2007 in the world of wine: What was significant to you?

Good idea Randy.Pity not all of us are able to join the show. My highlights so far in the wine world.

1) Chablis, I have been ignoring too long.

2) The wines from Four Vines, Calif.

3) Austrian GVs.

4) This forum and the amazing research from Bob Ross.

5) David B for all his knowledge on German wines....and his photos!

6) Joe Perry reporting from his wedding reception!!!!

7) Otto, Ian and Tim keeping us in touch with all things European.

[David M. Bueker]

We can talk about this (or not - not quite sure of my availability), but I think the Bordelais reading too many of their own press clippings is one of the most significant events of 2007. The 2006 futures campaign was utterly ridiculous (after the crazy, but at least slightly justified 2005), and there's no end in sight.

Most exciting new WLDG poster: Wink Lorch. See his postings in my thread "WTN: Frank Peillot Bugey Mondeuse," which I am now going to bump.

I will try to be there with Jingle Bells on!

The most single and devastating thing about 2007 was to watch the dollar weaken by the second - for those of us who enjoy European wines this is not a good thing! I recently bought a Chianti for $43!!

You might even consider opening the Talk Shoe with one of our recorded carols, Randulo. How lovely that would be???? We have three audio samples on our website:

http://classiccarolers.com/audiosamples.htm

Paulo, we need more pics of those good looking ladies you carol with!! Have they been to Canada?!!

Paulo, we need more pics of those good looking ladies you carol with!! Have they been to Canada?!!

No, but you can hire us to come sing for you, BOB!!!!!!!

Paulo, we need more pics of those good looking ladies you carol with!! Have they been to Canada?!!

Actually, our soprano is from Nova Scotia!

Paulo, I love sopranos. They can sing for me anytime, especially those lassies from NS!!

edit...guess we had better get back to the topic before Randy wakes up!

Paulo, I love sopranos. They can sing for me anytime, especially those lassies from NS!!

You old dog, you!!!!

Clint wrote:

Most exciting new WLDG poster: Wink Lorch. See his postings in my thread "WTN: Frank Peillot Bugey Mondeuse," which I am now going to bump.

I am most flattered and humbled ... I'm just a professional wine writer with few outlets for thoughts on the two specialist areas I write on for Tom Stevenson - Jura and Savoie ... More coming later today, I promise!

Does it make a difference, though, that I am female? Not something I was able to make clear in my profile here, though you could of course check out my website below - then you will find out more! I have noticed that the vast majority of posters on WLDG are male. Women are just too busy, I guess?

So what was significant to me in the world of wine this year?
Well, in the UK, 2007 is undoubtedly the year that the trade has been shaken by threats of government crack-downs on drinking, and this means not only the young Friday/Saturday night boozers who are outrageous in the city centres, but also 'Middle England' wine drinkers, most of whom are drinking way too much for a healthy life.

In France, 2007 might have seen the coming-of-age of a move towards actually being welcoming to wine tourists, something that is novel to many wine producers. Wine tourism might just be one way of saving the beleaguered wine industry in France. Even Bordeaux is learning how to do it.

[David M. Bueker]

Wink,

Some of our most significant contributors are female (e.g. Jenise & Cynthia to name but two of a very significant group), so there's no lack of participation. An imbalance to the male end of the spectrum for sure, but that seems to reflect the obsessive-hobbyist mentality that more frequently affect the guys (including yours truly).

I don't think I have done so earlier, so welcome. We're glad to have you here.

http://www.classiccarolers.com/audiosamples.htm

Paulo, who arranged Jingle Bells? That's absolutely brilliant. You guys and gals rock! We'll definitely use some of this music for the next two holiday editions, assuming the arrangements are either original or PD. The check is in the mail

Yes, Randulo - Jingle Bells was an arrangement made for the group about 15 years ago, so it is not problem. Glad you enjoyed it! Carol of the Bells and Here we come are very old arrangements - I doubt the person is alive.

Wink,

Some of our most significant contributors are female (e.g. Jenise & Cynthia to name but two of a very significant group), so there's no lack of participation. An imbalance to the male end of the spectrum for sure, but that seems to reflect the obsessive-hobbyist mentality that more frequently affect the guys (including yours truly).

I don't think I have done so earlier, so welcome. We're glad to have you here.

And just to elaborate on that point, David, my wife is every bit as much of a lover of wine as myself and arguably a more skilled taster but doesn't feel the need to chat about wine on the Internet, thereby rendering her relatively invisible as opposed to my humble self. Obsessive-hobbyist indeed!

Mark Lipton

Some of our most significant contributors are female (e.g. Jenise & Cynthia to name but two

Where was I supposed to send that check, David?

My significant wine event: Pennsylvania finally began sourcing a small quantity of the wine I read about on this board and carrying it at a LCB store a few blocks from my office. It's a start!

Continued rise in price for Burgundies (ouch!)

More Americans are drinking wine, albeit sometimes the cheaper end two-buck Chuck and Yellow Tail, etc.

Startup of the Fayetteville (NC) Wine Society in January 2007 with monthly meetings. In the new year it will become a chapter of American Wine Society.

No less than three restaurants in town host weekly wine tastings and at least four restaurants in Raleigh host regular wine dinners.

[David M. Bueker]

JC - I am going to be in raleigh & Wilson in January. We have got to find a way to meet up.

Definitely. And you must include a stop at Enoteca Vin on Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh. See their website at http://www.enotecavin.com/
Not really a lot of Riesling on the list but a great opportunity to taste some red and white Burgundies and better than average California wines, etc.