wineinthenews

Here are a few interesting stories that crossed my twitter feed this weekend:

* New York Women Make Marks as Masters of Wine: Lettie Teague writes about the three MWs living in New York City. She briefly makes mention to how difficult it is for women to be taken seriously in the wine world – but except for some anecdotes, I wish Teague dove into that topic further. Some interesting facts from the story: All three women are over 40 and had previously high-paying careers unrelated to wine (This gives me hope that I’m not jumping in too late). A scarier realization is that most have spent $40,000 to $80,000 (mostly on wine and travel) just to receive their diplomas (This may put this dream a little more out of reach).

* Drinking At 1,300 FT: A 9/11 Story About Wine and Wisdom: This story is from 2011, but if I read it back then, it would not have had nearly the same impact nor would I have felt a personal connection and understanding. Aside from the fact that this writer was paid to go learn about wine, making me incredibly jealous, it’s his “ending” that he finally discovers (and which I can relate to), which gives him the ability to write the story nearly 10 years later. As we approach another 9/11 anniversary, it’s a good read – but this year, for me, the date gets to take on another meaning: On that Thursday, I start WSET classes.

Here are a few items that caught my eye this morning:

* Wine investments are not necessarily something I have the luxury of doing, but it is still interesting to see how it plays out in the world market. CNBC is reporting that the Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 is down a full 33 percent from its peak. While Bordeaux may be losing value, Burgundy is holding on strong.

* About a year ago, when I first started paying attention to wine, everyone was talking about the influx of Chinese money in Bordeaux and the booming wine market in China. (Go see the Red Obession if you haven’t done so already). Bloomberg reports today that it’s no longer just France: Billionaire South African Family Sells Wine To China Rich.

* Virginia’s RdV Vineyards is now open for public tours, reports Eater DC. I’ve been eager to go down for a visit and try the wines, however getting someone to join me may be tough. At $50 per tour, I quipped over on twitter that Virginia may be thinking of itself as Napa. IMHO, it’s a little too soon, but the optimist in me is hoping the tour will be worth the price.