Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Saturday, September 03, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Monday, September 07, 2015
REVIEW Wine for a Wedding handcrafted & personalized wine box gift
Note: Photos shot with Samsung #NX1 in AUTO mode. Buy on Amazon.com (affiliate link):
Disclosure:
Samsung supplied the Samsung NX1 28.2 MP Wireless SMART Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm f/2.0-2.8 "S" Lens to me on loan to play with and requested a short write-up and/or photos shared with the #NX1 hashtag.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Bordeaux: Chateau Reverdi Wine Tasting and Blending Experience
Audrey Thomas, owner of Château Reverdi, gave us a great tour and then sat us down for a tasting and blending session.
We learned that all Bordeaux wines are blended. We then tasted the three wines that go into Chateau Reverdi's wine, and had the opportunity to blend out own.
With notes on how they bend, we got a graduated beaker and proceeded to blend out own.
Everyone on our tour took this seriously and had a lot of fun with it.
Here's my blend:
Needed more Merlot!
Tour: bordeaux-360
We learned that all Bordeaux wines are blended. We then tasted the three wines that go into Chateau Reverdi's wine, and had the opportunity to blend out own.
With notes on how they bend, we got a graduated beaker and proceeded to blend out own.
Everyone on our tour took this seriously and had a lot of fun with it.
Here's my blend:
Needed more Merlot!
Tour: bordeaux-360
Friday, July 10, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Monday, October 06, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
Massachusetts budget to allow for direct shipments of wine from out-of-state vineyards.
Massachusetts budget to allow for direct shipments of up to 12 cases of wine a year from out-of-state vineyards.
Massachusetts budget deal relies on casino licensing fees; bottle bill expansion dropped, setting up ballot campaign
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Why Massachusetts Needs A Wine Shipment Bill
Massachusetts is finally having a hearing on a new wine shipping bill that will work better than the current restrictive bill that makes it almost impossible to ship wine to Massachusetts.
Read more at Free The Grapes:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure will be hearing more than a dozen bills – including several wine direct shipping bills—on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium at the State House.
I just came back from wine country in California. Do you know what we heard, over and over again?
Them: Would you like to join our wine club? We have free shipping.
Me: We're from Massachusetts.
Them: Oh sorry. We don't ship to Massachusetts.
Sometimes you'd like to support the small wineries, but the current Massachusetts wine shipping law makes that impossible.
My recent experience, shipping wine myself, on my flight home, in pictures:
Buffalo Shipping
Post Office
2471 Solano Ave, Napa, CA 94558
Note: You can ship wine to yourself. Because it's Massachusetts, you have to ship a case of wine (12 bottles) $87, plus packaging, $15, = $102.
We decided to check this case, as baggage, on our flight home.
Oh look, the government looked inside.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Bay State Legislators Fumble Massachusetts Wine Shipping Bill #FAIL
Press Release:
Bay State Legislators Fumble Wine Shipping Bill
Summer Ends without Hearing to Advance Wine Direct Shipping and Consumer Choice
Image: Wine bottles in shipping box CC BY-NC-SA
September 17, 2013, Napa, CA – After a several long months of inaction, Massachusetts legislators still have not scheduled a hearing on House Bill 294, which promises to replace an unconstitutional law with a proven wine direct shipping solution, according to Free the Grapes!, a national coalition of consumers, wineries and retailers seeking legal, regulated wine direct shipping.
Authored by Representative Theodore (Ted) C. Speliotis, H. 294 includes language similar to wine direct shipping laws now in place in the majority of U.S. states. The bill requires the state to issue wineries a permit to ship wine directly to consumers. The wineries are required to pay excise taxes, report shipments and limit the amount of wine shipped to consumers, among other provisions.
BLEDSOE’S BLITZ
The bill received widespread support earlier this year. Free the Grapes! met with thousands of wine lovers attending two popular wine events in Boston, the Boston Wine Expo in February and the Second Glass “Wine Riot” in April.
In March, former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe blitzed Boston in support of wine direct shipping. (The former NFL star is now proprietor of Doubleback Winery in Washington state.)
“Everyone wins with HB 294 – wine lovers get access to the wines they want, wineries have a proven set of regulations, and the state collects additional tax revenues,” said Drew Bledsoe.
