tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77621041217876890772024-03-13T12:52:43.244-07:00wino rhinoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-62719016972013461052011-02-15T10:07:00.000-08:002011-02-15T10:07:00.189-08:00i've upgraded! I've switched over to Wordpress for my wino rhino blog. Needed to make some changes and Blogger just isn't doing it for me anymore. Please change your RSS feeds and blog rolls according. Thanks, see you on the other side!<br />
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<a href="http://thewinorhino.wordpress.com/">http://thewinorhino.wordpress.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-3442170878446524692011-02-08T07:20:00.000-08:002011-02-08T07:20:45.189-08:00tuesday wine news<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0lO4h1nBvEwZXuUz1z3i9LZMnnGrpBg081gU6zhF5YluIQZcK7__1lOISGTbb4klCij47j8vK1oWHaqKN_Hu8GmXipSLgK2US3tlLyJBLDjrKqjIsYbe3tbe7icNbuFCKQnaDi3Bf4Y/s1600/wine_plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0lO4h1nBvEwZXuUz1z3i9LZMnnGrpBg081gU6zhF5YluIQZcK7__1lOISGTbb4klCij47j8vK1oWHaqKN_Hu8GmXipSLgK2US3tlLyJBLDjrKqjIsYbe3tbe7icNbuFCKQnaDi3Bf4Y/s320/wine_plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.drvino.com/2010/10/27/how-to-bring-wine-onboard-plane/">Dr. Vino</a></span></div><br />
In honor of #traveltuesday I thought I'd share a bit of interesting news that affects all you travelers out there ... which, sadly, no longer includes me since I've already taken my dream vacation and cannot afford another one until I'm old and senile. If you're looking for the best plane to enjoy a quality glass of wine on, then look no further. Business Traveler magazine just announced the Cellar in the Sky awards, naming the best airlines to find a quality wine that will make your trip a little more pleasant.<br />
According to Business Traveler, Australian airlines are the way to go. One of their flagship airlines, Qantas, won several awards at the competition, including best overall cellar for business and first-class travelers, as well as general consistency in what they offer their guests. Qatar airlines had a strong showing this year, though not as strong as last year with the Wine on the Wing awards that Global Traveler magazine featured. <br />
Not surprisingly, American airlines (overall, not just AA) did not fit the bill. What, so you DON'T enjoy Sutter Home or Barefoot on your 10-hour plane trip? Our mistake, we'll just give you some Korbal "champagne" instead. <br />
The original article is featured at<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/02/wine_awards"> The Economist. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-81294067960699966542011-01-24T12:22:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:22:21.179-08:00new year, new hair, new me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBRlFSo-gm0RKIjUTaoWchfZ3-hhAlG8U6s91BU6SbW9DgfPCwhpX8xpecUkv9shsR97sp8rJUQxhJKdvtPOxUUnVjZWU_L19xjv7W65E3lqXJwIpZCN9X9rI2ZVP8j33m-gVHFTVZvY/s1600/Photo+on+2011-01-19+at+08.24+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBRlFSo-gm0RKIjUTaoWchfZ3-hhAlG8U6s91BU6SbW9DgfPCwhpX8xpecUkv9shsR97sp8rJUQxhJKdvtPOxUUnVjZWU_L19xjv7W65E3lqXJwIpZCN9X9rI2ZVP8j33m-gVHFTVZvY/s320/Photo+on+2011-01-19+at+08.24+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
Well, I'm back from Paris and back to the real world. I tried some wonderful wine, had a wonderful time with my (now ex-)boyfriend ... but unfortunately dreams cannot last forever. There was a special wine I tried that I'll be sure to write about tomorrow. But for now, I'm just trying to wake up from the dream world. Back into the real world. *sigh* It's going to be a long year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-51703620484842877642011-01-04T05:36:00.000-08:002011-01-04T05:36:15.838-08:00ringing in the new life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsCUEFghb9u_rEfjNN80n9G9lhUEi22GgjR0L1LDxHu6TVKMhUJpt8weq8nT2hzfDwjyd2jsxlZf0ZgPIizeB-4ECdY0h2pHq6LlNIy9UgFUas2eeILQxSsPSh6LbFdhBYSVkybIYwyU/s1600/wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsCUEFghb9u_rEfjNN80n9G9lhUEi22GgjR0L1LDxHu6TVKMhUJpt8weq8nT2hzfDwjyd2jsxlZf0ZgPIizeB-4ECdY0h2pHq6LlNIy9UgFUas2eeILQxSsPSh6LbFdhBYSVkybIYwyU/s320/wine.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Would it be possible to go back a couple weeks with a time machine and add an extra hour to each day? A 25-hour day sounds so much easier for blogging when you have finals, Christmas and 50+ hour work weeks for the holidays. I swear my mind has reached the brink. Well, luckily in a little over 25 hours I will be boarding a plane for Paris, France! I'll be in Paris for 9 days; seeing the sights, trying the food, seeing the boyfriend. Oh, and did I mention they have wine in France? Yeah, not sure if I mentioned that. It's so easy for that tiny detail to slip my mind :). <br />
Speaking of wine and France, for Christmas my wonderful boyfriend surprised me with the best present of all ... a bottle of French wine for every day I'm in Paris! It's always wonderful when the person you love knows exactly what makes you bubble. I can't believe after all these months, the trip has finally arrived! I'm so excited I can barely stand it ... I'm up at 5:30am, for gosh sakes! <br />
So what better way to celebrate a trip to a foreign land than to enjoy a well-established California red wine, to remember the homeland? I decided to treat my friends with a special bottle from my collection, a 2007 Justification Red Blend from Justine Vineyards in San Luis Obispo. It was a present from my previous employer, Chris Conley at Tarpy's Roadhouse in Monterey. And what a present it was! I've always been fond of a good California red blend ... as I've said in many of my blog entries previously. I feel like if it can be blended, it should. And Justin Vineyards' Justification knows how to blend in all the right ways.<br />
The color was a deep berry with a bit of a browned edge around the halo. The nose carried strong notes of sweetened black pepper ... quite a bit, I might add. There were also tart cherries, cinnamon, boysenberry, and just the slightest whiff of bacon fat. The mouth was hardly any different. The cherry was much more pronounced, with intense berry notes that carried through into a strong but not overwhelmingly tannic finish.<br />
I'd had this wine before, and needless to say was not disappointed by the 2007 vintage. I recommend this wine for anyone who needs a strong pairing wine that is intense but versatile.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-36882240631910894382010-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:002010-12-03T10:40:48.656-08:00i am officially a published wine author!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdeU8voOKIVhq5kEz3YhpniRdCtl0ZAR02BONwutdzFgyrVyvrCbnZ2GX-KFj9XnNTmVDIIlfjwOOKX4U3AO_VvSNoW-NV_4A2oQPhDFsGaDh5-OHVF2SGn66vJA9IKkGRXjo6J9vB54/s1600/Photo+on+2010-07-14+at+15.20+%25232-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdeU8voOKIVhq5kEz3YhpniRdCtl0ZAR02BONwutdzFgyrVyvrCbnZ2GX-KFj9XnNTmVDIIlfjwOOKX4U3AO_VvSNoW-NV_4A2oQPhDFsGaDh5-OHVF2SGn66vJA9IKkGRXjo6J9vB54/s320/Photo+on+2010-07-14+at+15.20+%25232-pola.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
