Monday, June 7, 2021

Dan Berger: Liquid Test Drive

Decades ago, visiting wine country was limited to the few areas of the country with wineries. Outside California, that meant upstate New York and a tiny handful of hamlets scattered hither and mostly yon.

    Today that number has expanded to just about every state, including Texas (i.e., Hill Country), Ohio (i.e., Lake Erie), Idaho (i.e., Snake River Valley), Michigan (i.e., Upper Peninsulas) and Colorado (i.e., Grand Junction). And even Florida.

    Imagine the lure of wine country: pristine air, unhurried lifestyles, casual wine tasting rooms, informative tour guides and free sips of elixirs that brighten the day.

    Uh, not so fast. The air may smell of sulfur dust to treat the vines; lifestyles are often chaotic (too many tourists for one thing!); wine education often is geared toward a bit of self-serving "ours is better than theirs" promotion; and few tasting rooms offer free tastes. Not anymore.

    A lot has changed in the 45 years since I first visited Napa Valley. The reality is that no matter where you choose to visit a wine country, advanced planning is appropriate.

    For one thing, driving to wine country usually takes longer than it used to. Once there, traffic can be (and often is) bumper-to-bumper, and parking is hit-or-miss. And tasting room crowds can be elbow-to-elbow and chaotic.

    Good pourers are in high demand, so you often only get the second-string pourers. Thus, information can be wrong or misleading. Tasting room fees, now commonplace, occasionally are higher than anticipated.

    Wanna speak to the winemaker? Good luck. Often, he or she is working at some mundane job, such as cleaning up. (Winemaking can be messy.) Wanna buy a bottle? It's likely a lot more than you thought it would be.

    And the reality is that choked traffic makes it hard to turn left. Welcome to wine country.

    Yes, summer is a nice time to visit wine country. We know that, but so do your neighbors. That's why most wine country areas are so heavily trafficked in summer. 

    Even careful planners can find that summer in popular wine country areas can be exhausting and expensive. Napa Valley is often called a vinous Disneyland without the rides.

    If you must visit a wine country this summer, here are some tips to make it less hectic.

     -- Prepare for tasting room fees. Most fees in outlying areas range from $10 to $20. However, Silicon Valley Bank, which charts trends in the wine industry on an annual basis, reported this week that Napa Valley tasting room charges have risen to nearly $60 per person and that those same fees in Sonoma County are almost $30 per person.
     -- If you find a tasting room that doesn't charge, it's courteous to buy at least one bottle. Some tasting rooms waive the tasting fee if you do!
     -- Make reservations. Many wineries offer special tours for higher fees.
     -- Target the farthest part of a wine region early in the day. If you arrive in a wine area from a major city, head for the winery farthest from the city first. Most tourists stop at the first winery they see. You can do the rest on the return trip.
     -- Taste wines you're unlikely to see at home. No sense in tasting widely available chardonnays or cabernets. The real treats are the wines available only at the winery. Ask about them.
     -- Visit on weekdays. Popular wine country areas are swamped on weekends.
     -- Use spit buckets -- especially drivers.
     -- Be prepared for full retail prices. Few wineries offer discounts. Better deals often exist at local wine shops. Take notes, and plan on buying more widely available wines at home.
     -- Make reservations for lunches and dinners. Wine country regions typically don't have many places to dine, and the better ones fill up quickly. Wine country can be educational, but it's not as simple as it was decades ago.

    Wine of the Week: 2020 Campuget Rose, Costieres de Nimes, Tradition ($13): A blend of 30% grenache and 70% shiraz, this dry pink wine is lightly scented of strawberries and has a pale, delicate red-wine finish, so it will work well with light meats as well as gilled seafood.

    To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

One more reason to never visit California.

That'sMisterDeplorableToYou said...

Drive to Natchez. http://www.oldsouthwinery.com/ Their grape squeezins is as good as any.

Anonymous said...

Spouse and I visited Old South Winery in Natchez 10 years ago. They offered free tastings including free crackers and such. There were over 30 varieties of muscadine wine.

The employees were knowledgeable and personable, the ambiance was relaxing, and we enjoyed good conversation and many tastings. I wondered at how they made money without charging.

After my spouse drove us home with good memories and a full case of wine, I tipped my hat to their marketing plan. It was very effective. No spit buckets (ew) were used, mentioned, or present.

There are some wineries near Cold Springs, MO (breeding farm for Budweiser Clydesdales - they also offer tours and tastings) that I'd like to try.

Anonymous said...

Just back from 2 weeks in Napa area.
Unreal how pretty it is there.
Weather was perfect.
There is a reason California has the 5th largest economy ….in the world.

Anonymous said...

Got to Napa in late September / early October. More relaxed / less crowds and its during harvest..

Anonymous said...

8:13 - and there is also a reason why many of those folks in CA are moving out. Large number to Texas, but some to other areas.

Yes, very pretty. (so is the south pacific, but.....)

Weather is nice (again, so is the south pacific, but acknowleding the travel problems, there are many other places on the globe that are within the same latitudes)


And because of their governmetnt movements, there is a reason that the CA economy, which has built over the past few decades, is moving out. Tax structure; socialistic policies; quality of life decline...yes there are many reaons why the 5th largest economy is declining. True, right now the beneficiary is largely Texas while some other states adjoinng CA are also benefiting, but the trend is against the open border, pay everybody including reparations, crap anywhere, socialism, and the other leftists policies of our western border.

Over the past century, following the gold rush, many have moved to that great weather (as you say, perfect) pretty scenary (?? Compared to what, but who cares), etc. Enjoy paying there ridiculouos taxes, unless you are one of those priveleged few that is enjoying the paradise but reporting no income. Sooner or later, if you are finacially successful, you will bail out of that "perfect weather, and unreal beauty".

Anonymous said...

Want to visit a beautiful place, four seasons, clean water, in fact, clean everything. It has abundant wildlife and an a magnificent array of flora. The people are friendly and will love you to death if you let them. Best of all, it isn't crowded or expensive. Wherever I go, I never want to stay and am glad to get home.

To Mississippi.

This won't be anonymous.

John Green
Grenada

Anonymous said...

California, the next New York! Enjoy.

Oh my dear Chap, I said...

From hither to yon, from raw boo boo to Grey Poupon, you had me going there right up to the end until "gilled" seafood.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.