Free the Grapes! is calling on all Massachusetts wine lovers to support H. 294, to let their voices be heard by writing a letter to their state representatives using the group’s website, www.freethegrapes.org.
The Massachusetts Package Store Association appears to be the only group who opposes HB 294, even though the group is promoting its own direct shipping legislation. Ninety-eight percent of all wine sales are made through traditional channels including wholesalers, retailers and restaurants. Only two percent of U.S. wine is sold by wineries directly to consumers. (Source: ShipCompliant / Wines & Vines, 2013 Direct Wine Shipping Report.)
Additionally, several states have demonstrated the winery direct shipping does not hurt local wine wholesalers or retailers. For example, last December’s report by the Comptroller of Maryland compared annual figures before and after its direct shipment program began July 1, 2011. To paraphrase its findings:
The new law did not hurt sales from wine wholesaler middlemen to wine retailers. Wholesaler sales to state retailers rose by 3.6% in the year following implementation of the shipment law.
The new law raised approximately $7 in tax revenue for every $1 the state incurred in costs for both recurring and one-time, non-recurring implementation costs. (Maryland collected $693,624 from winery license fees, carrier permits, excise taxes, special alcohol and sales taxes, and projected total costs at $100,000.)
Consumer choice in wine expanded. The report measured consumer access to the 45 domestic wines included in Wine Spectator magazine’s 2011 “Top 100” list (55 wines were foreign). “Permitted shippers added 13 domestic wines to the total of the ‘Top 100’ wines available to Maryland consumers.”
WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR
Write your state legislators. They are hearing you.
Take two minutes to personalize your letter, and the Free The Grapes website will send it automatically to your state representatives.
BACKGROUND
A Massachusetts law barring winery-to-consumer shipments from wineries producing more than 30,000 gallons per year and who retain Massachusetts wholesalers was ruled unconstitutional by District Court Judge Rya Zobel, and then affirmed by the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2010. The legislature was expected to conform to the ruling by passing a bill similar to the model bill.
In 2011, House Bill 1029 was introduced to conform to Judge Zobel’s ruling, but it languished in committee throughout 2012. HB 294 was introduced January 18, 2013 and is currently in the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Massachusetts is the second largest of nine states that currently prohibit winery-to-consumer wine shipments. The other states include: Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Bay State Legislators Fumble Wine Shipping Bill
Summer Ends without Hearing to Advance Wine Direct Shipping and Consumer Choice
Image: Wine bottles in shipping box CC BY-NC-SA
September 17, 2013, Napa, CA – After a several long months of inaction, Massachusetts legislators still have not scheduled a hearing on House Bill 294, which promises to replace an unconstitutional law with a proven wine direct shipping solution, according to Free the Grapes!, a national coalition of consumers, wineries and retailers seeking legal, regulated wine direct shipping.
Authored by Representative Theodore (Ted) C. Speliotis, H. 294 includes language similar to wine direct shipping laws now in place in the majority of U.S. states. The bill requires the state to issue wineries a permit to ship wine directly to consumers. The wineries are required to pay excise taxes, report shipments and limit the amount of wine shipped to consumers, among other provisions.
BLEDSOE’S BLITZ
The bill received widespread support earlier this year. Free the Grapes! met with thousands of wine lovers attending two popular wine events in Boston, the Boston Wine Expo in February and the Second Glass “Wine Riot” in April.
In March, former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe blitzed Boston in support of wine direct shipping. (The former NFL star is now proprietor of Doubleback Winery in Washington state.)
“Everyone wins with HB 294 – wine lovers get access to the wines they want, wineries have a proven set of regulations, and the state collects additional tax revenues,” said Drew Bledsoe.
Free the Grapes! is calling on all Massachusetts wine lovers to support H. 294, to let their voices be heard by writing a letter to their state representatives using the group’s website, www.freethegrapes.org.
The Massachusetts Package Store Association appears to be the only group who opposes HB 294, even though the group is promoting its own direct shipping legislation. Ninety-eight percent of all wine sales are made through traditional channels including wholesalers, retailers and restaurants. Only two percent of U.S. wine is sold by wineries directly to consumers. (Source: ShipCompliant / Wines & Vines, 2013 Direct Wine Shipping Report.)
