Hello my friends. Another two weeks gone. This time because I spent the week of the 10th traveling all around the Bay Area. First out to Livermore (my secret spot for amazing wines!) to cover an event at the beautiful Wente Estate for Tasting Panel. Then jet-set up to Santa Rosa to speak at this year’s Wine Industry Sales Symposium. All while continuing to teach my classes as well as write my stories.

So, of course the news piled up a wee bit. And, sorry NOT sorry that I’ve got bit of a rant about the majority of these headlines: I feel like the wine industry is just trying SO hard. It feels like when an uncool parent/aunt/uncle/older sibling is like trying to wear what the cool kids are wearing or start using phrases that are way outside their lingo. Can we all just relax a wee bit? Nothing is more of a turn-off then when someone is forcing their agenda.

Obviously I’m not against wine—or any alcohol for that matter—but, as I mentioned in my last newsletter, we just need to be ok with the -ish part of drinks culture. Whether that means going off the sauce for any length of time; having areas of lives where abv-based drinks are not welcome; or including our non-drinks-oriented friends and families. Further, we need to be ok with alt-categories. Weed is not the enemy. Seltzers are not the enemies. Juice, soda, coffee, gum—not the enemy. As folks keep pointing out, wine has been a part of human culture for eons. Even if regulations state we have to slap health warnings or nutrition facts on it, I wager that wine won’t be going anywhere. If anything, folks will start to consume more thoughtfully, engage with the category rather than chug it—which will continue to set wine apart from other beverages. I also wager that the brands and businesses that find a way to comply will only find favor in the modern market.

But those are just my two pennies. For whatever two pieces of copper are worth nowadays…

Mini-rant over, but beware that my snide remarks get pretty, um, snide-y alongside these first eight articles.

Silly comments, random thoughts, snide remarks…all my own. ✌️🥂

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