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I just wanted to let everybody know that one of my articles I wrote for Palate Press, <a href="http://palatepress.com/2010/06/making-vegetarian-pairings-the-life-of-the-party/">Making Vegetarian Pairings the Life of the Party</a>, has been published in their recently released 'Best of the Press, Volume I'! It's available currently as an <a href="http://palatepress.com/the-best-of-the-press-volume-i/">ebook</a>, but will be published in print next month. My story was one of the 60 chosen out of more than 800 articles that were published on Palate Press last year. What an honor! Be sure to go purchase a copy of the ebook ... it saves as an Amazon Kindle book, iPad book AND a PDF, among other formats. So you'll have plenty of ways to view it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-44986257024898457692010-11-24T09:58:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:58:33.690-08:00airlines and john does ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbANV4MqdN8LMXYjzLR8HFm5FWB4rSVXeh2HGcCkqErUdiwf9ivn5Phic5WCvtHXqUrueWLYED94p8pzM3gSmjdLwoAvOhdAP_8IRZt-vAdb8QfOqdGCAM7nnubu-_-C8tbQ851fEqhwU/s1600/Photo+on+2010-11-24+at+08.15-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbANV4MqdN8LMXYjzLR8HFm5FWB4rSVXeh2HGcCkqErUdiwf9ivn5Phic5WCvtHXqUrueWLYED94p8pzM3gSmjdLwoAvOhdAP_8IRZt-vAdb8QfOqdGCAM7nnubu-_-C8tbQ851fEqhwU/s320/Photo+on+2010-11-24+at+08.15-pola.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
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"Flying so high above the world, never thought I could feel so free ..." <br />
That's a quote from South Park, in case you didn't know. Starvin' Marvin rocks!<br />
Anyway, right now I'm chilling at the airport, waiting to board. I've been here since 8am, since the airport security checkpoint line was so short. Seriously, it only took me about 5 minutes to get through ... why oh why did I think it would take so long today? Oh well, I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry.<br />
On a more serious note, I've stumbled across something quite odd and unexpected. As I'm sure most of you know, I am studying Journalism at San Diego State University. I am currently working on a case study for my Media Law and Ethics class, and I decided to write about the pending lawsuit Charles Smith is filing against various "John Doe's" who have allegedly libeled him online through comments on Blake Grey's blog: <a href="http://wblakegray.blogspot.com/">The Grey Market Report</a>. We've talked in great detail in class about anonymous commenters and what kind of protection they do or don't have against libel and slander; and since I'm in wine blogging, I figured it would be a perfect way for me to explore that.<br />
Well, I emailed W. Blake Grey, asking him to answer a few questions about the lawsuit, and how he feels it affects the protection of anonymity when it comes to online comments. He emailed me saying that he was "going to pass" and that he hopes I do as well. I am very perplexed by this. Does he feel that I should not study this lawsuit? If so, why does he feel this way? He has gone on record on his blog about the lawsuit, saying that he will most likely refrain from commenting. But why would he want me to refrain as well? I have no official opinion about the lawsuit ... I merely wish to examine it as a future member of the press. <br />
This is just another piece of the strange puzzle that is the modern legal system and the internet. Online communication has completely changed the playing field of what is and what isn't okay to say. Traditionally people have been protected through anonymity while commenting online - and through that anonymity I have read some awful, hurtful things. Without anonymous protection we wouldn't have trolling sites like 4chan ... not to say that is a good or a bad thing, as stated before I am not releasing an opinion on the matter. If you know me in person you can ask me.<br />
If Charles Smith succeeds in getting the IP addresses from Google (and it looks like he is going to) and suing the anonymous commenters, that could possibly have a huge effect on internet commenting and privacy on blogs, forums and several other forms of internet communication. Perhaps even email and private chats. This could set a precedent that would influence internet usage for many years.<br />
But apparently I should pass on discussing this.<br />
I will not.<br />
W. Blake Grey, I ask you to discuss this with me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-44750330377410402652010-11-20T17:40:00.000-08:002010-11-20T17:45:21.871-08:00champagne wishes and caviar dreams ... literally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV8RWyL2eqHQm31xo67NF-HKJDuRjVjhLzAMnbkJNFPU_d72Aalb-8PSDH3GJrCOH2vWuRzD3cWC0eXGr4ibiVfPztmZU9vFBXTJl2A5GKb23db0_monYtuaWPGZbzLUvkjZiQh8rhek/s1600/IMG_0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV8RWyL2eqHQm31xo67NF-HKJDuRjVjhLzAMnbkJNFPU_d72Aalb-8PSDH3GJrCOH2vWuRzD3cWC0eXGr4ibiVfPztmZU9vFBXTJl2A5GKb23db0_monYtuaWPGZbzLUvkjZiQh8rhek/s320/IMG_0474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
So yesterday I had the pleasure of trying a few sparkling wines with the #SDWM. If you don't know what the #SDWM stands for, that's probably for the best ... because if you knew, I would have to kill you. See my face right there? I'm that serious, people.<br />
Anyway, there were a few hits and a few misses; as well as several sparkling wines (and some tasty looking caviar) I wasn't able to try because I had to go to work at <a href="http://lovebencotto.com/">Bencotto Italian Kitchen</a>. Not to mention the fact that I'm vegetarian, but alas. Here are my notes from those wines.<br />
The first was Iron Horse Vineyards 2005 Ocean Reserve Estate Bottled Sparkling Wine from Sonoma County ($40). Not to sound corny, but the nose was a bit salty. It was only after having a couple classic potato chips from Trader Joe's that I was able to lessen the scent. There were also some herbal notes on the nose, mainly basil with a bit of mustard seed. The mouth started out rather dry, with strong herbal notes and minerals (limestone and river rock). It then finished with some green apple and a slightly bittersweet aftertaste that lingered for a bit. I enjoyed the wine, but it was a little dry for me. I can be pretty forgiving of a dry wine, but this one pushed the envelope a bit. <br />
