The July 2005 Issue of Connect With Wine

Atlanta Wine School's Connect With Wine Monthly Issue

Summer is supposed to be the time when wine-related happenings slow-down. You'd never know it from this calendar. Events listed in chronological order.

July 14th, Aussies & Ozzies
The wines of Australia & New Zealand presented by Jane Garvey, who recently returned from a six-week tour of the regions. $59/person, 6:30-9:00pm, The Piedmont Room at Park Tavern, 10th & Monroe Streets. More Info

July 18th, Introduction to Wine
Learn HOW to taste wine, and HOW to describe what you like. Atlanta Wine School's most popular course--this being series number eight this year. $299/person, 7:00-9:00pm, The Signature Events Facility, Dunwoody. More Info

August 9th, Wines of South Africa
The up-and-comer on the world wine stage, this region has been making wine for 350 years, but is just now being regarded for quality. $59/person, 6:30-9:00pm, Rustic Gourmet Restaurant, 1145 Zonolite in Atlanta. More Info

August 25th, Live Wine & Cooking Class
If you're single & over 35 years of age, the Atlanta Upscale Singles would love to have you join them for a live production of a multi-course wine dinner, prepared by Executive Chef Todd Unkefer with wine pairings and commentary by "me." non-members $80, 6:30pm, Dacor Studio, 3330 Piedmont Road. More Info

September 7th, Live Wine & Cooking Class
After a smash event on May 5th, Executive Chef Joel Saxon of Insperience Studios and I are teaming up again to bring you into the kitchen for a live multi-course wine dinner preparation. $85/person, 6:30pm, Insperience Studio, 3232 Peachtree Road. More Info

September 10th, Wine Harvest Day Trip
Attendees on this trip in 2004 told us this was the single most enjoyable & educational view into winemaking ever experienced. Join us for a day trip to Persimmon Creek Vineyards & Winery. Transportation, vineyard lunch with wine, and tastings included. $89/person, 8am - 6pm, Persimmon Creek Winery. More Info
*BONUS* Extend your learning by signing up for an Introduction to Wine course and receive 45% off the day trip.

September 17-18, Wine South
Sample 600 fine wines from 10 countries, food samples from 40 restaurants, spread across two days. $55/person, Gwinnett Center More Info

Pearson's Summer Picks
Each Summer a few of the wine consultants at Pearson's Wines of Atlanta produce a list of what they consider the TOP PICKS for Summer. With such vivid descriptions, you should review their wines if nothing more than to read some colorful prose--although I think you will appreciate the wines too--if you try them. You can download a copy of it in Adobe PDF format.

Download here (30kb filesize)

The Dump Bucket (formerly Tips, Tricks & Trivia)

Interested in Volunteering for Wine South 2005? Volunteers receive an event shirt and a free ticket to the event ($55) to be used the next day. Please complete the registration form.

The Wine War Continues
Since May 16th many cheers outside of Texas & New York have ceased as consumers have realized that nothing has changed in their state after the Supreme Court ruling on Direct Shipping. In fact, some states are getting pressure to reverse the "out-of-state" shipping that they already possessed. In reactive reasoning that says "If we don't want wine shipped INTO the state, then we need to (by law now) stop wine from being shipped OUT OF state." Here is how one passionate writer is describing the situation in Massachusetts. More
"Hey, Drink Me...I'm Fruity & Soft!"
A talking wine label? Skepticism setting in....It's actually more interesting than it sounds on the surface. The label is essentially identical to today's paper stuck with glue model, yet it is made from plastic, and can be easily removed to play like a CD! The soothing voice will tell you tasting notes, ideal food pairings, etc. More here
Buying Wine Online
The eBay of wine "WineBid.com" has a nifty little business--but ultimately shipping & distribution is an issue. I discovered just today that the 1997 Nieport Vintage Port purchased from someone with good ratings was broken in transit. Guess I won't be giving that as a gift! If you want to wade through the mire of buying wine online, here is an article written by one of our subscribers, Jim Morris. Jim's Article on Buying Wine Online
Wine Magazine for Women
The magazine editor-in-chief says, "Most women who drink wine don't care about rating systems or amassing their collections -- they simply want to enjoy wine and its related lifestyle." Hmmm. As an educator who has been in front of over 5,000 people in the last year pontificating about wine, who is it that I look out and see in the audience? Women. Who signs up for intermediate level courses to find even greater subtlety in wine? Women. So why I applaud the magazine I am also stating that making it mushy & too soft will not appeal either--these are not Redbook readers. More here
The Mondavis Give and Give and Give
Robert Mondavi, our elder statesman of wine, is credited with such generosity. The most recent donation earned him the name of the center; in this case, The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. Read on
Napa Valley--Small Producer, BIG Contributor
The California wine industry is estimated to have a total annual economic impact of $45 billion. Napa Valley, the most prestigious label on CA wine, and some say the most glamorous wine region in the world, accounts for 4% of wine produced in the state, BUT 21% of the economic impact. More
Moderate Drinking Advocate Gene Ford Passes
Gene Ford passed away in early June at the age of 77. Mr. Ford was credited with wine writing and education, snaring many honors, but will best be remembered for his position on moderate drinking and the innumerable health benefits. His fantastic website (which is still up) is a repository of information. Visit the Website
Vineyards at 10,000 Feet
California's Hess Winery owns Bodega Colome in Northwestern Argentina and is growing grapes at 9,900 feet elevation. More
"Rocky Mountain High" More Than Air
There are 50 wineries in the mountain state, most growing the respected Vitis Vinifera species of grape-vine. Many of the vineyards reside at elevations of 4,000 - 7,000 feet, and the state already has two AVA's. Read on
French Biochemist Claims Cure for Corked Wines
This guy claims he can chemically "reverse" the tainted wine! HMMMMM. Someone please spend money on this and let us know! More here
Table Wines We Drink
I've always read that 70% of our domestic consumption of wine is also domestic--specifically California. This new study which shows the top 25 table wines also shows that just shy of 70% of them are California. The Study

The recent issue of The Wine Report
features Mireille Guiliano, author of
French Women Don't Get Fat