Posts Tagged ‘wine’
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Here’s something my volleyball and gym buddies must never know about me: I’ve become addicted to mommyblogs.
 The Daily Blonde Sure, I read the major wine bloggers, but that’s more a matter of duty than desire. Wine writing, as a rule, is too self-important for my taste. Wine bloggers are so earnest and reverent, as if every sip and swirl is a matter of holy communion.
The best mommybloggers, on the other hand, are anything but reverent. They’re irreverent, funny, sarcastic, self-deprecating and sharp. If you expect endless stories about breast pumps and “binkies,” then prepare to be pleasantly surprised. These women tackle subjects from sex to politics to psychology, with an attitude that would never make it into print in your local paper.
So if you’re looking for some really good writing with an unexpected point of view, pour yourself a glass of wine and check out these hot mamas:
- The Daily Blonde is a 40-something single mom in Rhode Island who writes about coffee, Kotex and her Tiger Woods fantasy. If that’s not variety enough, she also bestows a dreaded Ass Hat of the Week award on the person who most offends her. (Two-timing John Edwards is a two-time winner.)
- Okay, Fine, Dammit is the creative outlet of a freelance writer/full-time mom in rural Wisconsin. Instead of laugh-out-loud funny, this one is oh-my-god thoughtful and beautifully written, like a long-form poem with no rhyme or meter. Her topics are often heavy — abuse, alcoholism, disillusionment — but the language soars.
- La Jolla Mom is probably the most conventional of my favorite mommybloggers, with regular posts on topics like “Food,” “Household” and “Kids.” But LJM is also a serious wine lover, and her “Wine Wednesday” posts are not to be missed. (Full disclosure: I first discovered LJM when she blogged about our prost!cards a few weeks ago, so I’m not exactly impartial on this one!)
Any other closet mommyblogger fans out there? And any other momblogs I should add to my list?
Tags: blogs, wine
Posted in Cheers to that! | 2 Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
With Valentine’s Day coming up, every lover over the age of 21 will be thinking about choosing the perfect bottle to say “I love you.” But what makes a wine romantic, exactly? Is it the flavor? The nose? The label? Maybe a special pairing?
I asked a simple question of a half-dozen winemaking experts: What is your most romantic wine? The answers were just as varied and personal as love itself. Here are the 6 responses, to help you get focused on your own quest for liquid romance.
John Garlich, BookCliff Vineyards:
I think of our 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve as being our most romantic wine. It is smooth like satin and goes quite nicely with a dark chocolate truffle. Just add a candle and you are good to go.
Kitri McGuire, Sokol Blosser Winery:
Our “most romantic” wine is our Meditrina. Named after the Roman goddess of Wine & Health, Meditrina is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that is round, soft, and juicy. This blend is extraordinarily food-friendly, and will pair well with many romantic meals. Plus, it’s a perfect gift for the “goddess” in anyone’s life!
Susan Sueiro, Gundlach Bundschu Winery:
The most romantic wine we produce at Gundlach Bundschu has to be the Estate Pinot Noir. With aromas of dried roses and sandalwood, the texture of silk and flavors of berries and spice, this is a sultry, beguiling wine. It pairs beautifully with salmon, pork and other lighter fare, and really, no one wants to eat anything too heavy on Valentine’s Day.
Valerie Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery:
Our Frisson Sparkling Wine is a great Valentine’s beverage. It has a romantic Victorian label and frisson means “an Intense Moment Of Excitement”. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Hennie Bosman, Sandihurst Winery:
Which wine is the most romantic? The dark, spicy, complex and intoxicating Pinot Noir? Or is it the refreshing, aromatic and intriguing Riesling? Maybe as far as Valentine’s Day goes, it is both. To me, these two wines represent the Yin Yang of the wine world — “complementary opposites within a greater whole” (Wikipedia).
Stuart T Smith, Torea Wines:
Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc is our most romantic wine as it has many layers. Just as you think you have got to the bottom of the wines mysteries another layer comes into view — as it is with true love.
So there you have it: Romance tips from 6 wine experts. If you have a favorite romantic wine, please weigh in with your own expert opinion below. After all, you’re an expert on love, aren’t you?
Prost!
Tags: romance, wine, wineries
Posted in Cause for Celebration | No Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
I’m not exactly Lews & Clark, but it looks like I may be following the Oregon Trail on my search for romance this Valentine’s Day.
Someone in the Willamette Valley must be organizing a campaign, because I keep getting emails insisting that this swath of Western Oregon is “North America’s most romantic wine region.” Since it leads in the voting so far — and since I’ve never visited before — I thought I should do a little research into the Willamette Valley.
I have to say, it sounds amazing. They claim 250 wineries, and organic viticulture seems to be very popular here. As a big fan of Pinot Noir, I’ve enjoyed this region’s wine for many years — especially Emerson, Erath, and Sokol Blosser — so I can’t imagine why I never got around to visiting.
So the wines are great, but is the area romantic? With rolling hills, covered bridges and sparkling streams, it looks like just the kind of place to reconnect with the one you love. I’m currently researching a 3-day itinerary they call “The Relaxer,” just in case the Willamette Valley hangs on to win the vote.
But who knows? By tomorrow everything could change, and I might be researching someplace entirely different. I’m at your mercy … and I love it.
Prost!
 Oregon's Willamette Valley
Tags: romance, travel, wine
Posted in wine travel | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
This Valentine’s Day happens to be my 12th anniversary, and I want to do something special and romantic. As usual, I’ve been dithering about where to go, and now — just one month from V-Day — I still haven’t decided.
So, I’m asking for your help — not just a suggestion but a command. In two weeks, on Jan. 27, I’m going to book two tickets wherever you tell me to go. It has to be a wine region (for tax reasons) and it has to be in North America (for economic reasons), but those are the only two stipulations. Whatever North American wine region gets the most votes, that’s where I’m headed.
Call it crowd-sourced romance. I’m trusting you to steer me in the right direction. If the trip isn’t romantic, I’ll probably end up on the sofa when we get home!
How to vote? Three options:
- Leave your suggestion in the “Comments” area below.
- Tweet your suggestion to @prostcards. (And please follow us, while you’re at it!)
- Email your suggestion to mail@prostproductions.com.
I’ll write periodic updates on how the voting is going — and once the wine region has been decided, I’ll be back to ask about specific wineries, restaurants, inns, etc.
Thanks for your input. I’m sure this will be a Valentine’s Day to remember!
Prost!
 Sister72 on flickr.com
Tags: romance, wine, wine travel
Posted in Cheers to that! | 14 Comments »
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Starbucks needs to get into wine.
You’re probably gasping and choking right now, but hear me out: Whatever you think of their coffee, Starbucks did popularize the idea of the “Third Place” — not home, not work, but something in-between.
I think the wine industry needs an “in-between” kind of place where remote workers can plop down with their laptops, order one glass of wine and get some work done. Wine bars today aren’t like that. They’re too precious, too formal, or too intent on “educating” customers so they’ll buy a full bottle.
Soft music, comfortable chairs, free Wi-Fi and reasonably priced wines — that’s really all it would take to lure in people like me 3 or 4 times a week. You’d better believe I’d stop by regularly to sip something new while I update my website, correspond with artists and so forth.
With the growing prevalence of independent workers and telecommuters, I can’t be the only one looking for something like this, but I have yet to find it. (And believe me, I look for it every time I travel.)
What about you? Do you know of a great, laid-back wine bar that’s great for hanging out and getting work done? If so, please tell me about it — I’d love to visit.
Prost!
Tags: coffee, wine, wine bar
Posted in Wine Biz | No Comments »
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