Jan. 8, 2009 – Ancient Chinese Curse: "May you live in interesting times."
Well, the holidays are over, and the healing has begun. Here we are at the open door of 2009 looking in and wondering, "will this be a better year than 2008?" The truth is: who knows? These are certainly Interesting times.
I have been hearing from lots of friends in "America" and in Europe, and the mood seems to be about the same in both places: restrained. One of my favorite blogs, "The Pour," written by Eric Asimov for the New York Times, laments the lack of champagne and fine red wine bottles on the tables of one of his favorite New York steakhouses over the holidays. "The joy seemed to be absent. So was the champagne."
These are tough times, and most wine drinkers are thinking about spending a little less if they can for a good bottle of wine. I have been sensing this coming (if only I could have applied this sense to my stock portfolio) and have been seeking out good French producers that can be sold here in the Virgin Islands for a reasonable price. I've found quite a few, and some have become my personal everyday wine to have with dinner. After all, it's a matter of health; we need to drink two or three glasses of red wine to stay healthy (Read my September 2007 column in the St. Thomas Source "Is Wine Good for You?") http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=Lifestyles:Food+%26+Wine&p=1201842101
It's easy to find a great wine for $200, $300 or $500, but it's not so easy to find one at less than $10, $20 or even $50. It's no secret, there are lots of French wines out there that are not "First Growth" Bordeaux's but come mighty close to massaging your taste buds into a wondrous, joyous place.
I've been looking for these wines over the years because some friends in the wine business in France showed me the path long ago, and I have been honing my skills ever since. It's become a challenge, a game. Where are those great little wine-producing masters who are proud to call themselves "peasants of the earth" who make incredible wines in small quantities, and are virtually unknown outside their area of production?
They are not easy to find. Some go out of their way to make the sign to the entrance to their vineyards and wine cellars as small as possible, It's a game to them, too; they don't want to be rich or famous, but they want to have fun and enjoy taunting those of us who seek them out to find them. It's a rare occasion that the diamonds are on the surface of the earth; you have to dig. They live a life of hard work and are passionate about their craft, but the day they have something to celebrate; a grandchild's birth, a nephew's birthday or a holiday, the wine reserves and some of the greatest food you have ever tasted comes out to create a memorable day. I don't know how it happens, but every winemaker I know in France is a great cook, and is married to a great cook too!
I have been touting lots of great inexpensive French wines and have decided to help my fellow wine lovers stay on budget by creating a low-cost sample box. The wines I have selected for this sample are all under $10 and the case price comes out to less than $60. It's a good way to discover that good wines do not necessarily have to be expensive, and may even encourage you to try some of these winemakers' more expensive creations. Go to this link to see the newest addition to our Sample Box Assortments at the bottom of the list, ZPK-008 and ZPK-009: http://www.viwinewholesale.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=W&Category_Code=Boxes
I'm trying to do my part in this down economy. Take advantage before I drink it all…