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Greenville News showed up at our "In the Business" Calicaro Wine Tasting and took some great shots. What a difference a professional photographer makes! Hope you enjoy. Very nice elegant tasting. Check out those Riedel Vinum stems.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BS&Dato=20091117&Kategori=LIFE&Lopenr=911170807&Ref=PH
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Calicaro Wine Dinner Reminder
Just a quick reminder to sign up for the Calicaro Wine Dinner at Devereaux's on Nov 19. Call Devereaux's at 241- 3030 or sign up at:
http://www.meetup.com/winemeetup/
Three fine Calicaro Pinot Noirs, two white wines and a menu designed to match by Chef Spencer at one of Greenville's finest restaurants. It promises to be a wonderful evening. Don't wait as there is limited seating for this event.
http://www.meetup.com/winemeetup/
Three fine Calicaro Pinot Noirs, two white wines and a menu designed to match by Chef Spencer at one of Greenville's finest restaurants. It promises to be a wonderful evening. Don't wait as there is limited seating for this event.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wine Launch Photos
Hee are some shots taken by Donna Brown from the Calicaro Launch Party along with a few other wine/food related shots. Thanks Donna!
http://www.meetup.com/winemeetup/photos/756229/11644969/#11644969
http://www.meetup.com/winemeetup/photos/756229/11644969/#11644969
Friday, October 30, 2009
A Lawyer Looks at Wine Criticism
When I'm not making wine I am practicing law. This probably gives me a different perspective than some other bloggers and wine writers who have railed against "Parkerization", ie the hegemony of Robert Parker over the last thirty years in the area of wine criticism.
I don't share their view. Not that I always agree with Parker. Far from it. Most of the criticism seems to be that Parker shouldn't dominate the market in the fashion that he has and that this continues to be a bad thing for the wine world because winemakers now tailor their efforts to suit his palate.
I think- and this is where the legal vino point of view comes in- that this completely misses the point. When confronted with First Amendment free speech cases the Supreme Court usually says that the solution is not to stifle speech but instead to offer more of it. If you don't like what the other guy is saying, rather than coercing his silence, you should instead jump into the fray and offer your own viewpoints. Democracy- and the free markets- are messy and noisy places- and this is ultimately a good thing in preserving freedom.
After all, Parker is only doing what ALL critics do- including those critics who think he holds too much sway over the market. And that is to offer up his opinion. The fact that too many people pay too much heed to what he has to say is not HIS problem- it is merely evidence of the extent to which he has succeeded. More power to him for doing so -not really- just kidding!
So, rather than attacking Parker for his power, his competition needs to step up its game and offer their opinions and further develop their reputations, without tearing down Parker's. Compete in the marketplace of ideas and let the best man/woman win. Rather than shutting down speech offer MORE speech.
The inevitablity of time will ultimately prevail if nothing else will in the meantime. Parker has been attacking the whole concept of wine bloggers and some of them have not been kind to him.
But how many bloggers are over 40? And how old is Parker now? So, I say let him enjoy his time doing what he obviously loves. Rather than tearing down Parker, bloggers and other critics should be building their own reputations. I don't think however, that we will see the same level of hegemony by any one critic again any time soon. That era is passing
I don't share their view. Not that I always agree with Parker. Far from it. Most of the criticism seems to be that Parker shouldn't dominate the market in the fashion that he has and that this continues to be a bad thing for the wine world because winemakers now tailor their efforts to suit his palate.
I think- and this is where the legal vino point of view comes in- that this completely misses the point. When confronted with First Amendment free speech cases the Supreme Court usually says that the solution is not to stifle speech but instead to offer more of it. If you don't like what the other guy is saying, rather than coercing his silence, you should instead jump into the fray and offer your own viewpoints. Democracy- and the free markets- are messy and noisy places- and this is ultimately a good thing in preserving freedom.
After all, Parker is only doing what ALL critics do- including those critics who think he holds too much sway over the market. And that is to offer up his opinion. The fact that too many people pay too much heed to what he has to say is not HIS problem- it is merely evidence of the extent to which he has succeeded. More power to him for doing so -not really- just kidding!
So, rather than attacking Parker for his power, his competition needs to step up its game and offer their opinions and further develop their reputations, without tearing down Parker's. Compete in the marketplace of ideas and let the best man/woman win. Rather than shutting down speech offer MORE speech.
The inevitablity of time will ultimately prevail if nothing else will in the meantime. Parker has been attacking the whole concept of wine bloggers and some of them have not been kind to him.
But how many bloggers are over 40? And how old is Parker now? So, I say let him enjoy his time doing what he obviously loves. Rather than tearing down Parker, bloggers and other critics should be building their own reputations. I don't think however, that we will see the same level of hegemony by any one critic again any time soon. That era is passing
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Calicaro Makes a New Wine List - American Grocery!
Calicaro is pleased to announce that we will be featured on the wine list at American Grocery, one of South Carolina's top restaurants. Sommelier and co-owner Darlene Mann-Clarke said our 07 "Poinsett" was "the best Anderson Valley Pinot Noir she had ever had." With her experience and the strength of their wine list, that says alot! Look for us there soon!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Mystery of Wine (and Life)
Thursday night wine tasting of all three Pinot Noirs: consensus was that Calicaro '08 Liberty Bridge was the wine of the night. Friday night wine tasting of all three Pinot Noirs: consensus was that Calicaro '07 Poinsett was the wine of the night. Life is a mystery! But that is a good thing, wouldn't you agree?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Write a Calicaro Label - Win a Bottle!
For all of you writers and wannabe writers-
Calicaro needs some "back label" language for 2009 "Shoeless Joe" Zinfandel. Write some winning label copy and win a bottle of Shoeless Joe when released next fall. Feel free to play on baseball, shoeless stomping of grapes, the "Joe" name or fun things with Zinfandel like "Go Forth and Zin No More" We need just the back label language.
Just email me your label language to info@calicaro.com
Good luck!
Calicaro needs some "back label" language for 2009 "Shoeless Joe" Zinfandel. Write some winning label copy and win a bottle of Shoeless Joe when released next fall. Feel free to play on baseball, shoeless stomping of grapes, the "Joe" name or fun things with Zinfandel like "Go Forth and Zin No More" We need just the back label language.
Just email me your label language to info@calicaro.com
Good luck!
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