Ron expands the vineyard; how do the posts get in the ground anyway? And... the mouse that roared.

Ron ripped out the fence at the front of the vineyard, and has plans to expand the front section. After a day with the transit, and little bamboo stakes, the post pounder went to work. It's a noisy job. See the video below.

An editor at the Wine Spectator is upset with me about my comments on Mark Fisher's blog, with regard to their ignoring wines from non-coast wineries. I received some email from this editor that I would consider hostile.  This editor should be more upset about the other, much more inflammatory comments, besides mine, on the blog.

We probably never will be able to send wine to the Spectator and expect a fair review. This editor pretty much implied they wish they had known that the finalist video was from us. It may never have seen the light of day if we had put our name on it. I am grateful for the tasting experience; and want to particularly recognize Gloria Frazee of the Wine Spectator, who has been gracious and professional throughout the video contest process. I suppose I'm the mouse that roared.

The winning video was "A Toast to the Little People", Hocus Pocus winery in California. I guess I would have to say... some little people get respect... not all little people; and being from the midwest is an uphill battle as far as the Wine Spectator goes, despite our successful history of growing Pinot Noir in Oregon for over 10 years. This editor actually said: "If a wine is only available at the winery, or is made in tiny quantities, then it doesn't make sense to give it space in a national magazine." And yet, I've seen wineries with 300+ cases of a wine receive a prominent feature.

My response to this was: "I think the Wine Spectator should be interested in what is happening in the wine world beyond where a wine is sold. We have renaissanced this area, several other wineries have started up, and two of our wines have made Tom Stevenson's Top 100 Exciting Wines in the World list; our 2003 Viognier/Roussanne, and our 2004 Cabernet Franc. Our 2004 Cab Franc was one of only two Double Gold medals at AWS last year. Don't you think your readers who migrated to California from other states like Ohio would be interested in what is happening? And that would go for any non-coast state."

Your friendly web mistress and blog queen
Nancy Bentley

Comments

[valereee]

I'm glad to find your blog! I have to say I'm not surprised that our wines here in flyover country get ignored. People on the coasts seem to think we all have hayseeds in our teeth.

[Elaine]

You girl go. I whole heartedly agree.

[Thomas Matthews]

I believe I must be the Wine Spectator editor that sent the email Ms. Bentley considers "hostile." I will admit to some frustration with the attitude that it is our obligation to review every wine made in any part of the world, but in fact I invited Ms. Bentley to submit her wines for review, and promised to taste them myself. In blind tastings -- as we always do -- so the wines will definitely get a "fair" review, despite Ms. Bentley's concerns. I congratulate Ms. Bentley for submitting an amusing video, and for earning a spot among our video finalists. I'm pleased she attended the Wine Experience, and only wish she had introduced herself to me so that we could perhaps have cleared up some of her misunderstandings about Wine Spectator.

Thomas Matthews
Executive editor