Additionally, several states have demonstrated the winery direct shipping does not hurt local wine wholesalers or retailers. For example, last December’s report by the Comptroller of Maryland compared annual figures before and after its direct shipment program began July 1, 2011. To paraphrase its findings:
The new law did not hurt sales from wine wholesaler middlemen to wine retailers. Wholesaler sales to state retailers rose by 3.6% in the year following implementation of the shipment law.
The new law raised approximately $7 in tax revenue for every $1 the state incurred in costs for both recurring and one-time, non-recurring implementation costs. (Maryland collected $693,624 from winery license fees, carrier permits, excise taxes, special alcohol and sales taxes, and projected total costs at $100,000.)
Consumer choice in wine expanded. The report measured consumer access to the 45 domestic wines included in Wine Spectator magazine’s 2011 “Top 100” list (55 wines were foreign). “Permitted shippers added 13 domestic wines to the total of the ‘Top 100’ wines available to Maryland consumers.”
WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR
Write your state legislators. They are hearing you.
Take two minutes to personalize your letter, and the Free The Grapes website will send it automatically to your state representatives.
BACKGROUND
A Massachusetts law barring winery-to-consumer shipments from wineries producing more than 30,000 gallons per year and who retain Massachusetts wholesalers was ruled unconstitutional by District Court Judge Rya Zobel, and then affirmed by the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2010. The legislature was expected to conform to the ruling by passing a bill similar to the model bill.
In 2011, House Bill 1029 was introduced to conform to Judge Zobel’s ruling, but it languished in committee throughout 2012. HB 294 was introduced January 18, 2013 and is currently in the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Massachusetts is the second largest of nine states that currently prohibit winery-to-consumer wine shipments. The other states include: Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Portland, Oregon Wine Country: Stoller Family Estate Winery
Stoller Family Estates Winery.
Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera. Thanks @SamsungMobileUS for the review unit.
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G Unlocked HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 by Samsung from New Generation Products
Portland, Oregon Wine Country: Argyle Winery
Argyle Winery.
Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera. Thanks @SamsungMobileUS for the review unit.
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G Unlocked HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 by Samsung from New Generation Products
Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera. Thanks @SamsungMobileUS for the review unit.
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G Unlocked HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 by Samsung from New Generation Products
Portland, Oregon Wine Country: penner-Ash
PENNER ASH.
Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera. Thanks @SamsungMobileUS for the review unit.
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G Unlocked HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 by Samsung from New Generation Products
Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera. Thanks @SamsungMobileUS for the review unit.
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G Unlocked HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 by Samsung from New Generation Products
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
I Shipped Wine From Oregon to Massachusetts
I shipped wine from Oregon to Massachusetts, but I had to check it, on my plane flight, as luggage, to do it.
We need to allow direct shipment of wine to Massachusetts.
Free The Grapes: Massachusetts.
Here's my wine's trip:
PACKING
We bought a wine shipping box at penner~Ash Winery, and packed our purchases.
First Layer of wine bottles
Filling the second layer
Top Layer
Closing up the box.
The Marriott Hotel was nice enough to provide us with a Sharpie and packing tape. (Not Pictured)
In Elevator
SHIPPING
$2 tip, gets it shipped
On it's way
Waiting in baggage claim
More waiting.
More waiting.
This is why we never check luggage. We landed at 9:00 PM and our luggage, the wine, came out at 10:00 PM. There was lightning, so all activity was stopped at the airport.
Waiting.
Wine arrives.
All the bottles made it!
Pictured: Wine from Stoller and penner~Ash. Two great Oregon wineries to visit. ;-)
Image: penner-Ash Wine Cellars
Image: Stoller Family Estate Winery
We need to allow direct shipment of wine to Massachusetts.
Free The Grapes: Massachusetts.
Here's my wine's trip:
PACKING
We bought a wine shipping box at penner~Ash Winery, and packed our purchases.
First Layer of wine bottles
Filling the second layer
Top Layer
Closing up the box.
The Marriott Hotel was nice enough to provide us with a Sharpie and packing tape. (Not Pictured)
In Elevator
SHIPPING
$2 tip, gets it shipped
On it's way
Waiting in baggage claim
More waiting.
More waiting.
This is why we never check luggage. We landed at 9:00 PM and our luggage, the wine, came out at 10:00 PM. There was lightning, so all activity was stopped at the airport.
