Category Archives: Uncategorized

Reopening Installment #2: Déjà Vu-19

Posted on July 31, 2020 by

We’re in the midst of a crisis.  The majority of the scientific community agrees it’s a crisis and that there are important yet relatively simple things we can do to stop it from getting much worse.  It affects public health … Continue reading →

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Reopening installment #1: A little bragging is in order

Posted on July 23, 2020 by

For years now I’ve been trying to explain that we just don’t have good data on sales of wine and other alcohol.  And I’ve been complaining that the companies that compile, analyze, and disseminate these data issue grand proclamations that … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #14: Stay six feet from the price at tastings

Posted on June 16, 2020 by

After my virtual wine show experience back in April, I started talking with Italian producers about getting samples to taste.  Eighteen bottles of wine arrived all in one week.  Cy and I were able to taste some of them.  But … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #13: Keeper recipes

Posted on June 1, 2020 by

Like many of you, I’ve been cooking a lot during these past 2+ months.  There have been lots of old favorites, mostly comfort-food recipes.  But I’ve been reading and trying plenty of new things, too.  This particular recipe is my … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #12:  RIP, America’s greatest wine salesman

Posted on May 21, 2020 by

We don’t see wine advertisements much on TV these days or hear them on the radio.  But from the 1960s through the 1980s there was plenty of advertising for mass-market wines.  I’ve written about these ads before, and how ridiculous … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #11: Deliveries, pandemic style

Posted on May 20, 2020 by

These are strange times for wine shopping and deliveries.  I’ve written about some of my more (let’s call them) interesting deliveries before.  Those had more to do with who was ordering.  These days, it’s all about the circumstances. When First … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #10: Wine sales are up (maybe)

Posted on May 6, 2020 by

I get a few daily e-mail summaries of wine news with teasers and links to articles.  This headline in today’s Wine Business Daily e-mail caught my attention: “Robust Wine Sales Growth as Consumers Turn to Brands They Know: Despite the … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #9: WHO wants you to stop drinking NOW

Posted on April 30, 2020 by

On April 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement and fact sheet on alcohol and COVID-19.  There’s no subtlety here: Alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general, and is well understood to increase the risk … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #8: A day at a virtual wine show

Posted on April 27, 2020 by

Like other industries, the wine world is adapting to social distancing.  The first activity to get the video treatment has been wine tastings.  Many of you have probably received invitations to video tastings done by your favorite wine store or … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing Installment #7: Keeper recipes

Posted on April 22, 2020 by

This is the first of what I’m calling “Keeper Recipes,” things I made because I wanted to use pantry staples I had on hand — but they turned out so well I’ll want to add them to my non-social-distancing repertoire.  … Continue reading →

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