There are two reasons I started this segment on my blog. First, my new found love, Susie is from England and this is a term she uses often to describe random things such as the array of items found in the junk drawer ( I know we all have one of those). I love this term and thought that it would make a good name for an article on my blog. Second, and most important is that I thought this would be an easy article to put out every Monday, since it is just random thoughts that I have ruminated on over the past week. They are not always wine related which is something I write about on a somewhat regular basis. I have failed miserably getting this article up every Monday. I do not want this to be the story of my career, so the only way I will make it happen is to just DO IT!
Speaking of writing on my blog, I have run into a little writer’s block lately. I have a ton of material to write about, but can’t seem to force myself to sit down at my computer and type away. It’s a problem I know other writers have had and talked about. For me, I know it is just a matter of forcing myself (as I am right now), to just start writing and let the rest come together. Like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. With writing, I have only experienced that feeling a couple of times. I am ready to experience that once again (please)!
As I’m plunking away on this article, I am also preparing to go down to Seattle to check out Charles Smith’s new digs. He has a 32,000 square foot urban winery with two tasting rooms near Boeing Field. It’s been open for a while, but I have yet to see it. I received an industry only invitation and excepted the chance to go down and see this place, which is the second largest urban winery in the states (Gruet is slightly larger down in New Mexico). I am also looking forward to tasting through many of the Wines Of Substance and K Vintners wines. I promise to give a full report in my blog next week No writer’s block allowed.
Susie and I continue to plan our trip to South Africa. I have a couple of appointments in the books to meet with wine makers and shoot a couple You Tube episodes. We also have a safari in our sights and have booked a room for two nights in Dubai. I am stoked to visit these areas of the world, places that neither of us have been. I am also searching out South African wines to put in Kings Market. I have actually discovered some very nice wines. The Goose Pinot Noir rivals most that I have tasted out of the Willamette Valley and it rolls in at a mere $25. Also, I have found a Cab that is under fifteen bucks and a Pinotage that is very drinkable for a prayer. I know there are a few wine snobs out there that believe Pinotage, a grape that is a marriage of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, shouldn’t even exist. I have found one that should and it is resting in my wine section at Kings and I hope to find more.
I have established a new business called Stan The Wine Man Education, Research and Entertainment. My hope is to monetize my blogging and You Tube channel as well as to organize trips to wine country for groups that may want a tour guide. Because of the wording I put in my application, they sent me a letter to apply for a catering wine only license. I sent in the application only to find out that this included a liquor license. I called the licensing department to explain that this is not the direction I wanted to go. I was treated quite rudely by one of the agents who felt it was better to lecture me rather than help me figure out what I should do. It was obvious that I needed to rephrase my business application and avoid certain actions that would put me in violation of the Liquor Control Board. I’m a smart guy, but this agent didn’t seem to respect that at all. There’s our government in action. Shouldn’t they try to help us figure things out rather than push us around like bullies? Just saying.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
