What do you get when you cross a Master Sommelier, a Master of Wine, and… me?

I don’t know, either, but it’s happening, and I am guessing that it will be entertaining, and hopefully not a little informative.

Wine Conversations 2015

I’ll be joining Master Somm Evan Goldstein, and Master of Wine Bob Paulinski in both Santa Rosa and Portland this summer as part of the DIAM Wine Conversations Tasting and Marketing Forum. We’ll be discussing wine consumer trends, and I’m not gonna say that there will be a lot of tough love on that topic… but… well, we all know about my reputation as a speaker on such matters so consider yourselves officially warned.

Press-release-style details can be found below, after the jump.

Hope to see some of you there!

Cheers!

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Maybe this is a bit early, but the judging lineup for the 12th annual Critics Challenge International Wine Competition, held in Stay Classy San Diego, has been finalized, and once again I’ll have the honor and pleasure of being one of said critics putting the submitted wines through a GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!!!

Critics Challenge 2015

Previously, the CC has been the origin of many an entertaining and surprising wine find for me, several of which have been reported on these virtual pages. Back in 2013, I was luckily paired up with the irrepressible Leslie Sbrocco, which is kind of like pouring combustible liquid onto a raging fire (let’s not forget that Leslie and I managed to work words such as “Godzilla” and “nipples” into our tasting notes during that incarnation of the CC). Last year, my partner in crime was the elegant and talented Deb Parker Wong, who went ga-ga with me over a wine that eventually made onto the 2014 MIW list here.

So, the expectations I’ve got for CC 2015 are waaaaay high, and I am pretty stoked about being a part of the action.

For more details (or to submit wines), check out criticschallenge.com. For a run-down of how some of the various entrants have fared in previous versions of the Critics Challenge, you can check out the details on their dedicated Wine-Searcher.com page.

Cheers!

I’ve got some huge news for you fine wine-&-travel-lovin’ folk!

This November, I’ll be co-hosting a wine-soaked jaunt to Rioja wine country with esteemed wine writer Ben Weinberg. And hopefully, YOU will be along for the ride!

I’m pretty stoked to be working with Ben on this, and for the opportunity to show you the vinous, cultural, and culinary wonder that is Rioja.

There’s much I could write about the awesomeness that will be encountered on this tour, but the high-level summary is that by joining us, you will get the insider, VIP treatment in Rioja wine country, without having to do an of the work (wine writing, reviewing, spitting) that Ben and I normally have to do to get the same. Score!

You can check out all of the details at http://www.wineontheroad.com/spainwith1winedude.php. If it whets your appetite / blows your skirt up / etc., then download the Preliminary Itinerary and Booking Form to get started. You can, of course, always contact Ben or me for more details. For more on Rioja in general, take a gander through the past here at 1WD land. A bit more detail about our upcoming Rioja jaunt is available in video form below after the jump.

This is going to be an entertaining, informative, and incredibly FUN trip. You’ll need to prepare your wallet, your mind, and your liver for this incredible jaunt…

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