Our cruise on the Viking Octantis continues. Tomorrow, a tour of Halifax, Nova Scotia. But before my topic of the day, wines, first, some Trump news of relevance.- President Donald Trump was the one who announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Apparently, Hezbollah, too, will be included.
- The Commission of Fine Arts approved designs for a 250-foot tall triumphal arch, featuring eagles, Lady Liberty and a line from the Pledge of Allegiance.
- This is a Trump-appointed board which also approved $400 million for Trump's White House Ballroom.
- Will beome the tallest trimphal arch in the world, 86 feet taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, twice as that of the Lincoln Memorial and almost as high as the Capitol.
- Planned for Memorial Circle on Columbia Island directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.
My interest in wines keeps evolving. Our New Orleans Ritz-Carlton Hotel room had a March copy of Wine Spectator. Brought back memories, for I once subscribed to this leading wine magazine. Some history of this publication.
- Formed as a San Diego tabloid newspaper by Bob Morrisey in 1976.
- Marvin Shanken in 1979 purchased The Wine Spectator.
- I was a member from the mid-1980s into the '90s.
- Tasters are informed about varietal, region and vintage. 95-100 Classic: Great wines. 90-94 Outstanding: Wines of superior character and style. 85-89 Very Good: Wines with special quality. 80-84 Good: Solid, well-made wines.
Since I left, a lot has happened, including some scandals, suits, schemes, and such,- However, all seems okay these days, with Marvin Shanken still Editor and their Grand Tour ongoing.
- About wine magazines, according to Google AI:
- If you want to know what to buy and read up on wine culture, choose Wine Spectator.
- If you want to learn more about specific regions and European wines, choose Decanter.
- If you want a mix of travel, food, and wine, choose Wine Enthusiast.
Around the time of the formation of The Wine Spectator was that historic Judgement of Paris, when in 1976, two Napa wines placed first:
Red: 1973 Stag's Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon.- White: 1973 Chateau Montelena, Chardonnay.
- Nine judges were French, plus Britisher Steve Spurrier and American Patricia Gallagher.
- Blind tasting.
- The 2008 film, Bottle Shock, was about that surprise, but only got 48/59 ratings from Rotten Tomatoes.
My history of wines.
- Those who drink alcohol, start with sweeter stuff, then go on to the best.
- During the 1970s I was into Ripple, Blue Nun and Lambrusco.
- And the answer is that Gallo stopped making Ripple in 1984.
- In the mid-1970s I was introduced to Concannon's Petite Sirah. I thought it was awful. Now, this is my favorite wine, Read about our recent Paso Robles tasting.
Returning to my earlier past, it must have been in the 80s when I picked up a car in Stockholm, and while driving to Copenhagen, stopped off at the Orefors Glass Factory, purchased a wide range of Intermezzo Blue-drop Wine Glasses, and had them shipped back to Honolulu. Forty years later, still use them. We drove through Germany, spent a couple of days in Beune to taste Burgandy wines, and ended up in Rome for some Chianti.
- At this point in my life, I was just leaving Ripple and entering the world of Moscato and the sweeter Rieslings, like the blended German Liebfraumilch, more specifically, Blue Nun, which was the Yellow Tail (from Australia) of its day. Beginning in the early 1980s, Blue Nun wanted to escape the stigma of Liebfraumilch, and began to rebrand itself as something of higher quality. Today, still an affordable $7-$13/bottle, but with a 24K Gold Edition sparkling wine selling for more than $20.
- For 45 years I have been ordering three cases/year, and purchased a wine refrigerator to store them. I'm now into my fourth refrigerator.
- A typical annual cost is from $1000 to $2000.
- For some reason, they rested a year in 2024.
- As the story goes, the two gentlemen made this decision at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1979.
- Opus One selected ala a composer's first masterpiece.
- Original vintage sold in 1984 as America's first ultra-premium wine for $50.
- Their Oakville (Napa Valley), California winery actually opened in 1991.
- There were a couple of years when I ordered a case. But got to be too expensive.
- Now sells for around $500/bottle, but can be found if you're willing to pay all that much just for one bottle.
- The winery began to sell a second wine, Overture, in 1993, but only in its Oakville tasting site. Began to sell in shops in 2021. But still around a low of $150/bottle, although I've seen prices in the $250 range.
I had numerous wine tastings. One in particular occurred as part of a 51-day My Ultimate Global Adventure in 2013, when I tasted wines in Napa, Sonoma and Alexander Valleys.
Also a scotch-tasting.
From the left, Bowmore (51.5%), Caol Ila (51.5%), Lagavulin (57.8%) and Laphroaig (60.6%). These were cask strength scotches, for the standard proof is 80, or 40% ethanol.
I asked Google AI, what have been the best wine films.
- Sideways (2004): A comedy-drama following two men (played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church) on a road trip through Santa Barbara wine country. It is renowned for influencing popular opinion on Merlot and Pinot Noir. Rotten Tomatoes 97/79.
- Bottle Shock (2008): Dramatizes the 1976 "Judgment of Paris," where California wine beat French wine in a blind tasting.
- A Good Year (2006): A romantic comedy-drama where a London broker inherits a Provençal vineyard, directed by Ridley Scott.
A Walk in the Clouds (1995): A romantic drama set in California's wine country after World War II.- The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969): An Italian comedy-drama about a town trying to hide a million bottles of wine from German occupiers during WWII.
- #2 Red, Red, Wine by Neil Diamond.
- #4 Hotel California by the Eagles.....why? Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice.
- #5 Cracklin' Rosie by Neil Diamond.
- #16 Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini.
- #22 Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin
- #24 Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho.
- #27 When I'm 64 by The Beatles.
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