The next wine I tasted was the Valdo Prosecco Non-Vintage Brut from Italy ($10). The nose on this one was quite complex: golden delicious apples, a bit of lavender water, river rocks and a tint of sweet grass as well. The nose was incredibly fruity. The mouth was rich, acidic and crisp, full of bubbly goodness. There were grassy notes on the beginning with strong green and red apples as it continued on the palate. For some strange reason (and I was the only one who tasted this) this sparkling wine kept finishing with flavors of baked cinnamon and pie crust. I imagine this sparkling wine would have been perfect with an apple pie. It's very easy to enjoy, with a crisp acidity and that fabulously bizarre apple pie finish that just made me think. <br />
The third, which I tasted blindly out of a paper bag, was the Mumm Napa Blanc de Blanc 2006 from Napa Valley ($20). The nose was incredibly light and subtle, with honeydew melon and not much else to detect ... other than the slightest whiff of gasoline. The sparkling tasted of honeydew, limestock and the strong night air right before a thunderstorm. Almost where you can taste the electricity and tension. Sadly, it wasn't enough to blow me away. It was good, but not very memorable on my palate. Kind of finished too quickly. <br />
The final sparkling wine, which was also tasted blindly out of a paper bag, was the sublime Champagne Delamotte 1999 Blanc de Blancs from, well, Champagne, France ($95). The nose had mineral notes with some light melon and a strong scent of spearmint leaf. The mouth was actually very multidimensional. Albeit it was a little bitter on the beginning, it carried through into a delicious flavor of orange peel, melon, a bit of Bitters with a floral finish and a bit of vanilla carrying through. It stayed for a very long time on my palate, made quite the impression on my taste buds. I know it's an expensive wine, so it's one I would only recommend for more of those special occasions. It's a classically-styled, well-rounded Champagne that would leave anyone satisfied.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-73819962708268534232010-11-18T11:05:00.000-08:002010-11-18T11:05:42.476-08:00welcome to the real world, winos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBoCykdsbQ9AeUmAWEEyg0EXwljP4rVxEku65blwg8M7QCj2AQKIo5XvJnZo0J87DKioHvVBdhIb9RbjAMSxFfeMoE4VX1GDEneCVfi_fRMJABR9g6AT3on905ORGXdc0xb0qP6oYISQ/s1600/Photo+on+2010-10-24+at+13.03-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBoCykdsbQ9AeUmAWEEyg0EXwljP4rVxEku65blwg8M7QCj2AQKIo5XvJnZo0J87DKioHvVBdhIb9RbjAMSxFfeMoE4VX1GDEneCVfi_fRMJABR9g6AT3on905ORGXdc0xb0qP6oYISQ/s320/Photo+on+2010-10-24+at+13.03-pola.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
In the words of Kyle's adorable-yet-terrible-stereotype cousin Kyle .... I'm back! You just have to imagine the whiny voice, silly glasses and complete lack of hand-eye coordination; only because Blogger now practices copyright protection on all images. When did this happen? I've only been gone two months and it's like everything is new and different. I suppose that's what my Media Technology professor means when she says that technology has made the world change so quickly. <br />
After a few months of getting settled in San Diego; including starting university, sending a boyfriend off to Paris, having to find a new apartment after one month of a rather challenging roommate and getting a new (and much more wine friendly) job, I finally feel ready to get back in the swing of things.<br />
I will probably be posting about once or twice per week, since struggling students and wine writers can't really afford too much wine!<br />
Unfortunately I am unable to toast my grand blog return with anything but an unsweetened green iced tea from Starbucks, so instead I'm going to take an opportunity to thank all the wine bloggers (and friends) in San Diego who I have had an amazing pleasure to get to know. They have been pushing me since day one to get back into wine blogging, and I owe a great deal to their kindness and fantastic wines. And no, you can't ask about our secret handshake. Be sure to check out their wine blogs!<br />
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<a href="http://beausbarrelroom.blogspot.com/">Beau's Barrel Room</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.brainwines.com/">Brain Wines</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wineharlots.com/">Wine Harlots</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lajollamom.com/">La Jolla Mom</a><br />
<a href="http://cuveecorner.blogspot.com/">Cuvee Corner</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-55979911853789227712010-09-19T07:44:00.000-07:002010-09-19T07:44:20.310-07:00taking a break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQt9kDQ_3dYDLzHrtVA4mjtHojyTPv6-X35NYdzyFzzr3WWutlVzK36o4PelPLbRKCTAAKjNlTR-qP5gSNTob6mcoRuTYhSK0s0yQxc94lQiWFE2aiQOQeYzhFd_VcKXndNCXkT1h2MI/s1600/wine+barrel+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQt9kDQ_3dYDLzHrtVA4mjtHojyTPv6-X35NYdzyFzzr3WWutlVzK36o4PelPLbRKCTAAKjNlTR-qP5gSNTob6mcoRuTYhSK0s0yQxc94lQiWFE2aiQOQeYzhFd_VcKXndNCXkT1h2MI/s320/wine+barrel+4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Hi everybody! I just wanted to let all of you wonderful people know that I will be taking a break from wine blogging for an undetermined amount of time. I'm currently attending SDSU to achieve my Bachelor's degree in Journalism, and I need to give that my full attention if I'm ever to be a successful freelance wine journalist. I thank all of you for reading and for being so kind, and I look forward to picking this back up in the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-33890585028744429852010-08-30T20:05:00.000-07:002010-08-30T20:05:47.360-07:00you give your hand to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WELNl5caqs6Q02nhW2BfDWIm6SFwgvMhQZpZdelknqktNDiL9DZcKL7YASWpuUxcvUn6b8DY-BjZzSs2-waVLAeOlaLcla2LAOEOOLqQ0TZHPRef0etVoyXOhyi85hB92Ei2tx-2yaI/s1600/broken-bottle-on-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WELNl5caqs6Q02nhW2BfDWIm6SFwgvMhQZpZdelknqktNDiL9DZcKL7YASWpuUxcvUn6b8DY-BjZzSs2-waVLAeOlaLcla2LAOEOOLqQ0TZHPRef0etVoyXOhyi85hB92Ei2tx-2yaI/s320/broken-bottle-on-head.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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It's a drink directly from the bottle kind of day.<br />
For those who may not know (probably all of you, at this point), my boyfriend Julien left for Paris yesterday morning to help his brother, a film editor, work on a movie. He will be gone for a minimum of six months. I miss him already. Alas, I've got an open bottle of 2007 Heller Estate Organic Vineyards Dancers Meritage from Carmel Valley on my nightstand and I'm taking swigs while writing this depressing blog entry. Not my usual Monday evening, mind you ... but tonight I thought I'd make an exception, you know, given the circumstances.<br />
