The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Olivia Fox — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:02:01 -0000

For all ye women out there.... or those who love them!

I just received this from one of France's wine experts, a lovely woman who writes for the Revue des Vins de France (the most respected industry review in the country). Thought I'd share...

Which are the perfect wines for women?

Sauternes, obviously. I'd go for Château Climens, produced by a woman (Bérénice Lurton) in the Sauternes-Barsac appelation. The Sauternes from Barsac are said to show more minerality than regular Sauternes and Climens is said to be the only sauternes wine able to compete with Yquem (in terms of finesse (excuse my French!), elegance and aging potential).

Then Champagne, naturally. Carol Duval-Leroy produces a "Femme" cuvée that is quite famous. Or you have the "Amour" cuvée by Deutz. But to push the caricature even further, I'd go for a Champagne rosé. Obviously not the one from Krug (look at the price, it's scary!!) which is already the flagship of the gay community in Miami... But that's the thing : quite a few women wines are also gay wines! So probably the Brut Rosé from Bollinger. It's brand new, just been created and released in the UK. Bollinger is James Bond's Champagne so I guess the marketing people at Bolly wanted the James Bond girls to have their own as well. Or is it for the gay James Bond inside Sean Connery ? Or does is mean Ruppert Everett is going to be the next James Bond ??? hihi... Yes I'm having a lot of fun!

And what to pick for the third wine? Just plain rosé is popular, in the sweet and cheap New World version they call "blush" or a "real" European dry rosé, which they call gastronomic rosé nowadays... But the latter might be complex and require some (wine) education, so that can't agree with women (simplistic and wrong ? no ! marketing-oriented and performance-based ! I hate marketing people!). Or port and sherry... or for that matter, all the sweet fortified grand'ma wines. But that's another marketing caricature. You also have Chardonnay : Bridget Jones' Chardonnay. The movie is said to have had a very positive impact on Chardonnay sales in the UK. SO let's look back, we have selected women wines that have charactéristics related to women : they're either sweet, simple or sparkling... How about a women wine that echoes to the characteristics of a man that women would fall in love with? The wine would have to be reliable, strong but not rough, fresh but not too thin, not too strong (in alcohol)... Well it echoes with how Angelo Gaja describes hte grape of his wines, Nebbiolo, as opposed to Cabernet Sauvignon, the international star : he says Nebbiolo is a Marcello Mastrojani character (with style and a mischievous grin), while Cabernet Sauvignon is John Wayne : broad, strong, unmistakable. Gaja says "You expect John Wayne to make love to you every saturday night at 9PM sharp for a precise 30 minutes. With Marcello, you never know how, when and where. Once you know that, you pick the character that suits you best". I kinda like the idea... So I'd definetely go for a Nebbiolo wine, possibily from Gaja, if I have the money!

by Anne Serres

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Stephanie — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:13:50 -0000

It took me awhile to get into wine because I was turned-off by the high level of pretension and snootiness that seemed to be part of any discussion on the subject. Then, a few years back, a guy I was dating gave me a copy of the book: “Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes from a Marriage” written by John Brecher and Dottie Gaiter, wine columnists for the WSJ.

Their enthusiasm for wine (and one another) comes through in their writing and is completely infectious. Neither one started out with any particular background in wine. They were just curious and wanted to learn. One key underlying theme in their writing is that people should experiment, approach wine with an attitude of fun, and learn to trust their own opinions.

I’ve gone on to do just that and am now quite passionate on the subject of wines. (To the point that I think I just transported as many boxes of wine as books to my new place in Portland.)

Wine is definitely one of the finer pleasures of life... right up there with really good chocolate. :)

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Rick Lord — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:15:19 -0000

Wow, an article about wine. I enjoyed it very much. I'm a Cork Dork myself. My wife and I frequent a wine bar in Phoenix that is very much anti-snob. I think we scare away the snobs. We really enjoy the wines from Paso Robles CA. We went there last summer and will be going again this year as well.

Rick

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Ed Scow — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:02:20 -0000

Good tips for the newbie...like me.

I'm trying to learn to love wine, while still keeping my abs in check.

I've got clients who love wine, yet can't figure out why they have a fat belly sitting on their stomach and when I tell them to stop, just for a week, they tell me wine is good for them because of the antioxidants. and won't. Some do take me up and realize that alcohol, in excess, will make you gain, and keep, fat...and lots of it.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Luci — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:51:13 -0000

@Tim (@James)

Another incredible resource you've given us! That's why I absolutely LOVE your blog...not only for what I learn from you, but from your oh-so-generous subscribers.

Keeps my muse going!!!!

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

timferriss — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:31:53 -0000

@James

Hi James,

I ended up getting the wine through, but that's another story! Thanks for the kind words and for coming out. It was so much fun, and I have the bottle of wine with me in Copenhagen.

