For The Sake of Clarity - The Digital Tavern » Good Juice

Riding That Train, Italian Wine & Late Night Jazz: The Streets of LA

allan — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:02:56 +0000

Living in Southern California certainly has its benefits. The weather is perhaps the best in the country, there’s great live music, entertainment and most of the airports, even the smaller regional hubs are well served by the airlines. So when one needs to flee southern California, there are always many options.

Another benefit of Southern California is both its extensive [...]

Aging California Wine & Friday the 13th.

allan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:58:51 +0000

Some historians peg the superstition to the thirteen people who attended the Last Supper (neither Jesus nor Judas came out of that one OK), but ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi omits the number 13 in its list of law [...] ... Wall Street's superstitions about Friday the 13th continued through 1925, when the New York Times noted that people "would no more buy or sell a share of stock today than they would walk under a ladder or kick a black cat out of their path."

1977 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon

allan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:44:51 +0000

Last weekend I was surprised by a visit of my good friend, mountain climber, travel companion and legend Mr. Tim Amos. For the 16 hours he spent in Southern California, we tried to take advantage of our time together. First stop was a visit to my wine cellar (storage facility) in Irvine. Culling from the more than 1,000 bottles I’ve [...]

The cost of living and a good glass of wine.

allan — Sun, 07 May 2006 13:19:12 +0000

At the end of the day do higher priced goods or services negatively impact your decision to buy? That is, would a higher price on something you desire dissuade you from purchasing it? If current gas prices are an indication of “consumers’” insatiable appetites to [...]

Good News For Business. And For Wine Enthusiasts!

allan — Tue, 17 May 2005 15:04:54 +0000

Did you hear the news today.

I love Supreme Court rulings that I agree with. Doesn't everyone?

Today a narrow margin of 5-4 the Supreme Court overturned state liquor laws in New York and Michigan that gave preferential treatment to in-state wineries. Both states permit in-state wineries to ship directly to [...]

Wine Storage. SubZero. And Changing Lightbulbs.

allan — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 16:23:28 +0000

So it's nothing new to readers of The Digital Tavern that I have a passion, penchant and a certain proclivity when it comes to wine. Good wine.

But this fondness comes with a price. Back in the day it was such a find when one uncovered an amazing value wine for less than $10. These days $50 seems to be [...]

The Eagle Screamed. Landed. And Laughed.

allan — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 16:18:26 +0000

We started talking about it over a year ago. At first, it was just talk. You know — big ideas but always with obstacles. People's schedules, availability of key items, location considerations. The whole gamut. But Al and I were committed to make it happen. After several broken dates and lapses of contact we agreed in late October to turn [...]

A Ten Year Old Merlot & Some Random Thoughts

allan — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 15:03:59 +0000

Trying to pick up the pace on the Digital Tavern, but I've been focusing on a rather large project that I'll fill you in on sometime in January. Patience and focus. Two of what have become my ubiquitous phrases when offering advice (solicited or not) to clients and friends.

So the Dr. tells me I've got to control my cholesterol. [...]

Protectionism or Free Trade? Tasting History in Porto.

allan — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 11:39:47 +0000

I wonder what Porto would be if it were not for the simple twist of fate caused by a trade disagreement between the French and United Kingdom in the 1500's? Perhaps just another non descript European city surrounded by just yet another wine region. Circumstance, history and good marketing have turned France and Italy into the most well known wine [...]

Tuesday Night Wine.
What's Yours?

allan — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 15:15:19 +0000

It's Tuesday night. At home I sit alone. A simple chicken dinner with vegetables and a dinner salad. The dilemma floors me when I open the door to my wine cellar. Wine cellar. Hah. I like that word. It's a temperature controlled unit (one of two in my home) that keeps the delectable fermented bottles of grape at the precise [...]

Isn’t Time We Wine?

allan — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 14:51:47 +0000

I haven’t blogged about wine in a helluva long time. And tonight as I work on a client project, catching up on blogs and relaxing before catching a dose of Olympics I think it’s important to note that I’m enjoying an excellent glass of wine.

