Wine is Heaven AND Hell
I am running way behind in my blogging lately….
Nonetheless, the weekend was a good escape and I can say that I am up to at least 60% or so now, a big improvement actually. I seem to have a knack for finding wine festivals without even thinking about it or knowing about it (at least not in the self-aware sense). This is not too good a skill when I really just want to get away and bike on roads but it did add to the fun in reality. I only did a 20 mile jaunt as I discovered I am both out of shape and unwilling to dodge cars too much. From what I understand though, only nearly getting hit every 10 miles or so is not too bad. I got to hear a few ‘curse the tourists in cars’ stories by some local cyclers while I was breaking for lunch.
So what do I decide to do next? Become a cursed tourist in a car of course. As I said, I had happened upon one of the largest festivals up there, the annual barrel tasting. I was told that there were over 100 wineries participating but unless I could find a cheap taxi, I was not willing to try all 100. I stopped to relax and have oysters and sparkling wine and visited a very few wineries before deciding it was a bit crowded. Dinner in Healdsburg was actually some very good Thai though I wish I could really get them to spice things up. No one ever takes me seriously that I like things hot. There was some nightlife, but for the most part I just sat and people watched.
The next day I started out a bit early on the recommendation of several wineries and avoided crowds. This was much more the way to do it and I never seem to have a problem drinking wine at 10am so off I went. The wine, as expected, was a bit on the pricey side but very good nonetheless. Barrel tasting in general is a unique experience. The wine is still in its childhood and one never knows if it will get that Ivy League scholarship and become the next great world leader or just drop out and surf the California coast all day but it is enjoyable to be able to know all stages of the wine.
Some of the wineries do a few things to stand out. Yes, it is just marketing, but making wine tasting a playful, fun experience as opposed to a snobby, holier than thou experience is something I respect and find endearing. One winery tried a Mardi Gras theme with beads, gumbo, silly hats, and label stickers (cheap advertisement I guess) and my favorite idea was the heaven/hell theme at Armida. The Chardonnay barrel tasting was in one room designed as Heaven while the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel barrels were in Hell. They obviously had a lot more fun with the Hell concept complete with a chain and skull entrance, heavy industrial music, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ playing on a television, the standard fake blood/gore, and disco lights (disco was hell, right?). The general tasting room did not have the standard elevator music but instead played a good mix of 80s punk. Granted, looking at the pictures of the owners, it is obvious they did not do the marketing. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out during a festival as I was told they only have this set up during the various festivals. Next time I will have to stop and play bocce though.
There is something else I discovered on the trip as well. Wine Math! As I am limited to a case of wine checked in, I figured I would only be able to carry about 18 bottles total (one checked case, three bottles in checked luggage, three bottles in carryon (note that I would be limited to six here if I could fit them)) and counted as I went along. When I got home I managed 20 bottles. Lucky me!
The oddest thing about the trip was the feeling that I felt like I was home in a way. I am not sure that I ever want to admit that I would be at home in Northern California, but it certainly encouraged the developing thought of finally up and leaving Phoenix for new adventures. I will just have to see what opportunities open up ahead or at the very least what opportunities I can open up in my searching.
Anyone interested in the event next year? Take a look at the Russian River Wine Road.
Nonetheless, the weekend was a good escape and I can say that I am up to at least 60% or so now, a big improvement actually. I seem to have a knack for finding wine festivals without even thinking about it or knowing about it (at least not in the self-aware sense). This is not too good a skill when I really just want to get away and bike on roads but it did add to the fun in reality. I only did a 20 mile jaunt as I discovered I am both out of shape and unwilling to dodge cars too much. From what I understand though, only nearly getting hit every 10 miles or so is not too bad. I got to hear a few ‘curse the tourists in cars’ stories by some local cyclers while I was breaking for lunch.
So what do I decide to do next? Become a cursed tourist in a car of course. As I said, I had happened upon one of the largest festivals up there, the annual barrel tasting. I was told that there were over 100 wineries participating but unless I could find a cheap taxi, I was not willing to try all 100. I stopped to relax and have oysters and sparkling wine and visited a very few wineries before deciding it was a bit crowded. Dinner in Healdsburg was actually some very good Thai though I wish I could really get them to spice things up. No one ever takes me seriously that I like things hot. There was some nightlife, but for the most part I just sat and people watched.
The next day I started out a bit early on the recommendation of several wineries and avoided crowds. This was much more the way to do it and I never seem to have a problem drinking wine at 10am so off I went. The wine, as expected, was a bit on the pricey side but very good nonetheless. Barrel tasting in general is a unique experience. The wine is still in its childhood and one never knows if it will get that Ivy League scholarship and become the next great world leader or just drop out and surf the California coast all day but it is enjoyable to be able to know all stages of the wine.
Some of the wineries do a few things to stand out. Yes, it is just marketing, but making wine tasting a playful, fun experience as opposed to a snobby, holier than thou experience is something I respect and find endearing. One winery tried a Mardi Gras theme with beads, gumbo, silly hats, and label stickers (cheap advertisement I guess) and my favorite idea was the heaven/hell theme at Armida. The Chardonnay barrel tasting was in one room designed as Heaven while the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel barrels were in Hell. They obviously had a lot more fun with the Hell concept complete with a chain and skull entrance, heavy industrial music, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ playing on a television, the standard fake blood/gore, and disco lights (disco was hell, right?). The general tasting room did not have the standard elevator music but instead played a good mix of 80s punk. Granted, looking at the pictures of the owners, it is obvious they did not do the marketing. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out during a festival as I was told they only have this set up during the various festivals. Next time I will have to stop and play bocce though.
There is something else I discovered on the trip as well. Wine Math! As I am limited to a case of wine checked in, I figured I would only be able to carry about 18 bottles total (one checked case, three bottles in checked luggage, three bottles in carryon (note that I would be limited to six here if I could fit them)) and counted as I went along. When I got home I managed 20 bottles. Lucky me!
The oddest thing about the trip was the feeling that I felt like I was home in a way. I am not sure that I ever want to admit that I would be at home in Northern California, but it certainly encouraged the developing thought of finally up and leaving Phoenix for new adventures. I will just have to see what opportunities open up ahead or at the very least what opportunities I can open up in my searching.
Anyone interested in the event next year? Take a look at the Russian River Wine Road.
Thunder Stamped by DragonStormInAZ @ 9:23 AM
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