Archive: Apr 2013

  1. The Corkage fee: Two Sides of the Cork

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    corkage fee

    The corkage fee is a an ongoing battle between patrons and the restaurateur.  Like everything in life there are two sides to every discussion.  While working in the restaurant business I have learned to live in the grey areas.  Although black and white is so much easier to live by, life just doesn’t allow for that.  The corkage fee discussion is one that I would like to jump into and give my “grey” point of view and hopefully give a compromise between the patron and the restaurateur. (more…)

  2. Wine Interviews with Dead Celebrities: Albert Einstein

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    A wine interview with Albert Einstein.  Who knew that he was such an advent wine drinker?

    For sometime now, I have tried to get wine interviews with some of my favorite musician, movie stars and other celebrities about their wine habits.  I have found it very difficult to get past their fan clubs and PR firms to just get a basic questionnaire filled out.  So I have diverted to plan B.  I found it to be so much easier to hone in on my psychic abilities and interview those celebrities that have passed away.  It seems as though they are more willing to sit through the interview.  Most dead celebrities do not want to lose touch with their fans.  They are so desperate that they are willing to answer the questions of a lowly wine blogger in San Diego. (more…)

  3. Prime Cru aboard Ferrari Carano’s yacht

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    Ferrari Carano Yacht

    Prime Cru has been going strong for close to four years and today we boarded Ferrari Carano’s yacht.  Over the past years we have built a strong following in the San Diego community.  Many people enjoy the different aspects of the club, one being that it is free!  I have members who enjoy the wine sales and others which prefer the wine seminars.  When I created Prime Cru, I wanted to draw people’s attention to what is going on in San Diego.  This laid back beach town has it going on.  I knew that there was a need for wine education and outlets for wine events.  I was right.  People in San Diego are into wine.  Prime Cru was created to fulfill all their needs. (more…)

  4. WhINE to the MUSIC: Rodriguez Sugar Man and Kamen Cabernet

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    whine-to-the-music-copy“Whine to the music” is the art of pairing grooves with music, such as Rodriguez Sugar Man with 2003 Kamen Sonoma Cabernet.  We have been drinking wine with music since the dawn of wine.  I don’t think music would have evolved without wine.  Most people tend to turn up the music when they drink wine.  Whine to the Music is not just sitting back, drinking wine and getting teary eyed.  It is a concept like ART and Wine Pairing, where we dissect the structures of the wine and the work to its basic elements.  The structural elements eventually create an emotion in us.  Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine with music based on the emotion they evoke in us. (more…)

  5. The Bordeaux Dialogues with Eddie Osterland

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    eddie osterland

    I am excited to present a special event with a friend, Eddie Osterland, America’s first master sommelier.  For 25 years he has hosted workshops and has been an inspiration to the sommelier community in San Diego. Together we will be hosting the “Bordeaux Dialogues”.  Eddie Osterland spent about four years living, drinking and indulging in Bordeaux.  Back in the day, he was drinking Mouton for $30 a bottle.  If there is one person that knows Bordeaux, it’s Eddie.

    On April 20th, Eddie Osterland will guide us through a dialogue and comparative tasting with Bordeaux and California.  He will talk about his personal experiences and adventures with the great chateaus.  We will taste some of our favorite Bordeaux wines which do not break the bank.  One of Eddie’s focus is elegance.  Elegance in wine has long been forgotten and with these dialogues we hope to find it again. (more…)