June 2020 - On The Wine Road

The Wine Spies, HALOmask & T.P. Reserve Wine

Looking for intrigue, self-preservation and humor? It’s here, with interviews concerning The Wine Spies, HALOmask, and T.P. Reserve Wine.

I talk with Agent Red of The Wine Spies. Each day they present a tempting, world-class wine at discounted prices. How do they do it? Through covert missions and cleverly gathered intel.

On a side topic, Agent Red’s personal mission is protecting our health with HALOmask, the most protective, easy to wear face mask. He explains how the proprietary engineering sets them apart from other masks.

Then you’ll hear about a whimsical wine brand from a serious Napa Valley winemaker – Grant Long Jr.’s T.P. Reserve Wine. He chose to put a smile on our faces during these sobering times. What’s more, he and his team created a detailed video, the efforts of which I think you’ll find impressive. It’s below.

Another Wine Uncorked feature is also included. It’s all waiting for you behind the Play button.

For the T.P. Reserve Wine video click here

Wine Spies, HALOwines, & T.P. Reserve Wine

For the Roman mosaic tile images from Wine Uncorked click here.

Napa Valley, Wineries

Save The Family Farms

This is audio from my radio show that aired on Saturday, June 13th. Elise Nerlove Rutchick of Elkhorn Peak Cellars shared details of the initiative to Save The Family Farms. Their goal is to convince the Napa County Supervisors to adjust the Winery Ordinance Directive (WOD) making less expensive, thereby easier, for smaller family winegrowers to host guests for wine tastings and sales.

I look forward to seeing how this endeavor progresses.

Wine Uncorked

Coca-Cola is related to wine?

Yes, Coca-Cola is related to wine. You might even say the world’s favorite cola owes its existence to wine.

In the mid 1800s ”tonic” wines were introduced. In 1863, a Parisian chemist, Angelo Mariani, combined wine with coca, short for cocaethylene (a drug made by mixing cocaine and alcohol – whew!). He sold it under the name “Vin Mariani” and the tonic drink became extremely popular.

Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Edison, and even Queen Victoria were among the millions who indulged in the tonic beverage. Even the chief rabbi of France is quoted to have said, “Praise be to Mariani’s wine!

Witnessing the commercial success, Dr. John Pemberton of Columbus, George, created his own version. He called it Pemberton’s French Wine Coca, and produced it in Atlanta. In 1885, local temperance legislation forced John Pemberton to produce a non-alcoholic version. He removed the cocaine, pepped it up with caffeine-rich kola nuts, replaced the wine with non-alcoholic syrup and Coca-Cola was born.

Wineries

The Many Travels and Discoveries of Dr. Olmo

On this podcast you’ll hear about the many travels and discoveries of Dr. Olmo. He’s a former UC Davis professor you’re likely not familiar with but who’s decades of research led to many important discoveries in viticulture, much of which had a positive influence on the quality of wine produced across the globe. Through interviews with winemaker Dan Petroski of Larkmead Vineyards and the professor’s daughter, Jeanne, you’ll meet Dr. Harold Olmo. He was such a fearless researcher he became known as the Indiana Jones of Viticulture.

Thanks to the University of California at Davis for prompting me to pursue this story. To learn more about Larkmead Vineyard’s donation to digitize Dr. Olmo’s work, click here.

Harold and his wife Helen

An iconic shot of Dr. Olmo which appeared on the cover of Sunset Magazine. Photograph by Richard Steven Street.

Events

A Walk Among the Sculptures at Donum Estate

Donum Estate offers a break from the on-going virus madness?

Here’s an opportunity to soak in the sun and feed your soul. Thanks to Glodow Nead Communications for alerting me with the following press release.

The Donum Estate, who crafts award-winning wine, has received permission from the County of Sonoma to allow guests to tour the more than 40 museum-quality sculptures by world-renowned artists installed on the estate’s 200 picturesque acres. This marks the first time that the public, with a reservation, will be able to explore the estate’s extraordinary collection as a standalone experience.

“We are thrilled to reopen and welcome guests back to our property,” said Angelica de Vere Mabray, chief executive officer of Donum. “Everyone is so eager to get outside and experience something new and inspiring, and our one-of-a-kind art collection fits the bill perfectly. We are prepared and excited to open our gates and share the Donum collection in this beautiful, safe, outdoor setting.”

The Open-Air Sculpture Walks will be guided by one of Donum’s experienced hosts for groups of six or less and can be combined with other groups. The estate will be open for the walks by appointment only Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $50/person. Donum’s members are allotted one complimentary visit for up to four people. No wine is to be consumed onsite, but Donum’s highly acclaimed portfolio will be available for purchase to take home.

Recently acknowledged in Wine Spectator as one of Sonoma’s top 50 producers with impressive, consistent 90+ scores, Donum continues to be a sought-after single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer sourcing exclusively from Estate vineyards in Carneros, Anderson Valley and Russian River Valley.

For more information and to book a tour please visit www.thedonumestate.com.

I agree with Wine Spectator, the wine is excellent.

Here’s my interview with Donum Estate’s Director of Hospitality Maggie Stains, who I interviewed last year for an event they were offering. She explains the artwork and how they came to rest at the estate.

Scroll further and you’ll see some photos of the sculptures and a video I shot during my visit last year. In the video you’ll see Maggie among the chimes of Doug Aitken’s site specific commission entitled Sonic Mountain (Sonoma). But believe me, the many eye catching pieces are best seen in person. These days we can all use a peaceful walk among the sculptures.