The nose has plum, caramel, cherry and a bit of cinnamon. The mouth, well let's just say that other than the taste of red apple, cherry, cinnamon, white pepper and a soy sauce finish ... it's doing its job. If you have a chance to try the 2007 Dancers Meritage, I would definitely recommend it. It was a fantastic year for the blend. However, my only goal at this point is to get drunk on it and then fall asleep in my strangely big bed.<br />
For those who are interested, I am not only officially back in the wine blogging biz after all the craziness that was RENT and moving to San Diego, but I have also started a blog to chronicle my experiences as one-half of a long-distance relationship. You can find it here: <a href="http://fivesixsevennine.blogspot.com/">five-six-seven-nine | from your heart to mine</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-76495663474661694232010-08-20T08:50:00.000-07:002010-08-20T08:50:05.422-07:00i have been a bad puddytat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqAEy9AHAtGrL0Ajcx4j07jcDiMx3LKhD-ocFLmdT4GuUgaTY2nPJEWs8vEacYqMg6GPYk0c5Si9Hv1iPPAhcfo5FZOWcF3bNCnX4C98gPQi4iCWa62N4Whl3zHHZQohNSl_YQsUmBss/s1600/ADEF1227_2-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqAEy9AHAtGrL0Ajcx4j07jcDiMx3LKhD-ocFLmdT4GuUgaTY2nPJEWs8vEacYqMg6GPYk0c5Si9Hv1iPPAhcfo5FZOWcF3bNCnX4C98gPQi4iCWa62N4Whl3zHHZQohNSl_YQsUmBss/s320/ADEF1227_2-pola.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This month has been very challenging for me. I've been getting ready to move, working crazy hours at my job, performing the show RENT at the Morgan Stock Stage and trying to save money because of the aforementioned situations. As such, I have not been drinking wine. Sadly I can't afford it at this point. Once I move down to San Diego and start school I plan on making this blog my absolute priority, but at this point it sadly isn't possible. I need at least two more weeks, people, and I apologize.<br />
In the meantime, here are a few pics from RENT. Hope you like them!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/">See what others are (not) saying today.</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-87595902817991756232010-07-27T07:44:00.000-07:002010-07-27T07:44:16.240-07:00#twn - happy cows come from wine country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOStoSoVEeC38ub3PHa7nKGHspwOvItsUZJjGGVftA7A8g_ciKOx3v1vflW3yD6au1-iaLNpaosqgpMS2rLYyxhE6sy9nTqjly7ORc0BJBMWGMS2unk_ckZRtoeQpXBOtqXzlGMGmn_aw/s1600/cows-pola01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOStoSoVEeC38ub3PHa7nKGHspwOvItsUZJjGGVftA7A8g_ciKOx3v1vflW3yD6au1-iaLNpaosqgpMS2rLYyxhE6sy9nTqjly7ORc0BJBMWGMS2unk_ckZRtoeQpXBOtqXzlGMGmn_aw/s320/cows-pola01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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According to an article by <a href="http://www.drvino.com/2010/07/26/canadian-cows-wine-flavor-meat/">Dr. Vino</a>, a farmer in British Columbia has been feeding her cattle, get this, red wine. For the past 90 days, Janice Ravndahl of Sezmu Meats has been supplying her cattle with delicious red wine, either mixed in their food or straight from the bottle. She says she was inspired by a television article about a farmer feeding beer to his pigs, which she said wasn't practical for cattle ... but that red wine might be a perfect solution.<br />
According to Ravndahl, the cows have been reacting rather favorably to the recent addition to their diet: "They moo at one another a little more and seem more relaxed," she said. And local chefs have also reacted favorably, even going as far as to claim that the meat was pre-marinated before being brought to their kitchens.<br />
Now I for one am not for eating cows or any other kind of animal (except for the occasional fresh piece of locally caught fish), but I can imagine why anybody would want to try a piece of beef that's been soaked in the wonderful taste of delicious red wine. Hopefully this becomes a trend in the states ... after all, don't cows deserve the same rights of wine, women and song as the rest of us?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-49281326839729364522010-07-26T16:18:00.000-07:002010-07-26T16:18:59.739-07:00pure evil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGUwoGwc08amfjJONNSihmjD_u-iBQAV4uxBh-rheFO-XnKjkJG7qO3_pNJt0JgqzBHhgY9nhV9TQ3zFdo6MI4mGZf3LelOvMpZNk38ysBai4G02Gc2XTjqEDQ6bBmJ9MQYKpHjC8zAk/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGUwoGwc08amfjJONNSihmjD_u-iBQAV4uxBh-rheFO-XnKjkJG7qO3_pNJt0JgqzBHhgY9nhV9TQ3zFdo6MI4mGZf3LelOvMpZNk38ysBai4G02Gc2XTjqEDQ6bBmJ9MQYKpHjC8zAk/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Bwa ha ha ha ha!<br />
Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's start tasting some wine. After a sour and disappointing just-opened bottle of 2007 Blue Pirate Oregon Pinot Noir from Cost Plus (totally going to go in and get a refund, stat), I was looking for something a little more powerful. And oftentimes, when you're wanting power, you need to be a little evil.<br />
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The wine is a 2007 EVIL Cabernet Sauvignon from South Eastern Australia ($9.99, Cost Plus). According to the back label of the wine, "It's just wrong." Well, I wouldn't go that far. I honestly wouldn't say this wine is completely "right," but it certainly isn't "wrong." The color on the wine is a deep burgundy with a brick-red halo ... surprising for a Cabernet that's so young. The nose was incredibly jammy, with tons of raspberry, black cherry and licorice. There was also a bit of spice on the nose in the form of yummy cinnamon.<br />
The mouth was smooth and strong with very subtle tannins and a crisp, clean finish. The mouth was also very jammy with black cherry and raspberry, but also had some tomato (especially on the finish) and tobacco. It's a smooth, easy to drink wine, but the only problem I have with it is that it's not very memorable. Perhaps that will have to come with age, but right now the wine just kind of dissipates on the tongue ... it doesn't really wow my senses after it's gone from my mouth.<br />
