Author Archives: intoxreport

This Beck Is No Loser, Baby—So Why Don’t You Refill Me?

Posted on December 7, 2012 by intoxreport

Nothing quite says Christmas like blooming crocuses, picnics on grassy swards with lambs gaily cavorting about and the air filled with soft downy fluff from newly hatched ducklings.  Am I right, or am I right? I mean, if you’re from South … Continue reading →

Posted in SOUTH AFRICA | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two For Tea Is Groovy—So Long As One Of ‘Em Ain’t Me

Posted on December 6, 2012 by intoxreport

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not trying to make fun of herbal tea drinkers here.  They are a close-knit, close-to-the earth community who see the natural non-caffeinated decoction of plant material as inherently superior to overly-caloric, overly-expensive and overly-hyped Starbucks coffee. … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL | Tagged | 2 Comments

A Down Under, Down Home, Get Down Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2012 by intoxreport

Ode To Katerina B.: To me, the weirdest thing about Australians—and they are legion—is that they speak English.  That is, if you can process words like chinwag, bodgy, dinkum and crack-a-fruity through your Funk & Wagnalls and still come up … Continue reading →

Posted in AUSTRALIA, Moscato | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Hot Is Tin Roof?

Posted on November 20, 2012 by intoxreport

Kirkland Signature embossed toilet paper hot.  SKU #31680 12” x 1000’ Foodservice Tinfoil hot.  As hot as Depend® Extra Large Protective Underwear for Men—a 16 pack for $19.99. By which I mean, Tin Roof is Costco hot. * Learning Wine … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Wine World Wins And Woes: The Rich Get Richer And The Poor Get Boutiquier

Posted on November 18, 2012 by intoxreport

Let me toss out the seemingly random figure of ten million dollars and ask you what you think it represents: 1.  The purchase price of immaculate turn-key San Marcos Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, including custom home, a luxurious bed … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hittite Me With Your Best Shot, Turkey

Posted on November 12, 2012 by intoxreport

According to Robert McIntosh, owner of the trendy European wine marketing agency Vrazon, we owe a debt of gratitude to the Hittites for the very existence of wine. And I intend to thank them. In person, of course, because texting … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

How To Hold A Wine Glass Wrong And Ruin Everybody’s Holiday Season

Posted on November 10, 2012 by intoxreport

The gulags are filled with people who didn’t know how to hold a wine glass, bobeshi. Stateside, of course, we are a bit more lenient with such breeches of etiquette, but still, you may be as shocked as I was … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Just Say Yes To Hess

Posted on November 9, 2012 by intoxreport

I came of age in an era that had Ronald Reagan scaring us with Cold War rhetoric while his wife was scaring us with Drug War rhetoric.  Her banshee yelp, ‘Just Say No’ saved many a naïve youth from that … Continue reading →

Posted in CALIFORNIA, Mt. Veeder, Napa | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Pumpkin Ale: For The Mind, Ichabody And Soul

Posted on November 8, 2012 by intoxreport

If I said that most pumpkin ales don’t contain pumpkin, you’d say I was nuts. On the other hand, if I served you a piece of pumpkin pie without any sugar and spice, you’d also say I was nuts. That’s … Continue reading →

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Digging A Re-Invented View Of Buena Vista Winery

Posted on October 24, 2012 by intoxreport

There’s an adage in the wine business, on-premise and off: ‘Spend more than $100 for a bottle and you are starting to pay for the label’. What that means, of course, is that a lot of folks suffer from Veblen … Continue reading →

Posted in CALIFORNIA, Sonoma | Tagged , , | 3 Comments