This poem used to hang on the wall of a hand-operated elevator at my college: DESIDERATA Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on … Continue reading
At the beginning of each workday, ask yourself the following seven questions: Did I shower or take a bath before coming to work? Am I sick with a fever, cold or diarrhea? Do I have any infected cuts or burns? … Continue reading
Thomas Keller’s Ted Talk
A perfect Syrah cluster at Minnick – a destiny of iron and leather “It is with good reason, says Sancho to the squire with the great nose, that I pretend to have a judgment in wine: This is a quality … Continue reading
It’s wines like this that create conversations like these. “How do you like this shit?” sez Säure. “Hübsch,” allows Gustav. “A trifle stahlig, and perhaps the infinitesimal hint of a Bodengeschmack behind its Körper, which is admittedly süffig.” “I would … Continue reading
A message from your friendly local vineyard management Winemaking is hard work. This shouldn’t be a surprising fact, but it’s really quite grueling. Following my time here, no matter how much I dislike a wine, I will always have respect … Continue reading
Many of you who I communicate via more analog methods (phone calls! what shock!) have wondered what exactly is going on out here. Winemaking from a manual labor standpoint is essentially a three step process. I apologize to those of … Continue reading
Sorting table carnage, not unlike wine buying David J. Duman’s postulation in the Huffington Post that hipster wine buyers need to commit to purchasing larger amounts of single wines, rather than flitting about the market like humming birds, is a … Continue reading
“I wonder what it’s like to be so good at something that even old and crippled you’re still better at it than nearly everyone on the planet?” – This American Life story on Sir Stirling Moss (at age 75) and … Continue reading
This growing season has been exceptionally wet and cool by Washington standards. We had some rains in the last week, which means constant controls in the vineyards to prevent downy mildew (Oidium Tuckeri). Once the spores are in the vines … Continue reading