When the phone rings, and you see it’s coming from Washington DC, you pick up ~ Department of Commerce
Deep in the throes of my Dark & Delicious planning, it takes a lot to get my attention. Let’s just say, you wouldn’t want to have ever been really mean to me in the past, and think you can get my attention during this time, as it happened this past week. I didn’t pick up [...]
Open Letter to All Petite Sirah Growers And Producers
First of all, to the members of PS I Love You, I don’t know how we could have accomplished what we have in the last nine years without you all. What we’ve done: September 19, 2002 ~ 62 Growers and Producers combined. August 20, 2011 ~ 1,000 Growers and Producers combined. We’ve just hit this [...]
King Andrews Vineyards ~ What Brought & Keeps Roger King in Suisun Valley
Pre-Viticulture Originally from Oakland, Roger King moved to the Lake Tahoe area in 1972, where he experienced a formidable marketing career in the ski industry. All of this happened before becoming a grape grower in Suisun Valley. He moved to Suisun because one of the companies that he worked for had a home office in [...]
Passionate About Petite? The Fifth Annual Dark & Delicious Event is Picking up Steam…
We’ve managed to sell out this event, since the beginning of it in February of 2007. Kent Rosenblum, sitting on the PSILY board of directors, suggested that we do something similar to ZAP’s good eats… He was also a member of their board at the time and knew the ropes. Kent was also very aware [...]
Suisun Valley Grape Growers Create a Brand, Literally from the Ground Up
When the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association (SVVGA) originally formed in 2003 (as the Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association), this coalition had two main objectives: To advance awareness of the Suisun Valley American Viticultural Area, established in 1982. To send their message of ultra premium winegrapes, in all direct sales methods, to all of [...]
Dusting myself off, after having attended the Rutherford tasting, and reflecting on greatness
Last week I was very fortunate to attended the annual Rutherford Dust Society tasting at Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate. Napa Valley has many sub American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) within “Napa Valley” itself. Each has a unique terroir, which is why Napa Valley can continue to be subdivided into more AVAs. While at Robert Mondavi [...]
Getting to the Heart and Soul of Suisun Valley
I’m working on a project right now that’s captured my imagination with new concepts about all the old facts I’ve learned regarding Suisun Valley. We’ve been working with the growers and producers for a six year cycle. As this year’s plan came together, we all knew was that the last year of their grant money [...]
Big Jim and Lil’ Jo ~ off and running
Along with Chang Liow and Jose Diaz… The Wine Century Club of Windsor CA has officially begun. I arrived at Chinois Bistro (our new club house) with the Local Chapter Application. On the Member List, I had already filled in President Jose Diaz and Secretary Jo Diaz (it’s no secret that I’m the record keeper). [...]
