DISQUS

Thanks Juan Manuel for letting us know that Neryas Vins has a new service that allows customers of the Neyrus Restaurant to buy any wine available in the shop for only 10 euros to pair with their meal.

I wish you luck Milton, and we'll be sure to follow your progress on your blog!

That is great to hear! If only I could try your wines here in Spain ;-( Well, just another reason why I need to make a trip to California!

Thanks Dale! Although constructive criticism on how we can improve is always welcomed, I'm a bit biased towards the kind and positive comments ;-)

I like the ring of that "Catavino's Kitchen Sink Crianza"! I definitely think it could sell!

Remy, Isn't the diversity and complexity of wine part of the reason why adore this stuff? While we are all prone to making sweeping generalizations, such as oak is bad and lower alcohol is good, there are too many exceptions to the "rule". This is the number 1 reason why we emphasis on this site, over and over again, to keep your mind open to regions, styles, grapes, etc that you may not know or previously enjoy. There are some fantastic wines made in new oak and some incredible higher alcohol wines, along with some horrific ones, but why not continue pushing our comfort zones to seek out that which challenges our preconceived notions :-)

Sorry, clarification - constructive criticism on the EWBC event :-)

Joe,


We can't wait to hear feedback on the USA one too. We wish we could be there, but we trust there will be lots of great reports coming out of there, so I'm sure that we'll be caught up on the info ;-)



However, if you've heard any constructive criticism on the event, we'd love to know about it. Seriously, it's the only way we can improve future conferences!

Richard, having spent a considerable amount of time pouring over the map to make sure every detail was edited correctly, to the best of our ability, I would be hard pressed to find something that doesn't appeal me. It is easy to read, shows all the major roads and highways that travel through wine country, contains an easy to read legend. and generally, is a very useful and attractive tool. If I had one complaint, it would be that no one has made a laminated folded map that I can take with me in the car. Having this on my wall is lovely, but to have it while driving through regions would be a great learning tool to know where boundaries end, where subregions are located and just a good sense of how the land affects our understanding of each region.

Robert, Ryan and I really appreciate your willingness to come and support us. I know it took a huge leap of faith, but you all did it, and we thank you!!

Magon, we are the the wine blogger's conference today, but will do a bit of research when we get back next week. Thanks for the question, and to be honest, I can only assume that "yes" some people do homebrew sidra, but as for an exact recipe, you're guess is as good as mine. But I'll put in some calls for you next week and see what we can't learn together. Cheers and have a great day!

I would suggest that we have a LONG way to go on "customer service" in both Portugal and Spain. I say this because I have persistently tried to contact many of these regional websites through email to get the same information Justin is asking for, and I have been ignored - totally and completely. It is not to say that some aren't extremely generous with their information, but too many regional websites in both Spain and Portugal don't see good customer service as direct key to regional wine sales. They think if they can provide some basic info, that's as far as they need to extend themselves. But what they don't realize is that people aren't going to call, they're going to search the website for information and then email, most likely in English, to get whatever info they're missing. Clearly, providing all the information first would be key, but second would to make yourself available for any and all questions in more than one language. Because in the end, it is not only the individual wineries that gain exposure from this, but so will your regional hotels, restaurants, etc.

Justin, although you won't have an opportunity to taste the Leitão Assado da Bairrada, you will have the opportunity to eat suckling pig of La Rioja this Saturday at the conference. So at least we can wet your appetite until your next trip to Portugal :-)

Well, I have to be honest, she made me smile as well, especially because she is the reason why I went to MN in the first place :-)

Sports in general can be seen as very violent and aggressive, as exemplified by American football, fencing, shooting, rugy, hockey, wrestling, and of course, boxing; however, I don't think it is the act itself that dictates what's acceptable or unacceptable social behavior, but the intention behind it. Fencing, for example, is based on "stabbing" someone, far from a Walt Disney picture, but the intention is not to harm someone against their will, but merely "tag" each other as two consenting adults. Whereas if the intention were to harm someone with malicious intent, we've got an entirely different ballgame.


Hence, I agree with you Robert, it is important to show both sides of the coin, so that children understand that two sides exist, and that we have a choice as to which one we want to act on. To hide it doesn't help anyone, and if anything, handicaps a child to understand moderation and critical thinking.



Thanks for a great post!

Hey MIke, I think this article may give you some more clarity on the meaning of the lables: <a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-read-a-rioja..."><a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-rea...but please let me know if you have more questions.

Hey MIke, I think this article may give you some more clarity on the meaning of the lables: <a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-read-a-rioja..."><a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-rea...but please let me know if you have more questions.

Hey MIke, I think this article may give you some more clarity on the meaning of the lables: <a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-read-a-rioja..."><a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-rea...but please let me know if you have more questions.

Hey MIke, I think this article may give you some more clarity on the meaning of the lables: <a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-read-a-rioja..."><a href="http://www.catavino.net/spain/how-to-rea...but please let me know if you have more questions.

Hey Graham, Thanks for the suggestion. Give me a little time to work some magic and see if I can't whip this up for you!

So out of curiosity Sandy, do you prefer the Chinese version or the Portuguese version? And do the Chinese pair tea with this dessert or is there a traditional beverage that you serve with it?

Great post! And it reminds me of a great quote told to me by a friend who is now 15 years sober at age 32:


If you want your child to become a raving alcoholic, do what's easy, nothing. By just saying 'no' repeatedly, or simply remaining silent, your child will surely fall head first into a deep bottle of whiskey and never come out. And while you're add it, why not try out the same tactics with sex and drugs, because really, taking the time to educate and explain is too much work anyway.

Our pleasure Robert. Better late then never!

Sandy, As far as I'm aware, the closest comparison we have in english to a native Portuguese ginja berry is a cherry.

Oops, typo on my part. You're absolutely correct! Thanks for the FYI!