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?

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!

]]> http://prostproductions.com/what-makes-a-wine-romantic/feed/ 0 http://prostproductions.com/gone-to-oregon/ http://prostproductions.com/gone-to-oregon/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:48:39 +0000 prost http://prostproductions.com/?p=368 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

]]> http://prostproductions.com/gone-to-oregon/feed/ 0 http://prostproductions.com/tell-me-where-to-go/ http://prostproductions.com/tell-me-where-to-go/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:45:16 +0000 prost http://prostproductions.com/?p=359 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:

1. Leave your suggestion in the “Comments” area below.
2. Tweet your suggestion to @prostcards. (And please follow us, while you’re at it!)
3. 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

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!

First, both wine and tea appear to have real health benefits. Clinical studies have shown that tea can help lower cholesterol, reduce plaque and boost the immune system. Meanwhile, the cholesterol-lowering benefits of wine have been well-documented, and newer studies hint at wine’s potential for reducing the risk of heart disease and even slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Secondly, both wine and tea are complex beverages with thousands of variations and thousands of years of history. Wine lovers who can talk for hours about nose, finish, and mouth feel will find much of the same sensory stimulation when they begin exploring Pouchong, Silver Needle, and other varieties of tea beyond the Earl Grey standard.

So this month, while you’re waiting for the clock to strike 4:00, why not experiment with a new beverage obsession? Tea rooms are a great place to start your education, much like you probably learned about wine by visiting tasting rooms at your favorite vineyards. To find a tea room near you, try the searchable directory TeaMap.com.

Or, pour yourself a glass of wine tonight and check out a few tea-related websites. Among our personal favorites are Teas Etc. and Teavana. Both offer lots of easy-to-digest information, plus easy ordering if you’re ready to take the plunge.

Prost!

(For what it’s worth, we took a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc with one of our Thom Loafman prost!cards. That earned us a good laugh … and hopefully a return invitation.)

We thought everything was pretty close to perfect, until one of our friends complained that the music wasn’t loud enough and the lights were too bright. Then someone chimed in that the crowd was too gay, and someone else, whom I didn’t really know, said there wasn’t enough seating on the enormous, oceanfront balcony.

Wow, tough crowd, I thought, making a mental of note of three people who definitely won’t get invited to our next party.

But more than that, with the holidays approaching and multiple social events scheduled every weekend, I made myself a promise: Not one negative word about any party I attend. Politics and the economy are still open for criticism, but no negative party talk, including the:

• Food
• Drink
• Setting
• Crowd

Call it my pre-New Year’s resolution. I’m going to spread only good cheer and good vibes this year.

Unless there’s no wine. Then all bets are off.

Prost!

Cher. Madonna. Prince. Some artists are so distinctive they only need one name. And here’s one more to add to the list: Nemo.

Both of the principals at Prost! Productions are art lovers, though one can’t even draw a smiley face while the other regrets a long-ago choice to forsake art and study law. Given our own personal frustrations, we both get excited when we find an artist with an instantly recognizable style.

Nemo is one of those artists. Since he was a kid, he’s had a bizarre gift for drawing perfect freehand circles. A lot of guys with that talent would just disappear quietly into an accounting career, doodling circles in the margins of their spreadsheets while quietly going insane.

But Nemo chose another route. He’s turned his circles into a full-time art career, transforming them into dogs, cats, bugs and other images that leap off the vellum. When you see a work from Nemo, you recognize it instantly — and we recognized the perfect artist to create our first holiday wine cards.

Keep an eye on this guy. With a pop art style as distinctive as Warhol, Britto or Rodrigue, we think Nemo is going to be huge.

I’m a huge supporter of small business, so this is a major issue for me. I write a daily newsletter for entrepreneurs. I contribute frequently to Entrepreneur.com. I even did a stint with NFIB at the beginning of my career. Philosophically, there is no one more inclined to choose “boutique” over “big box.” So what gives?

Many people say the big box phenomenon is driven by convenience, but I think that’s only partly right. A bigger issue may be comfort. Independent wine retailers like to brag that their selections are adventuresome, quirky, even challenging. Those are all great things, up to a point, but sometimes I don’t want to think that much. Comfort wines, like comfort foods, are popular because people know just what to expect. On weeknights, in particular, I don’t want to think too deeply about what I’m drinking. I just want a warm, mellow red that pairs nicely with reruns of How I Met Your Mother.

So here’s my plea to the independents: Stock a couple of nice, familiar comfort wines from big, well-known wineries. They may not be especially sexy — or even profitable — but they’ll get me in your door more often. And while I’m there, I promise I’ll pick up some of your more “challenging” selections. After all, I watch Mad Men and The Colbert Report, too.