Susie and I had a great trip to Paris for four nights and Spain for two weeks. We put a lot of planning into the trip (mostly Susie, with some input from me). I arranged two winery tours: one in the Basque Country and one in Jerez. Although it was a personal vacation for both of us, I just had to visit a couple of wineries. We soaked in the sun and walked the towns. The food is unbelievable, and we found that we were hard-pressed to spend more than sixty bucks on dinner and far less for lunch. Susie made a couple of reservations at some nice restaurants, but most of the time we searched around to find a place to eat, and let me tell you, we were never disappointed (maybe once)! I think I’ll write an article dedicated to the trip. Needless to say, it was a memorable time.
My YouTube channel is rolling along. I would like to have more subscribers, but that means I need to put out more content. It’s easier this time of year, but I’m getting a bit stumped about what I want to present. I’m not sure why, but I’m experiencing a bit of writer’s block, so to speak. If any of you can give me some input, I’d appreciate it. I’ve been very focused on presenting value wines on my channel. When I say “value wines”, I mean wines that deliver well over their price point. In my latest episode, I reviewed two red wines from Portugal that punched well above their price. Portugal is one of the best places to find great values. I will follow up with possibly two more episodes on wines from this small country. Check them out.
We made it through another busy summer, and I’m happy to say that our wine department is bucking the trend that everyone is talking about, which is that people in general are cutting back on wine consumption. It is true that wineries are struggling in some areas of the world. We read reports of California ripping out its vines and planting more profitable crops. Other factors drive this besides declining consumption. I would like to write an in-depth article on this in the near future. Back to my point, in my community, we appreciate wine and embrace it for what it is: a healthy beverage to have with your meal or by itself in moderation. And if I hear one more time about Gen Z avoiding alcohol in general, I’m going to scream! Hell, half the generation is still under legal drinking age. It’s insane to use their generation for this stat. Wait a few more years to find out the truth on this one.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are all busy wine times. In my community, people will be asking for advice on which wines go best with their meals. It’s fun for our department to help people make their choices. As always, I will search for affordable wines that deliver solid value. Of course, I will be shooting a couple of episodes featuring both red and white wines that should go nicely with Thanksgiving. Stay Tuned.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
