BITS & BOBS

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

One event that always catches me off guard is the Oscars. Although I’m not much of a fan, it impacts wine sales. Many people on the island throw Oscar parties; of course, they need wine. I used to be more aware in the past because of a fellow employee (now retired) who talked about the Oscars weeks before the big event was aired. She was a huge movie buff and would talk it up with customers. Anyway, quite a few groups came in about an hour before the big show to grab their wine. It will be interesting to see how the sales figures turn out.

I believe I mentioned this in the last article. I’ve been using the TikTok platform to show small segments of what I do in the wine department daily. Sometimes, I record a short snapshot of a wine I’ve discovered and like quite a bit. It’s fun, and it seems as if people are interested. They are fifteen to sixty-second clips; most get over two hundred views. Of course, my handle on TikTok is, what else, Stan The Wine Man. I also post the clips on Instagram, which seems to be the most popular social media platform here in the San Juan Islands.

I’m super excited to attend the Taste Washington event this Saturday. Over seven hundred wineries will be represented, along with many booths where local restaurants will share menu items from their establishments. I know a ton of people in the wine industry. It will be fun connecting with them and tasting many of the wines from our great wine-producing state. It’s been a while since I’ve been, which surprises me as I am so involved in the local wine scene as well as the wine world in general.

Since March is the original “Washington Wine Month,” I will review Washington State wines on my YouTube channel most of March. I’m airing the third episode today, featuring Cabernet Sauvignons under twenty bucks. I found a couple of gems that you may want to seek out. We can produce some amazing wines here in Washington at very affordable prices compared to other places in the U.S. We can also make wines from several varietals very well. My second episode featured GSM blends, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. All three of those varietals thrive in Washington State. Check out the episodes here.

Customers still ask me if my “Pick Of The Month” is any good. Now, this is from many people who are regulars in my department. My football coach in junior high, drilled in me that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I agree with that, so when I’m asked if my pick of the month is any good, I take that as a conversation starter, rather than a question. Of course, it’s good, that’s why it’s my pick! Granted, there are times when I may steer a customer away from it because I know their palate and I am quite certain they will not appreciate it as much as most. Since my pick is based on the eighty-percent rule, I’m confident that most will enjoy it. The eighty-percent rule means that when I choose a wine for the month, I am almost certain that eighty percent of the people who purchase that wine will like it. I have a good track record and I don’t intend to go backward.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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STAN’S PICK FOR MARCH 2024

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

March is the first official “Washington Wine Month” and really the only one I recognize. I know somewhere along the way they included August. I haven’t researched this, but we may be the only state with two wine months. I need to check that out at some point. I think you know what I’m leading to. My pick for March is from Washington State. Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the U.S., California being the largest. The cool thing about our state (I live in Washington) is that many of the wines that score big points are much less expensive than the big scoring wines out of California. It’s true, we do have some higher priced wines, but in general, they are much less expensive than, for instance, many of the wines from top-producers out of Napa, CA.

My pick for this month is a red blend, one of the hottest categories in wine today. It’s produced from a blend of Walla Walla Valley fruit and fruit from Red Mountain, two of the most sought after places to get grapes in Washington State. Here is the gem I found to represent (partially of course) “Washington Wine Month.”

2022 Lorelle Red Blend (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.

Aromas of red flowers, currants and blackberries. Ripe currant notes on the front of the palate, on smooth tannins. Ripe blackberry notes join in near the mid-palate with a kiss of baking spices. Ripe citrus notes loom in the background front to a long finish. Excellent structure and balance with nice complexity for the money. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley fruit) with 30% Cab Franc, 20% Malbec and 10% Merlot all sourced from Red Mt. (B/B+)

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

March is Washington Wine Month, so I will be focusing on Washington wines for my YouTube channel episodes. In fact, my first episode is live, featuring white blends. I tried the white from Sage Rat Winery for the first time. I was a bit nervous, I wanted it to show well. Being that it was a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Orange Muscat didn’t help my nerves. When you watch the episode, you will find out what I found out about that wine. There was one dud in the bunch, but that is to be expected from time to time. Check out the episode!