The site you need is: http://99designs.com/

Enjoy :)

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

James — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:53:06 -0000

Hey Tim,

Thought I’d join your UK fan club in tagging a comment onto this post. It was a pleasure to meet you the other night and I couldn’t agree more with Pete that you’re a real inspiration.

Any chance you could remind me of the URL you mentioned for the guys that do web designs that you can review and comment on before you pay?

Also just wanted to warn you that if you’re planning on taking that bottle of Sauternes to Denmark, UK airports are real Nazis about taking liquids through in hand-luggage and you wouldn’t want to have to give decent stuff up to some security guard! Turned out to be a wine-related comment after all ;)

James

###

Hi James,

I ended up getting the wine through, but that's another story! Thanks for the kind words and for coming out. It was so much fun, and I have the bottle of wine with me in Copenhagen.

The site you need is: http://99designs.com/

Enjoy :)

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

timferriss — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:32:07 -0000

@Pete W

Dear Pete,

Thank you so very much for your kind words and for coming to the event last night. It was overwhelming for me (in a good way).

I remember all the editors and publishers who turned down the book, all of the doubts I had as I was told what it would never become, that no one would embrace it, etc. To see that it has made the light of day and helped even a few people makes it all worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Thanks to you and the other people who came out for making my trip to the UK one to remember!

All the best,

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Pete W — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:26:19 -0000

Hey man,

As promised, here's the post...

I travelled two and a half hours last night to come to that event. Hence I turned up at 8.30. I left at just before 10 (as you know), and got back at 12.40.

About 5 hours travelling for about an hour and a half of time there.

Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Firstly, an apology: I didn't really come to meet you. Don't get me wrong, hearing you speak and answer questions (even for only half an hour) was worth the cost alone. However, what I was more interested in was the other people who'd come.

I didn't manage to get around anyone (simply down to a lack of time), but those that I did meet all had one thing in common: whether they'd read the book, or just the blog, you'd made an impact in their lives. Some have left their jobs to go and do new things, some are changing the directions of their professional lives, some are embarking on entirely new lifestyles as a result of your teachings... The list goes on.

So what I want to say, on behalf of all of them, and myself is this:

Thank you.

What you have done is incredible, but what you're helping others do, by your example and through the book and blog is (to my mind at least) even more remarkable. You have, are, and will continue to change people's lives, and that's a great gift. You're a truly inspiration person, and I'm honoured to have been able to hear you talk, and to have shaken your hand.

Thank you for your time. It was invaluable.

Shalom aleichem,

Pete

###

Dear Pete,

Thank you so very much for your kind words and for coming to the event last night. It was overwhelming for me (in a good way).

Thanks to you and the other people who came out for making my trip to the UK one to remember!

All the best,

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Diane Letulle — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:41:13 -0000

I think it's great that you emphasized how important smelling is to appreciating wine. I took a fantastic course with Kevin Zraly (author, teacher & former somelier at Windows on the World), who said "They should really call it wine smelling." He even demonstrated that one nostril can work better than the other by having us close one nostril with our finger and smell, then switch.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

April Dobs — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:50:51 -0000

I thought some of you guys might be interested in this. www.greatestwineglass.com

My parents bought a set of these glasses. They saw them in one of the wine magazines. They have a notch cut in the rim so your nose gets farther into the bowl while you drink. I thought it was stupid but Tim is spot on with his #3 point.

My parents had us do a side by side with some tasting glasses we had got them for their anniversary and there was a world of difference.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Jose Castro-Frenzel — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:29:50 -0000

Great wine, but I insist you must try the coffee in Nicaragua and the pico de gallo there. The food rocks!!!!

Jose Castro-Frenzel

ps Could not think of a good closing word, better less than more and it be dumb...LOL

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Crystal — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:38:09 -0000

Palate. Palate, palate, palate.

A palette is what artists use to mix paints on.

###

LOL... damn, you're right. I'll get that one fixed. Can someone please invent a "logic checker" to go with my spell-checker? :)

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

jim still — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:34:42 -0000

Where I went with the advice...I used a small whisk on my Sutter Home Merlot last night, $9 a magnum tasted like $30 a bottle...I simply whisked air into each glass, it was magic.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Whits — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:40:01 -0000

Midwesterner here: I am about to go on a "Cava" tour (Spanish bubbly) in the Codornui Cellars outside Barcelona. Fro two days I've had Spanish wines and have been very pleased. Before that, I indulged in 6 days of French wines in Paris brasseries and restaurants, with only good reports. I remember so far every meal has included wine or cava/champagne, in red and whites (25% of the time). Before that, I sampled English pints at London pubs.

I'm now more interested in the imminent barrel tour given what I've learned. Two other important notes: with web 2.0 on the way, there's soon to be an opportunity to make your own wine from the comfort of your own computer. I'm not an owner or investor or anything, but when I found an outfit in San Francisco named Crushpad and mentioned it to a wine lover, he went ga ga. A week later he had his own business plan for making his own Cab, label and all. Second, I suspect we'll see Portugese popularity continue to grow; here in Spain the word is that the best coffee in the world is Portugese, why not the wine?

