BITS & BOBS

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

Eighteen subscribers short of one thousand on my YouTube channel! I’m getting close guys. It seems to have slowed down somewhat recently. Like they say, a watched pot never boils. I just have to be patient and continue to reach out to my friends and acquaintances in the industry. There was a trade tasting at the Brickworks in Friday Harbor last week, put on by Dickerson Distributing. There are lots of wines and spirits to try. I gained about four more subscribers there as I pointed out to many that I had a YouTube channel. I like the content on my channel as I see vast improvement in my presentation. I’m getting a lot of encouragement from my friends as well. I focus on presenting wines and reviewing them honestly and I get stoked when I find good values. I also spend time informing my viewers about details of the varietal and information about the producers and the areas where the wines are made. Of course, there is always room for improvement and I appreciate that. I never want to become static.

I had a great interview with Keith Johnsen, owner of Elevens Imports and Daqopa Brands. This guy is very knowledgeable and has an awesome palate. He is very good at finding gems in the wine world that deliver exceptional quality, yet they are not expensive. In the interview, we tried three of the wines he imports. A Cremant de Bourgogne, a white wine made from the grape Floreal and a Carignan-Caladoc red blend. Until recently, I had never heard of either Floreal or Caladoc. Leave it to Keith to find these wines and bring them to the States. Check out the episode and see my reaction to the wines.

I’m having a lot of fun searching for obscure varietal wines (at least obscure to most in the U.S.) and featuring them on my channel. The Floreal and Caladoc certainly fit it the obscure category. In one of the episodes, I review a Pais from Chile, a Cinsault from South Africa and a red blend from the Douro made with Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinto Roriz. In another, I review three white wines, all made from unique varietals. Hondarrabi Zuri, Inzolia and Ribolla Gialla. I hope you get a chance to check these episodes out. Not only will you learn about some very interesting wines, you may also be inspired to expand your palate horizons. The wine world is fascinating; there is so much to learn and taste. I hope I can help you to be adventurous and try new things. I will continue with the theme of unique wines from obscure varietals for a few more episodes.

My wife Susie and I are planning a trip to Greece in the Fall, focusing on the island of Crete and a ferry ride to the island of Santorini and staying there for a couple of days. It continues to amaze me how great a planner my wife is. She’s been sharing with me daily, details about Crete, the places to stay and sites to see. My job as always is to seek out wineries to visit. Although Greece is famous for Retsina, they produce many other great white wines along with fantastic reds. I am so glad we set our sights on Greece; it will be a great trip. Neither of us has been there, so it will be a new experience we can share together.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

As of now, I am nineteen subscribers away from hitting one thousand on my YouTube channel. This is a huge goal for me, and I hope to hit that mark soon. Spread the word, tell your friends. I’m very proud of the content I put out. There is lots of good advice, things to learn, and interesting information about each wine. For the next month or so, I will be focusing on obscure wine grape varietals. I say obscure to those who live in the U.S. Obviously, they are very familiar to the people who live in the countries where they come from. So far, in reds, I’ve reviewed a Pais, Cinsault, and a red blend from Portugal made with Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinto Roriz. The first white wine episode included three whites. One is made from Inzolia, one is from Hondarrabi Zuri and one is from the grape Ribolla Gialla. These are all very interesting grape varietals that make for intriguing wines. I hope you take the time to check them out.

Even though TikTok may be on the chopping block (we’ll see), I’ve been utilizing it to give folks a glimpse into what happens on a day-to-day basis in our wine department. So far, there has been a good response, with over two hundred views per video. They are only sixty seconds long and appeal to those with a short attention span. I liked it when one of the sales reps said they learned from one of my TikToks that when we pull bottles from the bottom of the stack to the top it’s called “fluffing up the stack.” I thought everyone in the industry knew that term. Evidently not. I also post them on Instagram, so if you want to see what’s happening, follow me there.