Every March (the original Washington Wine Month) a big event is held at the Lumen Field exhibition center called “The Taste Of Washington” featuring over seven hundred wineries from our great wine producing state. There are also many booths that feature the culinary scene of Washington. Lots of wines to taste and food to sample. I’m going this year for the first time in a long time. I’m not sure why I don’t go every year, but it’s in my plans to make it part of my yearly routine. I’ve been twice as a pourer for San Juan Vineyards and once as a ticket holder. It’s an impressive display of wine and food. Of course, the wine is my main interest. I will give a full report about my experience soon after I attend.

I’ve been ruminating on something that comes up quite often when tasting wines with other people. When you get together with someone to taste and analyze a wine, each individual comes up with their thoughts on the aromas and flavors of the wine being tasted. What I’ve heard lately is, “It’s the power of suggestion that makes me get that aroma.” Let’s get something straight here. Everyone has a database in their olfactory knowledge. Not all of us can remember, let alone have experienced certain smells or tastes. So, when you get involved in a group tasting experience, you depend on others database of taste and smells. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve smelled or tasted a wine and could not nail down the flavors or aromas I am experiencing. Case in point. I was at a tasting event with two very experienced wine guys. We were smelling a wine from Cote Rotie and could not for the lives of us identify one of the aromas. We took the glass over to someone else to have them smell it. He immediately said that the aroma was blueberry. He nailed it! That was the aroma and it had nothing to do with the power of suggestion. Maybe it had been a while since my two friends and I had eaten blueberries, but we knew what they smelled like and once we were made aware of it, we knew that was it. Smelling and identifying aromas in wine is a big key to enjoying it even more. Get some people you are comfortable with and try smelling and tasting wine together. Help each other out and you will be surprised at what you can learn.

Per a suggestion from one of the sales reps who comes to the store, I’ve started utilizing my TikTok account to give a glimpse of what I do at the store. Sort of a day in the life of Stan The Wine Man. I believe I’ve recorded about thirteen short clips of me at the store or in my studio. I will do a couple today since it’s Washington Wine Month and several salespeople will be stopping by to show me wines. Mondays are busy for me because I write quite a few orders, help customers and stock the beer when it needs it. It’s snowing outside as I’m writing this piece, so beer sales may be a bit slower. It’s still winter out there, soon to be Spring. Not soon enough for me. Remember the saying about March; In like a lion, out like a lamb. It’s living up to that reputation so far this year. That being said, if your brave enough to enter the world of TikTok, look me up. I also load the clips up on Instagram if you want to check them out there.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Stan The Wine Man

Yes! I finally was able to finish my article on the demise of Merlot, I hope you had a chance to read it. I would also like to write an article on the struggles Syrah is experiencing in the sales department. With both Syraj and Merlot, you have to get into the twenty-dollar and above range to find the best ones. As long as we can keep it under thirty. I have to say, even though I am good at finding bargains, when it comes to Merlot and Syrah it becomes a bit harder. For sure, I try to find good examples in the fifteen-dollar range if possible. I believe the problem lies in people who judge a varietal with a broad stroke when they try one that is not well-made. Compare it to going on a blind date. Do you judge the entire sex based on a bad experience during that date? Probably note. Not all men are jerks just because that one was. You get the picture. So, before you pass on a Merlot or Syrah, ask for some help in choosing one that will hopefully change your mind about that varietal.

March is “Washington Wine Month” so I intend to focus almost entirely on Washington wine on my YouTube channel that month. It will be fun to examine and talk about the great diversity of our fantastic wine-producing state. I might even do a few blind challenges. Washington vs. California, or Washington vs. Old World. That should be interesting. I’m looking forward to going to the “Taste of Washington” event in Seattle in March. It should be interesting and as I said, I will give you all a full report.

My assistant Scott and I are off to Woodinville for perhaps our last trip before we start getting the department in shape for the busy season ahead. Since it’s the end of February, I feel comfortable leaving the department one day without one of us there., And, it’s a Monday no less. We will be visiting Januik Winery where Mike and Andrew Januik will be teaching a blending class. I’ve been to it in the past, this will be the first for Scott. I’m looking forward to it.

Next month, I’m hoping to get a chance to interview Ashley Trout on Stan The Wine Man TV. She is visiting the island and we are trying to work out the details. She is one of the top women winemakers in Washington State. I would love to get a; chance to talk with her. Let’s hope we can make it work.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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