Wine Line readers respond
A few columns back, I asked for ideas on what I could make with the 7,000-plus corks collecting dust and space in my garage. The most unique idea was a cork door curtain, much like a beaded curtain. A Fresno reader said he saw it in a Carmel restaurant. He thought drilling the tiny holes through hundreds and hundreds of corks to string fishing line through would really test the determination of my cork-nerdyness. I agreed. I still liked the idea and ran it by the Navigator. All she could say was where will you hang it? That’s when I brought up the idea of building a wine cellar, and well, that was the end of the unique cork curtain. Any more suggestions?
A longtime Merced reader said he was shocked but not surprised that I had a $20 wine on my table. Because I raised my $15 “What’s on our Table” limit to $20, he said I have “left my roots” and “have gone over to the other side.” I know this person and he knows I would still rather have two $9 value wines than just one for $20. His heckling is what makes writing Wine Line fun and it’s one of the reasons I added a “Splurge Buy” in my column.
The most common question I get is “Have you ever considered writing Wine Line weekly?” and my answer is no. That would be a “real” job and I had a “real” job for 38 years. It was also the same answer I gave my first editor 13 years ago. Wine Line appears in print on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The schedule allows me and the Navigator to do our valuable “research” in wine country. I know, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.
Support your local winery
Your favorite winery needs your help. Tasting rooms are closed and direct sales to the consumer are critical for their survival. Nearly all wineries are offering big discounts on wine and shipping. Go to your favorite region like amadorwine.com and it will list all the wineries and their discounts. While you’re sheltered in place that UPS dude arriving with a case of wine will look pretty darn good. Cheers!
What’s on our table
The steal: The Casa Santos Lima Red Blend Portugal is a light medium dry house Tinto, under $5 at Grocery Outlet.
The deal: The 2017 Essential Red by Bogle Vineyards is a well-balanced blend and an SF Chronicle Gold Medal winner. It is only $7.99 at Costco.
The Splurge: The 2017 Harney Lane Winery Home Ranch Petite Sirah was Best of Class/Double Gold in the SF Chronicle. The SRP is $28.