Thanks for the learning.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Ed — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:33:15 -0000

Tim:

I emailed the Mexican fisherman story to my brother in law in LA because I found it fascinating. His respomse threw me a bit though: he said, "Yes but I'm glad when I'm 80 I won't HAVE to fish to get by." Then I began to question your whole concept: What happens when you do become old, or disabled, or weak and tired and can't do it anymore. If you haven't followed the traditional path and saved for retirement what do you do then?

###

Hi Ed,

The two aren't mutually exclusive, so you can still generate serious revenue and save, but you don't sacrifice your life to do it. I'll have a post on investing coming up soon, but rest assured that our Mexican fisherman will have family and friends to help care for him when he's older, even after he stops fishing at 70 or 80.

Hope that helps,

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Jann Forth — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:16:55 -0000

Big, big thanks, Tim!!
What absolute fun it was to meet you on Saturday...we loved every minute....
thanks, too, for the photo and mention of the Late Harvest SB!
really nice of you!

...the sheep are still giggling amongst themselves and wondering when everyone will be back...

###

Thanks, Jann! We all had a wonderful time, and you absolutely must share your braised lamb recipe. It was AMAZING ;)

Tim

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Adam — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:41:28 -0000

Fun fact about that "up-and-coming" region you mentioned -- for much of our country's history, something like 80% (guessing) of our wine came from Portugal: Madeira.

For great out-of-vogue wines, and one of the best wine educations you can get, check out Bonny Doon. I learned more in my first visit to their Santa Cruz winery (okay, that and a few weeks of trying their wines) than in my first several visits to Napa and Sonoma combined. Plus, you have to love a winery whose website contains hidden links to Albert Hofmann's.

Oh, and I'll second, third, and fourth your advice about over-chilled whites. The fridge is great for making a mediocre white palatable for a party; otherwise something much closer to room temperature is the way to go. Incidentally, I think the reason super-chilled whites are so popular is the tendency for California chardonnays to be oaked to the gills with 100% malolactic fermentation--all butter and sugar, in other words, which can get overwhelming.

Come to think of it (sorry for rambling)--easily the most under-the-radar grape from the Napa/Sonoma area is Sauvignon Blanc. It's a cinch to find a $10-$15 bottle that will draw more 'ooh's and 'aah's than virtually any chardonnay under, say, $40 (or whatever Grgich is selling for these days).

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

kev — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:31:41 -0000

hi Tim, any chance of you adding your new found celebrity status to our new online venture. it should it appeal to you in particular as it concerns a language learning service, online.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Lili — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:06:45 -0000

Hey Tim,

Have you tried "herding cats" merlot/ pinotage from South Africa? You'll find it in most grocery stores & under $10 (sorry, not under $5 - but worth a splurge! :) Lili

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Art Gonzalez — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:33:13 -0000

I hate red wine and I have tried to develop a taste for it but unsuccessfully. White wine, specially Chilean wines are great! I also enjoy a good glass of whisky once in a while.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

a.wade — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:22:43 -0000

This article is both informative and necessary for wine tasting. I grew up in the valley (the town of Sonoma) and currently reside there. I would suggest going to the Wine Shop on the Plaza in Sonoma (http://www.sonomawineshop.com/ ) for a down to earth wine tasting experience. Their selection is unlike other wineshops because they have hard to find wine as well as wines from small family wineries. Tasting is inexpensive at $5 per 5 tastes and you are also able to do cheese tasting as well (another $5). The staff is both friendly and a joy to be around. They know a lot about wine and love to share their knowledge. It's a pleasure tasting and shopping there. As a person in my early 20s, I find this place to be approachable, non-pretentious and a good representation of how wine should be enjoyed!

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Vincent — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:17:51 -0000

A bit off the topic, I just want to announce that I was laid off from my job today. After 10 dedicated years busting my arse, the company i busted that very same arse for decided that they no longer need my services. As they were explaining the severance package to me (which was actually quite generous) I was beaming inside. The timing is perfect as i have been struggling with finding the time to develop my muses and to design my lifestyle. I plan to never return to the corporate grind again. Tim, your NR club has a new member! Thanks for the inspiration.

btw..I am just finishing 'The E-myth Revisited' and it is fantastic. I highly recommend it to everyone thinking of starting their own business.

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

maria — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:11:57 -0000

I agree with Gordon, can we go back to the book and more success tips for budding entrepreneurs?

Not that the info your providing is not interesting or informative but its kinda distracting. :)

Re: Anti-Snob Wine Appreciation: 7 Tips from Sonoma

Pete W — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:47:04 -0000

Hey man,

As something of a wine lover, if you want to assemble a list of questions from readers, and then I'll answer them for you, that'd be cool.

Shalom aleichem,

Pete