tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post948410595467438741..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Are you drinking a wine, or a brand?W. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-47632319283396521332010-05-23T23:35:54.638-07:002010-05-23T23:35:54.638-07:00Did the post from anon. really blame republicans a...Did the post from anon. really blame republicans and Fox news? Hate mongering? Give it a break there, big fella. If you love your govt. that is nice. If you love your country, that is nicer. I think that too much under-$10 wine is all the same. But I also think that a lot of Calif. over-$10 wines are bottled from the same giant tank. Learn to read the label this way, it is a start: "Don Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-17618496161157024512010-05-23T12:44:19.364-07:002010-05-23T12:44:19.364-07:00If I had 100 million cases to sell, I would pay th...If I had 100 million cases to sell, I would pay the largest distribution companies to sell my wines to the exclusion of others. I would give all-expense paid vacations to sales people for these distributors who sold the most cases of my wine. I would pressure those distributors to stop selling competing products.<br /><br />If I had 1.3 million cases to sell, I would look at the big companies W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-42152404115926399142010-05-22T15:35:22.443-07:002010-05-22T15:35:22.443-07:001.3 million cases? I'd say our small lots of h...1.3 million cases? I'd say our small lots of handcrafted wines are made in the vineyard (pay no attention to that factory behind the curtain). And I'd create a dozen or so different labels with the identical wine, create several blogs where I tout the virtues of each one, rate them all in the upper 90s, and cross-quote from myself. And my websites would all have Flash and soft piano music.Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-64639587579853597942010-05-22T14:48:24.962-07:002010-05-22T14:48:24.962-07:00Sorry to jump in so late on this.
As the Big wine...Sorry to jump in so late on this.<br /><br />As the Big wine groups flood the market, they also drive quality down.<br /><br />I just prey they also raise the integrity of making Quality driven wines.<br /><br />Link: http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/RSS//index.php/hop/latest/gallo-039the-most-powerful-wine-brand-in-the-world039-harpers-amp-spirit-trade-review/25302<br /><br />As the demand forNapaWineGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-72451201798314960802010-05-21T21:47:32.307-07:002010-05-21T21:47:32.307-07:00I have to agree with Tahoevinman, Joel Peterson is...I have to agree with Tahoevinman, Joel Peterson is still doing great work with his single-vineyard Zinfandels at Ravenswood. But I think he's the exception.<br /><br />Kent Rosenblum is now in the same situation as Dick Arrowood; it's not just his winery he sold, but his name. Still, if you offered me $100 million, you could write bland corporate blog posts under my byline for the rest ofW. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-54350407265998984782010-05-21T17:31:20.684-07:002010-05-21T17:31:20.684-07:00When Gary Farrell sold off his winery he stayed on...When Gary Farrell sold off his winery he stayed on as winemaker but quit soon after, saying he was tired of middle management that thought they knew what they were doing.<br /><br />And Ken Brown sold his Byron winery to Mondavi but also quit later as winemaker. He said they left him alone, but he didn't like their vineyard practices.<br /><br />It's unfortunate but I guess inevitable. Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-11580010794146275232010-05-21T17:20:59.813-07:002010-05-21T17:20:59.813-07:00Very much enjoyed this article on drinking brands ...Very much enjoyed this article on drinking brands as opposed to actual wines. I myself have seen instance after instance where privately-owned wineries are acquired by large corporate entities, and the results are rarely good for the wine consumers who may have been loyal to those brands. The bean counters control corporate winemaking, wine is just a commodity to them, and there is no respect Howell Mtn Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-15975543211801721332010-05-21T14:26:28.122-07:002010-05-21T14:26:28.122-07:00In the case of Ravenswood, they still have Zin gur...In the case of Ravenswood, they still have Zin guru Joel Peterson making the wines and still have the same bricks and mortar they always had. Yes he is making Vintner's Blend for the masses but his County Series and Vineyard Designated wines are as stunning as ever. Sometimes when a corporate entity takes over they are wise enough to provide needed capital and let the artists continue to tahoevinmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-58268305075783150902010-05-21T13:15:38.052-07:002010-05-21T13:15:38.052-07:00Sometimes you just don't know who owns the win...Sometimes you just don't know who owns the winery. But it may not matter if your only criterion is how the wine tastes. Small wineries can make bad wine just as large multi-brand corporations can now and then make something good.Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-82069151148152546092010-05-21T13:08:04.935-07:002010-05-21T13:08:04.935-07:00Oh well, at least Kent Rosenbloom cashed in (I ass...Oh well, at least Kent Rosenbloom cashed in (I assume). I long ago gave up on his Vintners Cuvee, just as I gave up on Ravenswood's many years before that. And others in a similar vein. The problem often is knowing when a producer gets gobbled up by a giant.Bob Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08349830722788278723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-60076860560068134992010-05-21T12:00:30.034-07:002010-05-21T12:00:30.034-07:00It's obvious you are not fat, dumb or complace...It's obvious you are not fat, dumb or complacent then.Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-25721034986250937002010-05-21T11:54:42.610-07:002010-05-21T11:54:42.610-07:00I've seen some gentiles recently. Lovely peopl...I've seen some gentiles recently. Lovely people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-72072162905766543282010-05-21T10:51:01.605-07:002010-05-21T10:51:01.605-07:00That Healdsburg space is in a prime location, and ...That Healdsburg space is in a prime location, and I would be surprised if Diageo gives it up, as most of the rest of the square is controlled now by Jackson Family Wines. It's possible that the room will sell other wines than just Rosenblum. Diageo is laying off some tasting room people, though, so maybe it will be closed.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-54762354349328253662010-05-21T10:40:56.011-07:002010-05-21T10:40:56.011-07:00It's okay. I've never eaten at Applebee...It's okay. I've never eaten at Applebee's, either. So will the Rosenblum tasting room in Healdsburg be gone too?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08864616524870524871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-39352616184478902452010-05-21T09:08:51.373-07:002010-05-21T09:08:51.373-07:00Wow, hostility is no more pleasant than industrial...Wow, hostility is no more pleasant than industrial wine or food. But even Yellow Tail has some sweetness in it.<br /><br />BTW, even rants should be proofread.Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-52961819558812774552010-05-21T09:00:12.826-07:002010-05-21T09:00:12.826-07:00I have a theory about the contemporary American pe...I have a theory about the contemporary American personality.<br /><br />Fat, dumb, complacent people giving up on themselves by succumbing to mediocrity in their lives… Whether it being the commercial, corporate fast food they stuff in their oversized mouths and then blame their “fat genes” on why they haven’t seen their gentiles in so long… Or maybe they, like most republicans in this country,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-52867833283661723542010-05-21T08:25:46.877-07:002010-05-21T08:25:46.877-07:00Well written. Americans go to Taco Bell and Appleb...Well written. Americans go to Taco Bell and Applebee's because it's inexpensive and they know what to expect. In exchange they get bland. Other industries are suffering as well, stock photography, the local hardware store, and even politics. But there are still Americans who value direct connection with the people who make their food and drink. I have faith in wine. There will always be Paula Sugarmanhttp://winelabelsthatwork.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-43317989387462036082010-05-21T07:49:09.357-07:002010-05-21T07:49:09.357-07:00Don't be too sad it sold for $105 Million!!!! ...Don't be too sad it sold for $105 Million!!!! And there are another 4,999 wineries in CA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-45535531534486818032010-05-21T07:48:10.117-07:002010-05-21T07:48:10.117-07:00Many people want familiarity, not to mention bland...Many people want familiarity, not to mention blandness. It's why there's an Olive Garden in New York City despite many great Italian restaurants there.<br /><br />While one can mourn the loss of an iconic Zinfandel producer, there are others to take its place. Those of us who want individuality and authenticity in wine can still get it even if we have to look harder for it. At least Larry the Wine Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06712771568318259978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-48546725042437593772010-05-20T14:40:14.687-07:002010-05-20T14:40:14.687-07:00"I have never eaten at Applebee's... I...<i>"I have never eaten at Applebee's... I'm willing to accept variability in my food..."</i><br /><br />You are living life on the Edge! I doubt that 3 out of 5 Americans are willing to eat at a non-chain restaurant when traveling.King Krak, I Drink the Winehttp://www.forkandbottle.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-62995214141957794452010-05-20T12:59:47.204-07:002010-05-20T12:59:47.204-07:00ANOTHER OF THE GREAT R'S OF zIN GOES COMMERCIA...ANOTHER OF THE GREAT R'S OF zIN GOES COMMERCIAL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-16959029902053611952010-05-20T12:02:22.100-07:002010-05-20T12:02:22.100-07:00I liked Provenance about 10yrs ago but I'm no...I liked Provenance about 10yrs ago but I'm not a fan now. I'm a layman when it comes to wines/owners, may be there should be a sign some were that says who really owns the winery or a web site. You sure can't tell by reading the label.<br />jo6pacAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-76127370231635890212010-05-20T11:39:53.276-07:002010-05-20T11:39:53.276-07:00This news make me sad. I really had a good time at...This news make me sad. I really had a good time at their tasting room in Healdsburg a few years ago.B8winehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06206716991908345992noreply@blogger.com