New month coming up! Wine Focus nominations?

[Robin Garr]

December, the holidays, winter, end of the year ... let's try to come up with something really good that will inspire a lot of tasting and conversation.

Who's got the winning idea? (British Columbia Bierzo probably isn't it. )

Local wine! Wine made within a few hundred miles of where you live. Or, maybe wines worth gifting to non-geeks to "educate" them.

[David M. Bueker]

I am totally out if it's local wines. CT wines are enough to make goats gag.

[Robin Garr]

Yeah, I know this is a subject that Howie cares a lot about, and I want to respect that. But it just doesn't work as a Wine Focus, because it divides our world into two unequal groups: Those who live near good wine regions, and those of us who live near regions that suck. Offering to share regional wines is kind, but not really all that practical. The bottom line is that many of us would be locked out, and others would be talking about wines that they can have but that most people can't.

Maybe a special project, akin to the Wine Value thread, for Local Wines, where people who have this interest can share it?

But I'd like something more universal for Wine Focus.

Next?

Well, after my Austria suggestion, maybe I should abstain but I guess we are all going to parties so what are we going to take along. In other words, a wine you think will be quite acceptable? Maybe something along these lines eh.

Wines of Canada?

[Robin Garr]

Wines of Canada?

Totally inaccessible to most of the world. We might see a rare ice wine on local shelves.

Wine from a restaurant wine list, and what food was ordered.
Regarding my first post and David's response, I did say a few hundred miles, so that wouldn't confine you to CT. Long Island, Hudson Valley and perhaps even the Finger Lakes would qualify.

[David M. Bueker]

Essentially zero local distribution of NY state wines in CT or MA. I am not happy about that, but it's true.

[James Roscoe]

Sparkling wine? Bordeaux blends from outside Bordeaux? Stickies of all sorts?
Do something popular and related to the Season. I don't participate but I love reading.

[Robin Garr]

Sparkling wine? Bordeaux blends from outside Bordeaux? Stickies of all sorts?

Now you're talkin'! I love Howie's passion for the wines of his region, but Wine Focus brings us together as a worldwide community, and we really need to stick with topics that we can all more or less equally share.

That said, some of those specifics have been done recently and somewhat bombed.

Would a broad topic like "Wines We Love for the Holidays" be too generic? It might allow us to move into an appealing story-telling mode if we encourage folks not only to post a TN but talk about why this wine gives us seasonal warm fuzzies. Good idea? Mediocre idea? Bad idea? Anybody else?

Do something popular and related to the Season. I don't participate but I love reading.

Thankee for your support, but ... try participating, James!

[David M. Bueker]

I like that topic idea Robin. While not terribly focused, it allows everyone to participate (James...that means you too), and keeps to the season.

[Robin Garr]

I like that topic idea Robin. While not terribly focused, it allows everyone to participate (James...that means you too), and keeps to the season.

Yerp, you're hearing what I was telling, so it must be a good idea.

I'm inclined to Make It So, but since we've got until Monday, let's keep the discussion open for a bit to make sure no one sees a serious problem with it.

I love the idea of holiday wines. This should be easy for participation, as it includes just about any and everything worth sharing and celebrating with during the season. We have an upcoming "Friendsgiving" that should allow for some fun wines to be opened.

I like the topic. For instance, I usually open a Tawny Port rather than Champagne on New Year's Eve so I might open one a day or two earlier than usual and post on it Dec. 30 or 31st. It won't be all consumed before the New Year. I will give some thought to what other wines I especially associate with the holidays. Thanksgiving was like a dry run for Christmas but we didn't open the Oregon Pinot Noir I had ready so I may kick off my December wines with that one after I finish a dry rose' that is open now,

Would a broad topic like "Wines We Love for the Holidays" be too generic?

Robin, I like your idea and think it is cute but it is throwing an incredibly large net into the water to try and catch responses. One person may comment on the wine they love for the 4th of July holiday while another may rave about the wine they love on the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

If you think it is a good idea though, I fully support you and thanks for the idea!

Yeah, I think this is good, really what I was getting at originally .

Yeah, I think this is good, really what I was getting at originally .

Hi Bob,

Who are you replying to?

Sorry referring to JC..just in from a tasting downtown..Best Bang for your Buck! I will post some notes later on when I have had a good sleep. Hopefully no coyotes tonite .

[James Roscoe]

Robin can always tighten up the theme to the "Favorite End of the Year Holiday Wines" or something like that. The point is that you have a theme that invites more people to participate. (Yes I will attempt to join in!)

[Robin Garr]

Would a broad topic like "Wines We Love for the Holidays" be too generic?

Robin, I like your idea and think it is cute but it is throwing an incredibly large net into the water to try and catch responses. One person may comment on the wine they love for the 4th of July holiday while another may rave about the wine they love on the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

If you think it is a good idea though, I fully support you and thanks for the idea!

I think most people understand "Holiday" in this context as referring to the winter holiday season we're coming into. Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, stuff like that. If someone really wants to interpret it as Fourth of July, well, bless their heart.