Within days of returning from China, in May I took a quick jaunt to [...]

Looking For Chinese Wine.

allan — Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:22:59 +0000

China. You gotta love this place. The people so industrious yet get out into the countryside and you can see the classic images that have graced the pages of National Geographic and the airwaves of the Discovery Channel and the Travel Channel. Hanging in southwest China we are living the subtropical climate. With it comes the humidity, the tropical plants, [...]

Crystal Wine Glass Magnate Josef Riedel Dies

allan — Thu, 25 Mar 2004 04:30:56 +0000

Thanks to Pete who pointed me to today's New York Times article (free registration required) announcing that wine glass innovator Josef Riedel died last week of a heart attack in Italy. If you've never heard or used a Riedel (pronounced like 'needle') wine stem you are likely missing out on truly tasting the full flavor experience of any [...]

South of France Through Renoir's Eyes and Abode.

allan — Tue, 03 Feb 2004 15:48:22 +0000

In 1903 Renoir moved to the south of France with the hopes of alleviating his rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen years later he died. I carried a single bottle of wine to France. A 1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia. This was symbolic for a number of reasons. Most importantly when Wirestone, the company I founded with Bryan [...]

The Latest Trend in French Wine?

allan — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 14:53:56 +0000

So in case you haven't been following The Mollusk, you might have missed the Vin Table Francaîs (French Wine) he sent me to commemorate my safe return from my recent trip to France. Or, perhaps this is just something to keep the wine drinkers happy during the All American of All American sporting brouhaha events this coming weekend. [...]

Suffering In San Tropez. Big Bad Bandol Wines.

allan — Mon, 26 Jan 2004 06:43:24 +0000

Saint-Tropez

>We set out for the western part of the Riviera. I've always wanted to see St. Tropez famous to me not only because of Bridget Bardot in And God Created Woman, but for a song on Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle:

As I reach for a peach

[...]

Birthdays & Anniversaries. Mom & Prohibition.

allan — Sat, 06 Dec 2003 14:18:35 +0000

Happy Birthday Mom. And thank god we can celebrate the 70th anniversary of the repeal of the 18th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You know. The one that in 1919 made sales and distribution of alcohol illegal. Except for sacrament, of course. That is, for the church.

My mom was born years after the repeal of the 18th Amendment [...]

Siena in the Rain. Ricolma in the House. Vin Santo Redux.

allan — Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:22:05 +0000

We arrived after hanging with the Ciacci family. It was dark in Siena. The main Piazza empty. But the signature clock tower loomed high and proud above. The next day, the skies starting welling up and then cried. We walked the walled city of Siena and reminisced about the fight for control and [...]

The Holy Grail of Wining & Dining in Tuscany?

allan — Thu, 23 Oct 2003 09:49:21 +0000

That last thing you really want to read about is the food and wine Tim and I experienced in Tuscany. But perhaps you’d want a hot tip? You know, for your upcoming trip to Italy? There’s no question you need to visit Montepulciano. And when in Montepulciano pull out all the stops and [...]

What’s With Vin Santo?

allan — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 08:57:09 +0000

Altesino has been a familiar name in Brunello di Montalcino since the early 70′s. Their Brunello designated Montosoli Vineyard is consistently highly related, delicious, hard to get and expensive. But worth it. Last year the previous owners sold the vineyard and brand to a woman who resides in Rome and who owns another vineyard in Montalcino and a winery in [...]

Brunello di Montalcino VIP Style

allan — Tue, 21 Oct 2003 17:13:03 +0000

For me, the true benefits of traveling transcend the history, geography, scenic beauty, the sense of freedom of being “away” and the comeraderie shared with those traveling. Instead, it's the people I meet. And while I've probably not done justice to the dozens of people I've met and shared experiences with on this trip, I can't underestimate the sense of [...]