friday night, I’m quite jealous of those who will get to drink this several years from now. It’s a good thing I still have another bottle. 

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Cheers! 

Final Thoughts On WSET 2

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About three months ago, I wrote down some immediate thoughts following the WSET 2 exam, and while I have known my results for the past two months and posted them on other social media outlets, I failed to do so here.

I wanted it to feel official, so I patiently waited for my certificate to arrive. And then I waited a little longer. But today I have no excuse to keep waiting. It’s really official: I passed. And not only did I pass, I did so with “distinction.” For some icing on the cake, I did much better than I expected: a 96 percent (which means I only missed two questions).

I realize that this is considered an easy course, and many folks (especially those in the industry) don’t even bother with it before jumping into level 3, but as a girl with a passing interest that turned into a passion, I’m really quite proud. And excited for where this journey will take me!

Voila:

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Video Preview: Somm Into the Bottle

Quote itswinebyme

Can there be any other business where there’s so much bull shit?

– Carole Meredith (@LagierMeredith)

The winemaker has a quick cameo (but I assume a much larger role) in this preview for the new documentary: SOMM: Into The Bottle (a follow-up to Somm). I’ll let the trailer speak for itself, but let’s put it this way, Summer 2015 can’t come fast enough! Both  Eater and Wine Folly have details!

A Wine for the Season

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I found a fabulous everyday, bring-to-a-party, serve-at-a-celebration bottle of sparkling rosé. It’s a Domaine Rolet Père et Fils Crémant du Jura. And for about $22/bottle, I had no qualms about going back and buying a few more bottles (which I’ve now taken to almost every brunch or party I’ve attended for the past month).

It’s from Jura. That’s the French region southeast of Champagne recently described as what wine journalists talk about to gain some “counterculture street cred.” It was also the only bottle from Jura at a local shop. And while picking up some other wines, I bought a bottle out of curiosity.

I decided to serve it to a friend who came  over for a festive evening of cheese, meats and wine. The intention was to pour a glass to toast the evening and then move on to some red wines. That plan quickly changed, as we laughed, ate and chatted our way through the entire bottle.

When I brought it to a brunch the following week, a person at the table who declared she didn’t drink sparkling wines, refilled her glass a few times. That bottle was quickly diminished by the table, too.

Here’s what makes the wine worth your while (especially if sparkling wines aren’t your favorite): There are very little bubbles. Those that are there settle quickly and only provide a brief bit of effervescence in the background. It’s acidity balances the tart fruit flavors leaving a dry and crisp finish. While light in body, the fruit-forwardness of this sparkler gives it a solid elegance.

I haven’t decided if this will be my choice for new year’s eve, but I plan to be drinking this many times in the new year. Cheers to 2015!