In other news, the play rehearsals are going great. I've been having so much fun I can hardly stand it! Looking forward to opening night. Here's a pic of the entire cast in our costumes. In case you can't tell, I'm the one in the middle with the motorcycle chaps and a very, VERY wide open mouth. Gotta belt it loud and strong, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8pTk6BWy0muZhEKy_3OffExKJQD1giJEaIRE6ckCTo0f50H4yOAKDa4P2eL-3FQ9Vr4WyYPJsJg1gGyolWbUlmB0Xyy_DGaackfTDJkdDUXiukMHp-Y-qVGTZ18zlJMNuyDnsoIUXPk/s1600/RENT+pic+%2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8pTk6BWy0muZhEKy_3OffExKJQD1giJEaIRE6ckCTo0f50H4yOAKDa4P2eL-3FQ9Vr4WyYPJsJg1gGyolWbUlmB0Xyy_DGaackfTDJkdDUXiukMHp-Y-qVGTZ18zlJMNuyDnsoIUXPk/s320/RENT+pic+%2301.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-13726217656382639762010-07-15T16:28:00.000-07:002010-07-15T16:28:55.223-07:00life in technicolor ... and wine in my belly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2iE3Qo_KNtF1heoqV3rx0mxWhmNqUnIpE6WRw7_EBRVnrJ_FINJtbnyzSIN_d_k2qbm9qv-KVahXH0iehRaALErDNjRf4RJKkIXVI51CCAONgCvEWHVs1511sWZ2E29Zuw9MV8bQ14Q/s1600/Photo+on+2010-07-14+at+15.20+%232-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2iE3Qo_KNtF1heoqV3rx0mxWhmNqUnIpE6WRw7_EBRVnrJ_FINJtbnyzSIN_d_k2qbm9qv-KVahXH0iehRaALErDNjRf4RJKkIXVI51CCAONgCvEWHVs1511sWZ2E29Zuw9MV8bQ14Q/s320/Photo+on+2010-07-14+at+15.20+%232-pola.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Okay, so I was going to start with this elaborate paragraph and where the yikes I've been for the past month, but instead I'm just going to sum it up in a clever haiku, a la Poetry Slam Fridays:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">what the hell</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">black hole of finance</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">life no more, only saving,</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">so lips crack and bleed</span></b><br />
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So in short, the combination of saving for my move to San Diego as well as my theater performance has made buying or drinking wine pretty difficult right now. <i>Pretty much all my spare money recently went into my rocking hairstyle (pictured above) for my role as Maureen in the local performance of RENT ... which, by the way, has been AWESOME. I love performing and hope to do it as much as possible when I'm down in San Diego. What can I say ... I'm a sucker for attention. </i><br />
<i></i>I take a sip of wine every chance I get, but I have to be honest in saying that until I move down to San Diego, the actual wine portion of this wine blog is going to be pretty slim. I instead will focus on paying close attention and linking to my fellow blogger's fascinating wine blogs ... living (and drinking) vicariously through them. I look forward to seeing what all of you are enjoying!<br />
The other day I had the opportunity to try a rather interesting Pinot Grigio at my work. I love working at a restaurant where we're encouraged to try the product, instead of told that we're simply supposed to assume what it's like without really knowing.<br />
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Specifically, it's the 2008 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio from Trentino, Italy ($25). It clocks it at a pretty mild 13% alcohol, which is not very surprising for the region (or so I have heard). The primary flavors on this wine, be it nose or mouth, were green apples. Classic Granny-smith green apples. It was incredibly crisp and light and was obviously meant to enjoy chilled. The nose also had characteristics of honeydew melon and wheatgrass, and the mouth also contained elements of tropical pineapple and a tiny hint of an herbal spice. I could easily imagine enjoying a couple sips outside on a terrasse while enjoying some light cheeses and cuts of fruit. Definitely a few pieces of a Granny-smith apple. It wasn't the best wine I've ever tasted, but it certainly wasn't the worst. I would drink it again ... but I probably wouldn't actively seek it out.<br />
If any of you want to see a tiny preview of the show I'm in, here's a 20 second clip of all of us singing together. I'm the one in the green tank top hugging the other chica. Yes, in the show I DO play for the other team. Hopefully you can watch it, but if not all you have to do is become a fan of the Friends of MPC Theater. Hope you like! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=416008088871&oid=22288323163">20 Seconds of RENT</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-58579018943415106292010-06-16T07:54:00.000-07:002010-06-16T07:54:50.340-07:00les saisons de la vie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68sNZbArREwYPw8776-aQfRub-oAjEZCETqzj45CCNrZzLG0pyCCBt5-LdTyl7Xjs5_jJhTNfdttjson4iRI3JHdTqBtsySjYdY7Ci9pQ0UazAZlR0zcrKM5ShTCRB2gdoOhHgQw7nxk/s1600/IMG_0782-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68sNZbArREwYPw8776-aQfRub-oAjEZCETqzj45CCNrZzLG0pyCCBt5-LdTyl7Xjs5_jJhTNfdttjson4iRI3JHdTqBtsySjYdY7Ci9pQ0UazAZlR0zcrKM5ShTCRB2gdoOhHgQw7nxk/s320/IMG_0782-pola.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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So this blog entry isn't about wine so much as it's about my life, because I wanted to share something with all of you. I found out recently that my boyfriend Julien has been offered a full internship on the set of a new movie shooting in Paris, starting in August. He'll be working with his brother, a very well known film editor in France, and learning about the entire movie making process. Since he's a film major at college, naturally he is stoked.<br />
I'm very happy for him, but I'm not so thrilled that he'll be gone for at least 7 months an entire continent away. I'm going to visit him for a month in January, but still ... that's 6 months apart, minimum. We're determined to make it work, but I've never done something long distance before. I'm a little nervous about how it all works. Have any of you been involved in a long distance relationship, either short or long? Is there anything I should prepare for?<br />
I'll be blogging every loving, painful and pining step of the way ... so be prepared for some lover's lament poetry on Poetry Slam Fridays. Because I'm going to miss him terribly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-90661009817510896632010-06-11T07:49:00.000-07:002010-06-11T07:49:54.980-07:00poetry slam friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruVLZV9q4Y2vE4n0wck89q95Sa_7dcw9tg_bL04PBeH_artgwEedL_wHblOFClVvMpovU7ZRm1llPBoXZak_5i2FqRnbgf1T9BddKnTnpDfbaUzo73ZuWaWeCY5jwTRjyXFi0i4qDfTs/s1600/IMG_0725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruVLZV9q4Y2vE4n0wck89q95Sa_7dcw9tg_bL04PBeH_artgwEedL_wHblOFClVvMpovU7ZRm1llPBoXZak_5i2FqRnbgf1T9BddKnTnpDfbaUzo73ZuWaWeCY5jwTRjyXFi0i4qDfTs/s320/IMG_0725.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
deepening<br />
<br />
your color's exposed<br />
deeper, darker, richer, raw<br />
