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The Vine : Wine Country Tastings Blog

Tasting and tripping to wines fresh off the vine.

AC/DC - Let Me Put My Wine Into You, Babe.

» posted by Rich
on 15 Aug 2011

I'm usually skeptical about "celebrity" wine partnerships/labels, but nothing will stop me from trying my favorite rock band's new venture. With names like Highway To Hell Cabernet Sauvignon and Back in Black Shiraz, how could you go wrong?

AC/DC was my very first big rock show in 1983 at New Jersey's Brendan Byrne Arena (now iZod Center). From that point on I collected every AC/DC release and import and t-shirt I could find. But if you told me back then that 25+ years later I'd be excited about the release of AC/DC wine, I would have probably wanted to say, "Who made who?"

I can't wait to hear the names of some of the wines they'll release! Here are some of my suggestions:
Kicked in the Teeth Grenache
T.N.T. Merlot
Whole Lotta Rose
Brain Shake Mourvedre

For more info:
AC/DC Fans - Wine

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Taste of Mendo | June 13th Fort Mason SF

» posted by Rich on 2011-05-12 22:59:18

Taste Of Mendocino Tasting @ Fort Mason SF

City dwellers should get out of the city one in a while and do some wino tripping. But every now and then there is an opportunity to have the wine country come to you. Enter, Taste Of Mendocino at Fort Mason Center, SF. Over 50 wineries from Mendo on the Sonoma Coast, the best Pinot Noir growing region in California, together with loads of food and beer vendors, and reps from all the great attractions and lodgings... all under one roof.

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Paso Robles Wine Fest May 20-21, 2011

» posted by Rich on 2011-05-12 00:26:34

Get on this folks. Paso Robles is the region making some of the most exciting Rhone varietal wines in California. This Wine Fest and Grand Tasting, held in downtown Paso, will showcase over 80 wineries in one place on May 20 & 21, 2011. A general festival pass is $55, but there are other levels offered. For example, you can get the reserve ticket ($75) that'll get you in early to the Grand Tasting. Or go for the Weekend Pass ($325) and get EVERYTHING:

Reserve Tasting - Friday, May 20, 3:30 - 6 p.m.
Winemaker Seminar - Saturday, May 21, 1 - 2 p.m.
Early Admittance to the Grand Tasting - Saturday, May 21, 2 - 6 p.m.
Wine Country Auction & Dinner - Saturday, May 21, 6 - 10:30 p.m.

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Hiking Lake Lagunitas with Riesling

» posted by Rich on 2011-05-11 10:06:55

Hiking Marin with Washington Riesling

I'm always surprised about how many Bay Area people don't know about the great hiking up behind the town of Fairfax in Marin County. I love the hike around Lake Lagunitas. The reservoir provides everything you want out of a hike; redwood groves, rolling hills, Ospreys roaring overhead, sparkling lakes... You really don't need to bring anything. But you should bring some wine.

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Bernie Madoff's Wine Goes To Auction

» posted by Rich on 2011-05-10 12:52:22

Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff's wine collection (58 lots) is being auctioned off by Morrell & Company on May 18th, according to Decanter.com. It is said that he has some nice "collectible Bordeaux", but I'd be careful with a trickster like Madoff. If any cases of wine owned by the court of Marie Antoinette, or maybe a bottle supposedly left-over from Jesus' Last Supper show up from his cellar... Beware. The auction house goes on to state that some of the bottles are more "conversation piece" than quality bottles of wine. How does that work? Like, "Look guys, I have a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck once owned by Bernie Madoff!". Nice. And it only cost you $1500.

Here's the full story:
Bernard Madoff wine collection to be auctioned - Decanter.com

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BBQ? Malbec Time!

» posted by Rich on 2011-05-09 12:29:34

Malbec: Asado's best Friend

After Lady Jess got back from her trip to Argentina we knew we had to have an Argentine BBQ (or "asado", as they say in South America) back at the Ultra-secret WinoTripping Headquarters and TreeHouse in San Francisco. We grilled up pounds of steak and sausage, offered empanadas of every kind, and, of course, served Argentine Malbec throughout the day.