It’s certainly nice to see the weather turning warmer. This means that Rose’ season is upon us. Even though I am a big proponent of drinking Rose’ year-round, I realize this is not the case with most wine drinkers. However, I was impressed with how much Rose’ we sold at the store this past Winter and Fall. That being said, it is nothing compared to what will go out the door this spring and summer. I’ve set up a shelving display near the back of my department. The purpose is to highlight wines for the season. Last month, it was Washington wines to celebrate “Washington Wine Month.” Now, it’s loaded with Rose’. I try to find pinks that are a good value. I also enjoy Rose, which demands a few more bucks. One of my favorites is from Brook & Bull. It’s by far the best I’ve tasted this year. It’s not outrageous either, retailing for twenty-seven bucks. Certainly not an everyday Rose for me, but this is it when I want to have a special one. For everyday Rose’, I’ve found a couple of ringers. The Casa Smith Vino Rose of Sangiovese ($10.99) and the Domaine le Clos des Lumieres Rose ($14.99). Great pricing for good Rose`.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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STAN’S PICK FOR APRIL ’24

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

Okay, it’s the twenty-second of the month, and I realized I hadn’t shared my “Pick Of The Month.” Shame on me. However, as late as it is, I need to let you know about this wine!

For those of you who have discovered the wine known as Amarone, produced in northeast Italy, this wine is for you, or anyone else who likes rich, balanced reds with well-integrated acidity. I would call this wine a poor man’s Amarone. The base grape is Corvina, which is used in the production of Amarone. The only difference is in the production of the wine. When producing Amarone, the grapes are dried on racks for up to three months before being pressed, making for a very concentrated wine. With this wine, the grapes are dried on the vine before harvesting. The concentration is not quite as intense, but you still get some of that richness. Going this route is not as costly either, meaning the retail price is far less. The bottom line is that you get a great wine for a fraction of the price.

2018 Cantine Di Ora Amicone Red (Veneto, Italy)… $14.

Aromas of blackberries, cherries, red flowers, licorice, and hints of vanilla and chocolate. Dried cherries on the palate, joined by notes of fig, red flowers, and a kiss of bittersweet chocolate. Sweet tannins, balanced by nicely integrated acidity. Baking spices come out on the finish, mingling with the dried cherry and fig notes, with just a pinch of tobacco joining the palate party. This is a lot of wine for the money!

B+/A-

Also, they recently changed the name of the wine to Amicale, but it is the same juice (kind of weird if you ask me).

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

One of the reasons I started this segment was the idea that if I put somewhat random thoughts on a page, it would make it easier to complete the task of doing it weekly. I have been on a roll for sure, but rest assured, it is never easy. For instance, I am finding it very difficult to string something together this morning.

There’s a big tasting event coming to the island tomorrow. One of the distributors makes it a point to bring their wares to the island every year. I have to say, I love these events and it’s especially nice when they bring them to me (and everyone else of course). This is where I can pick and choose what table I want to go, to try the wines presented. I find a lot of gems at these events and they find their way into my department. I used to take copious notes until I realized it limits how many wines I get to taste. I’ve come up with a new strategy which I will employ for the first time at this event. One of my weaknesses is being able to remember details about certain wines that I’ve tasted. That’s why I write down detailed tasting notes. However, with this new method, I should be able to find a happy medium. I’ll see how it works.

I’m twenty-six subscribers away from my goal of one thousand on my YouTube Channel. What’s interesting to me is how many peopel make promises to me of reaching out to others to subscribe to my channel. I’ve come to the point where I just acknowledge their offer and I don’t get my hopes up. I’m proud of the fact that I haven’t bought any followers. I’m doing it organically. I think the quality of my episodes has improved over the years. I especially like the improvement of my interviews. I’ve watched my interview with Ashley Trout a few times and I don’t even like to listen to myself. However, I’ve been trying to employ some of the methods of interviewing that I’ve been learning from other great interviewers. I believe it’s paying off. One of my favorites is Larry King. Although he died a couple of years ago, his interviews live on and I often watch them to learn from his methods. The key is to listen and respond to what they are saying. Have an outline in your head but be willing to go with the flow. I have a great one lined up for tomorrow and I hope it goes well. Keith Johnson from Elevens Imports is going to join me for an interview. He has a knack for finding great wines to import, many of which I have brought into my department. The guy exudes energy and a passion for the wine world. He will be a great guest for my channel.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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