skins create rubiesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-54430634872611781722010-06-10T18:07:00.000-07:002010-06-10T18:07:46.073-07:00featured blogger: beau's barrel room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkBHBB-DDG4IBR5GLo_BLEVdSFDm4k5i0XdKGcMECM6GhNtRioElH_mlqKraeoQH60FEsCF35olGNItRBhx6ehbWA8whAkXGpSoIMUTKbFYbnvgsD_-KS84RViHGpAS8-AlMRbLNwMxk/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-10+at+6.02.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkBHBB-DDG4IBR5GLo_BLEVdSFDm4k5i0XdKGcMECM6GhNtRioElH_mlqKraeoQH60FEsCF35olGNItRBhx6ehbWA8whAkXGpSoIMUTKbFYbnvgsD_-KS84RViHGpAS8-AlMRbLNwMxk/s320/Screen+shot+2010-06-10+at+6.02.49+PM.png" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This week's featured blogger is Beau Carufel from <a href="http://beausbarrelroom.blogspot.com/">Beau's Barrel Room</a>. A resident of my home-to-be, San Diego CA, Beau is a young wine blogger who, like myself, prefers to write about wine in a fun and casual manner ... as opposed to being all stiff and stodgy with an upturned nose. He'll be at this year's Wine Blogger's Conference in San Diego on scholarship, so wish him luck! I can't go unfortunately because I have play rehearsals, so that means he'll just have to have enough fun for the both of us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-26914785733712105572010-06-08T07:44:00.000-07:002010-06-08T07:44:36.147-07:00twn - the wino's carbon footprint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98zQP9cvvLLNLjLrCprrW4LE9smVKVkzOv5xOJMbDsBFX0lR_s6Of2OTalfPgVl_me1EeQslzIFsarMoKODxELovQIa3_D8oSyYLqIfS5lOLLIaR_9TrazgrtVbVq8-gA2mEbZW2rTN0/s1600/beer+or+wine-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98zQP9cvvLLNLjLrCprrW4LE9smVKVkzOv5xOJMbDsBFX0lR_s6Of2OTalfPgVl_me1EeQslzIFsarMoKODxELovQIa3_D8oSyYLqIfS5lOLLIaR_9TrazgrtVbVq8-gA2mEbZW2rTN0/s320/beer+or+wine-pola.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I recently read an <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/ask_pablo_which.php">interesting article on Treehugger.com</a> about the carbon emissions's behind a bottle of wine or a pint of beer. Someone was asking their resident carbon emissions expert which is safer for the environment.<br />
According to Pablo, the item with the least carbon emissions would be a locally-grown estate bottle of wine, since many of the carbon emissions come from shipping the grapes and/or wines to other areas and around the world on planes. Locally-grown and produced beers are also good, but apparently it's hard to find a brewery that will produce its own grains. It's also good to find organically-grown or biodynamic wines, since they don't use any pesticides or herbicides to make their wines. Also try and buy more screw top wines where possible, and recycle your corks!<br />
However, Pablo does make it a point to state that no matter which one we drink, we're harming the environment in one way or another. Which is a good point to consider ... albeit a depressing one. So drink responsibly and make sure to treasure every last drop - Mother Nature is taking one for the team to let us drink delicious wine, so show your respects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-28099276379426852692010-06-07T20:23:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:23:11.746-07:00atw - more like FUNdue!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabtCysye0TuT3CuHuYcWXnnmtN7gfLFBJK7iTyv27_VWLjd-IFjFYvlOKBy97h-FkArAeTPYuEUn5_iIRTnyCvWbg1QTpqTJJ5ysWILb11g_DGDg5b5ruJ_3C5eO__2PXgjp3avsCLPM/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabtCysye0TuT3CuHuYcWXnnmtN7gfLFBJK7iTyv27_VWLjd-IFjFYvlOKBy97h-FkArAeTPYuEUn5_iIRTnyCvWbg1QTpqTJJ5ysWILb11g_DGDg5b5ruJ_3C5eO__2PXgjp3avsCLPM/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The other day I had a craving for fondue. A serious, serious craving. And as any true fondue fan knows, the craving for fondue can ONLY be satisfied with a delicious fondue. No cheese and crackers will substitute! So Julien and I went with his mother and sister to a little Swiss restaurant in Carmel CA to have some cheese fondue and raclette.<br />
Since no fondue excursion would be complete without a delicious bottle of dry white wine to enjoy it with, we decided to order a bottle directly from the fondue motherland ... Switzerland. The wine was a 2002 Domaine E. de Montmollin white wine from Bevaix, Switzerland ($32). The grapes were grown by Domaine de Chauvigny on the French side of Switzerland.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1XPPzFx54nr3BOWwhNoor1tcunP-7OCfTyfjlcH0rbUKy_XRw4RnZzfC18DHvy0qbtv5zC9W7DyEXn_FIddWYz4JS8ZaRuiOVcTIphBlZMj7IjO6UGwFPkogA3rb7RbodOVDRAE_6Y8/s1600/IMG_0757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1XPPzFx54nr3BOWwhNoor1tcunP-7OCfTyfjlcH0rbUKy_XRw4RnZzfC18DHvy0qbtv5zC9W7DyEXn_FIddWYz4JS8ZaRuiOVcTIphBlZMj7IjO6UGwFPkogA3rb7RbodOVDRAE_6Y8/s320/IMG_0757.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The color on this wine was a rich yellow, almost straw-like color. There was noticeable pear and Golden Delicious apple on the nose, as well as Meyer lemon and honeydew. The wine was quite dry but had a bit of a spritz on it as well. The mouth had honeydew melon with a tiny hint of grapefruit, Golden Delicious apples and a honey finish. It tasted great with the fondue, and wasn't bad with the chocolate fondue that followed for dessert! I would definitely recommend it for the next time you're thinking of having or making some fondue.<br />
In other news, as you can see my Web site is officially open for business! Well, the main page and blog page are, anyway. The rest should be uploaded within the week. If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know.<br />
Also, please check out my <a href="http://palatepress.com/2010/06/making-vegetarian-pairings-the-life-of-the-party/">newest article for Palate Press</a> about being a vegetarian wine taster. It's currently the featured article on the main <a href="http://www.palatepress.com/">Palate Press</a> site. Yippee!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-43545599753409276872010-05-28T19:52:00.000-07:002010-05-28T19:55:59.536-07:00poetry slam friday<center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/28/2080.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/28/s_2080.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;" width="320" /></a></center><br />
<br />
Well my Web site was finished for my class assignment, but now comes the really hard part of transferring it to my current domain. Had a bit of an incident trying to get it over, and now I have to start all over making it again. Damn damn damn! In the meantime here's a couple of poems for Poetry Slam Friday ... and here's a link to how the Web site will look in case you wanna see it: <a href="http://webhawks.org/~dm70elelde0321/elderkin_final/index.html">WELCOME TO WINO RHINO</a>.<br />
<br />
new season<br />
<br />
the grapes are growing<br />
leaves nestle into vines, quickly<br />
how they become one<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
