Tag: wine

Transformation of the Central Coast – Part II

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Right now the Central Coast is demanding headlines. There are many reasons for this, but at the top of the list has to be their successful production of Pinot Noir.  While wine snobs may want to dismiss the influence of the movie “Sideways”, they certainly can’t deny the tremendous increase in the demand for Pinot Noir over the past two years as well as the increased number of tourists who are visiting the wineries of Santa Barbara County.  “Sideways” brought this up and coming wine region into the spotlight and today more people are trying wines from this region than ever before.  Last year more than two million people visited Central Coast wineries, drawn there by the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, the unique wines, and the warm hospitality that is not always present in the two more famous California wine regions. Continue reading Transformation of the Central Coast – Part II

Neyen 2004; What Did You Think About the Wine?

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The title is self explanatory.  I wrote about the Neyen not too long ago, so it should still be fresh in people’s minds.  I wanted to know what our customers thoughts on this wine are, since it was so well received. It sold out about four hours after I sent an email that we had some in stock.  I know what a few customers think about the wine, since they emailed me either asking for more, but there were many more customers that bought than those who wrote back.  So I have a knowledge gap I’d like to fill.

Whether you leave a comment that criticizes my choice or praises it, all are welcome.  This is not only a great exercise for our customers, but it is also a great learning experience for me.  It allows our customers to voice their opinions without feeling like they have hurt mine. At the same time, it helps me understand what it is our customers are searching for.  Everyone likes a great bargain, but was it worth it?  Did the wine meet expectations or did it fall short?

On that note, please feel free to leave comments on any wine you may have bought from us whether it be through our email service or if you got direct advice from us while you shopped at our store.  Please respond because the more we know, the better we can serve you.

Nic & Nic

Seeing with Beer Goggles

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For those who aren’t aware, my position in the store changed recently, I moved to a new role as the craft beer buyer.  Of course, Tim remains very involved with the beer department that he essentially constructed, but there’s a new set of eyes looking at everything we do with beer now.

Of course, my background in wine is fairly extensive, while my knowledge of beer is still being developed, and so I’m taking great care to think about the beers that I drink in order to better understand their character and use.  The great difference that I have observed is that the world of wine is governed by terroir, the concept of a wine’s “sense of place”, but this is not the case with beer, where everything is governed by process. Continue reading Seeing with Beer Goggles

2012: The End of the World

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The Mayans predict that the world will come to an end in 2012. At Colonial Spirits, we thought this would be a great time to discuss what drink we’d want to go out with. In this video, Nicolay, Nic, and Tim tell us what they’d be sipping on that final day. Nicolay would enjoy a Champagne. Nic opts for a Riesling. And Tim chooses an India Pale Ale.

Please let us know what would be your last drink, too!

 

How to Decant a Bottle of Wine

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In this video, I show you to decant a bottle of wine. This is useful knowledge, especially as the holidays approach and you may be having dinner parties or guests at your table. Please feel free to email me, patrick@colonialspirits.com, if you have further questions or stop by the store: I’d be happy to help you out with all decanting questions.

Bittersweet Emotion

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Wine is personal. I’ve always maintained this, and, despite what we wine professionals tell you, wine is often more subjective than objective. Much of this has to do with how we relate to wine.

Some of my fondest wine memories are inextricably linked to people and places that I care deeply about.  It’s amazing how a glass (or bottle) can transport you to a moment in your past were your mind’s eye allows you to experience all your senses and memories as if you were really there. These memories are powerful, and they often come back to us when we least expect them and need them most.

Let me share with you some of my moments… Continue reading Bittersweet Emotion