Roshambo-no-mo'

The NYTimes article is here. I guess you might call this a triumph of substance over style? Still, seems a shame to have a Sonoma vineyard plowed under for vegetables.

The NYTimes article is here. I guess you might call this a triumph of substance over style? Still, seems a shame to have a Sonoma vineyard plowed under for vegetables.

I'm not mourning the demise all that much, Mike. It was funded by a trust fund, then ran into immediate trouble when the stock market went hazardous, and limped along thereafter. Naomi was colorful, for sure, but her interest was always more in the art aspect---and being hip and cool---than it really was in the wine.

I tasted the wines. I visited the original winery (now Twomey). I even visited the second iteration over in the town of Sonoma (hey, it was close to where I then lived).

Problem is, there was more marketing than there was quality wine. Lots of glitter, but Alder Yarrow was right: the wines were decent, but nothing more. And there was always this nagging suspicion that it was just a "fun venture" for Naomi and she would get distracted eventually.

To stay alive in the wine business---unless you have some other means of support---is to work very hard. Very hard. And often for not all that much monetary reward.

And you always, always, have to pay constant attention to your wine. I think, quite simply, there wasn't all that much attention to the wine.

Hoke -

That was pretty much my take as well. If you're charging in the $25 - $30 range for your wines, you need to make good wine. Without that foundation, you can put all you want into events and art and music and such and people still won't buy the wine.

quote fromHoke: "To stay alive in the wine business---unless you have some other means of support---is to work very hard. Very hard. And often for not all that much monetary reward. "

oh, gosh! Really?

quote fromHoke: "To stay alive in the wine business---unless you have some other means of support---is to work very hard. Very hard. And often for not all that much monetary reward. "

oh, gosh! Really?

As soon as I start playing the lottery and win as I intend to do, you will be mentioned in my will prominently. Feel better now?

quote fromHoke: "To stay alive in the wine business---unless you have some other means of support---is to work very hard. Very hard. And often for not all that much monetary reward. "

oh, gosh! Really?

As soon as I start playing the lottery and win as I intend to do, you will be mentioned in my will prominently. Feel better now?

Lou, he'll just go out and blow it on more concrete tanks. You're just enabling him.

Several years ago I stumbled into Roshambo's tasting room on West Dry Creek. From the outside, it was a nice piece of architecture and from within it offered a stunning view of the vineyards. But, the art flavor of that day was papier-mache crows devouring papier-mache human hearts and other delectable papier-mache innards. There was blood everywhere albeit acrylic. The hipster behind the tasting table was pouring several bottles while bringing our attention to the clever labels. But, I was sort of distracted and at one point almost gagged. I don't think it was the wine though. It is very frequent to see tasting rooms stock art on their walls. In some instances, they offer a welcome distraction, so one can stroll away from the elbowing at the table. But, I seldom go to a tasting room hoping to find good art. On a day where I bought a trunkload of fine Zinfandels, not a single Roshambo bottle made it home with me. The real tragedy seemed that considering where these vines were situated, they could not make a wine of note. Hopefully, the vegetables will fare better.

Probably more profit in precious designer vegetables these days too.

Like you, Shaji, I couldn't get over the feeling that Roshambo was a hipster art gallery disguised as a winery.

Unfortunately the wine all too often seemed exactly the kind of wine they pour at art galleries.

Unfortunately the wine all too often seemed exactly the kind of wine they pour at art galleries.

Ouch! That's cutting pretty deep.

Unfortunately the wine all too often seemed exactly the kind of wine they pour at art galleries.

Ouch! That's cutting pretty deep.

Ah, you've been to some of their shows, huh?

Yeh, maybe a little deep. But not too much. It continually amazes me how much mediocre wine exists out there. But what amazes me even more is how much mediocre wine there is out there at prices over $20 a bottle!

Ah, you've been to some of their shows, huh?

Yeh, maybe a little deep. But not too much. It continually amazes me how much mediocre wine exists out there. But what amazes me even more is how much mediocre wine there is out there at prices over $20 a bottle!

Sacramento has a "Second Saturday" event in which a lot of the midtown galleries open up, they have live music, refreshments, street vendors, etc. It's a blast. But you always have to remember to stay the hell away from the art gallery wine!!!

Ah, you've been to some of their shows, huh?

Yeh, maybe a little deep. But not too much. It continually amazes me how much mediocre wine exists out there. But what amazes me even more is how much mediocre wine there is out there at prices over $20 a bottle!

Sacramento has a "Second Saturday" event in which a lot of the midtown galleries open up, they have live music, refreshments, street vendors, etc. It's a blast. But you always have to remember to stay the hell away from the art gallery wine!!!

I always figured if they'd pour a really nice single malt scotch or a fine aged bourbon*, they'd prolly sell a lot more art, Mike.

*(Or maybe it should be brandy old fashions?)

*(Or maybe it should be brandy old fashions?)

That would certainly sell art to a particular Sacramento minority!!