(this was a poem I submitted recently for an essay contest about how my generation of college students are "one in a million" ... see if you can catch the connect and comment if you find out!)<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">the definition of one</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Open up our hands, our arms</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Never cease, never stop</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Everything is moving forward now</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I dive in, feel our strength as warmth</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Never cease, never stop</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A single beat above the roar</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Many faces turn to us</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I realize where we are going</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Listen to our</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Longing for more than mediocrity</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I stop and look at you for hope</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Opening up your hands, your arms</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Never cease, never stop</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-55032039383695291062010-05-24T23:11:00.000-07:002010-05-24T23:11:59.431-07:00welcome to the circus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ojafM8jfmgP4DUXDS0o3URvyPgp4nKACv12ahowti3-sDTko9sinmFxYpV-YVuY4tifLzKi_hhG1EFsQBGK7zyvbJKBSS_5MIyahRJRDYG66Kdje23x8gejkDqq86M82O33epmjGgfA/s1600/IMG_0732_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ojafM8jfmgP4DUXDS0o3URvyPgp4nKACv12ahowti3-sDTko9sinmFxYpV-YVuY4tifLzKi_hhG1EFsQBGK7zyvbJKBSS_5MIyahRJRDYG66Kdje23x8gejkDqq86M82O33epmjGgfA/s320/IMG_0732_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Welcome to the new <b>wino rhino</b>! After months of painful work and preparation, I am finally ready to reveal my creation to all of you - a complete web blog and site that showcases who I am, what I do and where I plan on going in my life with the fabulous obsession called wine writing.<br />
So to celebrate I did what any normal wine blogger would do ... I went wine tasting! One of the girls I work with wanted to go out wine tasting, so we headed to Carmel Valley and checked out a few places. One of my favorite Carmel Valley stops is Parsonage Family Winery, a Monterey County winery that produces some fantastic red wines. Their everyday red blends are fantastic for the price, and their Syrah is to die for.<br />
Magically, the wine tasting room host turned out to be non other than Bill Parsons, the owner of Parsonage winery! This was the first time meeting him, although I'd tried his wines on numerous occasions ... so naturally it was quite a treat for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71O7MEfIhodYA3n95-B23Dv231_iBcwW9aRYsfKrW4F36NKtEJzsowsW4zvyM3KdDAtn_vyZiICt8bZn6jppWDRlTpjZ-cog66lZzMZoBiZ5MxcZZmNpoLLm9ullORGOmBkbDwPvi4TI/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71O7MEfIhodYA3n95-B23Dv231_iBcwW9aRYsfKrW4F36NKtEJzsowsW4zvyM3KdDAtn_vyZiICt8bZn6jppWDRlTpjZ-cog66lZzMZoBiZ5MxcZZmNpoLLm9ullORGOmBkbDwPvi4TI/s320/IMG_0730.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured: me </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">coaxing</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> forcing him to pose for a pic :).</span></div><br />
We were pretty fortunate to have him pouring the wine for us, because he gave us a real inside scoop into the winery and its fabulous wines. For example, he gave us a some nice juicy details on their delicious new wine, the 2007 Snosrap Cyrano Bordelais (gossip soon to follow). This unique and impressive wine, which boasts a rather high 15% alcohol content, consists of about 53% Cabernet with 22% Petit Verdot, 21% Merlot and 4% Malbec.<br />
The result is a young but firm wine that smells strongly of sweet tobacco, cherries, a bit of curry and some unripened raspberry. The texture on the wine is a bit tight, probably because of the age, but it's actually quite easy to drink. The color is a deep fuschia with a mouth of black cherries, sweet oak, lavender, blackberries and a finish of cedar and tobacco. And it still carried that tiny bit of red curry on it with a tiny bit of herb and grass, which added well to the overall mix. I bought a bottle of this baby and took it home with me, where I am enjoying at this moment as I submit my final homework assignment for my digital media class.<br />
But on to the juicy stuff! Turns out that this wine is .... ILLEGAL.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo5c9voe3aUwPqFDICLrPHNVwwFT7ScDFS0yu-zhi3XOpmFYTbxZmCcWWmXorVL6_iH2HUbYLsf5UKh96TEn_rFaBae5SEuJyhZ3eOtMD9yjHd-fIuk20S0z-3RN-bNYJ_1j_QFg9f-w/s1600/IMG_0730_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo5c9voe3aUwPqFDICLrPHNVwwFT7ScDFS0yu-zhi3XOpmFYTbxZmCcWWmXorVL6_iH2HUbYLsf5UKh96TEn_rFaBae5SEuJyhZ3eOtMD9yjHd-fIuk20S0z-3RN-bNYJ_1j_QFg9f-w/s320/IMG_0730_2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">What a criminal.</span></div><br />
Ooh, let the gossip ensue! According to Bill Parsons, it's illegal for him to call the wine a Bordelais, because Bordelais is related to the region of Bordeaux in France, which is a distinct wine region whose name cannot be used. So he's allowed to sell the wine in his tasting room, but it's not being sold in stores.<br />
Kinda feels a bit like tasting some of that bathtub gin in Prohibition America during the 1920's ... so wrong, yet so right.<br />
So if you happen to be in the area, I would definitely recommend picking up a few bottles of this bad boy. It's delicious and should age quite nicely, though if you're like me you're going to want to open it right away!<br />
Also, please feel free to look around the new wino rhino Web site and check out all its wonders. Salut!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZsittedcLPSuDXLkcOiOaWKdJnR6QbbKZXM9qNJS5G9QC9PU7C3ZNaevVPmlXdO8J6WXKP3fJ93Vfq4ZNZO-k1QO1j9KT4K_YttJ3u-snU-XJjp7dQcjm2auTc1JUrKvWFF-wGqmh5M/s1600/IMG_0733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZsittedcLPSuDXLkcOiOaWKdJnR6QbbKZXM9qNJS5G9QC9PU7C3ZNaevVPmlXdO8J6WXKP3fJ93Vfq4ZNZO-k1QO1j9KT4K_YttJ3u-snU-XJjp7dQcjm2auTc1JUrKvWFF-wGqmh5M/s320/IMG_0733.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-83234225882199031312010-05-14T07:17:00.000-07:002010-05-14T07:17:02.669-07:00what have i been up to?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pNABd6Pb-8IsUunghdvQ95wGQ6Zkll2gnQt5JPWBF9QhoLEKepIQsa9K5CK0uUiTektNUW4pTNixt7y1_vDG7Ey0BR3F9k3wrsxEswBUE_FvQfH6diE9ifFxuv5q7u-vUyexf3aOX5o/s1600/IMG_0684-pola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pNABd6Pb-8IsUunghdvQ95wGQ6Zkll2gnQt5JPWBF9QhoLEKepIQsa9K5CK0uUiTektNUW4pTNixt7y1_vDG7Ey0BR3F9k3wrsxEswBUE_FvQfH6diE9ifFxuv5q7u-vUyexf3aOX5o/s320/IMG_0684-pola.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
In about a week you'll find out ... so stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-3917147652292265302010-04-30T07:24:00.000-07:002010-04-30T07:27:16.228-07:00poetry slam fridaywhich piece is mine?<br />
<br />
i look at you, two<br />
glasses tempting, filled to the<br />