Waiting.
Wine arrives.
All the bottles made it!
Pictured: Wine from Stoller and penner~Ash. Two great Oregon wineries to visit. ;-)
Image: penner-Ash Wine Cellars
Image: Stoller Family Estate Winery
Monday, December 31, 2012
Allow Direct Shipment of Wine to Massachusetts
Boston Globe Editorial: Next year, customers should be able to order bubbly directly.:
It’s time for Beacon Hill to get moving — and stop putting the interests of liquor stores ahead of consumers.Dear Representative Ted Speliotis,
A US Supreme Court decision in 2005 struck down state laws that prohibit out-of-state wineries from shipping directly to consumers; Massachusetts had such a law. But the Legislature, under pressure from alcohol wholesalers and retailers, has dragged its feet about setting up licensing rules for direct shipments. And in the absence of such rules, few wineries or shipping companies will risk sending wine into the Commonwealth.
Representative Ted Speliotis, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, says he hopes the two sides of the issue will reach a compromise. Yet the opposing sides are so far apart that a compromise is hard to envision; while wine retailers want the ability to sell their products online, they don’t want the competition that direct shipping by wineries might provide.
Don't look to compromise with liquor stores and distributors.
Allow Direct Shipment of Wine to Massachusetts as the US Supreme Court decision allows.
There aren't two sides to this story. Only one.
Allow direct shipment of wine to Massachusetts, and by the way, take a look at your email some time and reply. I've written to you numerous times about this.
--Steve
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Winery-to-customer online mktplace @Winestyr launches. Does not deliver to MA
"@Winestyr launches; co provides customers access to small wineries w/o nat'l distribution w/ less cost & shipping <$10/order" via [ Launch ]
Site: https://www.winestyr.com
Massachusetts residents, don't bother.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Welcome to Amazon Wine: We Don't ship to Massachusetts
Amazon Wine just launched.
Amazon Wine is an ideal place to buy wine online, offering a vast selection of wines from iconic brands to enthusiast favorites. Learn about wine by hearing directly from the winemaker about winemaking techniques, wine tasting notes, vineyard details, and wine pairing suggestions. Become a wine connoisseur of your own right by discovering the best wine for your taste preferences, whether it’s dry wines or sweet wines, and by reading wine reviews by other customers.
I've started checking each winery on Amazon.com and, of the ones I've looked at, none of them ship to Massachusetts.
#FAIL
MarketWatch: Amazon.com gets into wine business:
Currently, the service is only available in California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. But Amazon.com (US:AMZN) noted that more locations are coming soon.If you find any wineries, on Amazon.com, that ship to Massachusetts, please let me know in the comments.
What's the status of Direct Shipment of Wine to Massachusetts?
This CBS story from February 2011 needs an update: Curious About Getting Wine Shipped To Massachusetts
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Travel: Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Top Pick - Rosewood Estates
Rosewood Estates is located on the road from Niagara Falls to Toronto.
We decided to visit Rosewood Estates because of my conversation with Krystina Roman on twitter. It's nice to have a connection prior to visiting a winery.
Here's some info on Rosewood Estates from their site:
Slideshow:
We decided to visit Rosewood Estates because of my conversation with Krystina Roman on twitter. It's nice to have a connection prior to visiting a winery.
Here's some info on Rosewood Estates from their site:
Rosewood is built on our family’s foundation in beekeeping and European heritage. Today, we create distinctive vineyard-inspired wines, produce natural honey and, as Niagara’s first winery-meadery, handcrafted, innovative meads.We had a fun tasting and took a a bunch of photos.
We're at @rosewoodwine@ Rosewood Estates Winery instagr.am/p/QnJCmcBCmd/
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) October 10, 2012
Just posted a photo@ Rosewood Estates Winery instagr.am/p/QnJMiBhCmp/
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) October 10, 2012
Just posted a photo@ Rosewood Estates Winery instagr.am/p/QnKfJdhCnk/
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) October 10, 2012
Semillon = Awedome!@ Rosewood Estates Winery instagr.am/p/QnKzW7BCn6/
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) October 10, 2012
Slideshow:
@rosewoodwine The tasting was great!Enjoyed all the wines. Honey Mead was good. ;-) I have more pics to post.
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) October 10, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)