brim with suggestionUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762104121787689077.post-28167974338137152482010-04-29T08:31:00.000-07:002010-04-29T08:31:51.569-07:00who are you ... what am i ... ?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div>I found this survey on <a href="http://www.rbandj.blogspot.com/">rbandj</a> and I couldn't help myself. I used to be the biggest survey fan when I was in high school. I'd have one on my high school blog (not wine related) at least once a week. Nostalgia!</div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>1. The strangest thing I've ever eaten was</b> oysters. I tried them once just to say I had them, and they were the weirdest tasting things on the planet. It felt like eating a piece of slimy rubber. The taste was okay ... I just couldn't stand the texture.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>2. My best friends are </b>my two sisters, my mom, my boyfriend Julien, his sister Sidonie and my friends Carla and Blair. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>3. If I could live in a different era it would be</b> I wouldn't choose to live in a different era because I like this one. I prefer women's rights over pretty dresses. Although it would be nice to see what the future is like. Not to live in it, but just to see it. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>4. If you only know one thing about me it should be </b>I aspire to achieve absolute happiness and fulfillment in my life. If I am not happy, well then, what's the point? </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>5. My favorite book of all time is </b>"The Giver" by Lois Lowry. I've been reading that book ever since I was 6 years old, and every time I pick it up I get something different out of it. It's beautiful, heartbreaking and a wonderful reminder of how precious individualism is in this world. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>6. The one beauty product I cannot live without is</b> concealer. If I have anything on my face it's concealer underneath my eyes. Not because I have circles or anything, but just because it makes my eyes brighter. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>7. Blogging is </b>a great way to practice writing and get to know other people who you may not have the opportunity to meet. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>8. If I could star in a movie with one actor/actress, it would be</b> probably Leonardo DiCaprio, because then I could introduce him to my sister Christine, who would die. Plus, he's an amazing actor. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>9. One of the best feelings in the world is </b>joy. Pure joy. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>10. My current obsession is</b> fixing the food issue in my house, because too much goes to waste. Also cooking.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>11. What's for dinner tonight? </b>I'm thinking tofu or potatoes with green beans, mushrooms and rosemary. With some mango chutney. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>12. The last thing I bought was</b> a half bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>13. I am currently listening to</b> my boyfriend snoring. Geez, I should really wake him up now. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>14. If I could have a home, totally paid for, totally furnished anywhere in the world, it would be in</b> San Diego, because that's where I'm going for school. After I graduate, can I relocate the house to Paris? Anybody? </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>15. The one thing I would change about myself is </b>making my ankles stronger. I was born with twisted ankles and have always had weaker legs. That's something I need to improve, and one of the main reasons why I'm taking yoga.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>16. If you could go anywhere in the world in the next hour, where would you go? </b>Paris!</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>17. The languages I would love to learn are</b> French. I want to master French because learning anything else.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>18. My favorite quote </b>(right now)<b> is: "</b>As long as there are still some of us left who read all is not lost." - Anonymous</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>19. I am most afraid of </b>drowning. It seems like such a horrible way to die. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>20. My favorite colour is</b> turquoise. It's just such a beautiful color. I also love black and red. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>21. My dream job is </b>a professional wine blogger and freelance wine journalist. Owning my own freelance writing business. My dream of dreams. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>22. The one thing that brings a smile to my face instantaneously is </b>a passionate kiss from my boyfriend. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>23. The one word I use a lot is </b>"absolutely." I can be a bit of a yes person. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>24. When I'm feeling blue I will </b>sit alone and feel sorry for myself until somebody pays attention to me. Pathetic, I know. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>25. What inspires me is </b>myself. I try to live as my own inspiration, so that I aspire to live the life I want to live without trying to live somebody else's. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>26. My favorite season is </b>usually the one that I'm in. If it's summer I love summer, if it's fall I love fall. My mood changes with the seasons. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>27. My favorite dessert has to be </b>probably the Half Baked fro-yo from Ben & Jerry's. Delicious and less fattening. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>28. How many tabs are open on your browser right now? </b>Just two, my blog page and a google search for who makes Half Baked fro-yo. I don't have the best memory ;). </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>29. What was the first thought that crossed your mind this morning when you looked in the mirror? </b> I haven't been to the mirror yet today, but I'm sure I look a fright. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>30. The best piece of advice I was ever given was </b>"You're meant to do great things in this life, so don't be so worried about being different now ... because in the future your differences will give you a beautiful life." - my parents</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>31. If I had a millions dollars to give to one charity, I would give it to </b>the Beth Elderkin is paying for her own college charity fund. Hey, you asked me to be honest ... well, I need money for school. </div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>32. If at first you don't succeed, </b>you're human. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3