Wow! What an eventful couple weeks, which has included several mini-trade shows hosted by our vendors. From Circa, to Deluxe, to Marc’s on Market, we have had the pleasure of tasting many, many wines. In fact, this past week alone, I have tasted 49 wines. That, fortunately, has helped take some of the edge off the construction stress (though it hasn’t affected the cost at all, so if you have a pile of money lying around doing nothing…).
Anyway, looking through my notes, I have entries for 1,008 wines. Unfortunately, I have not been diligent enough to notate every wine we have had, especially when you consider dinners, and our trip to Oregon (where I know we tasted more than 50 wines), so I have tasted many more than reflected in my bulging folder or various journals, notepads and business cards.
Still, 1,008 wines since last April. I love this business…now if only I can make some money at it…
[Update: Just when I thought it was safe to go back into The Grind, Jeremy showed up Monday afternoon with a South African winemaker, who tasted us on three of his reds, including a Pinotage, a Cab and a red blend…so, 1,011 and counting.]
Two of the tastings were Country Vintner, and one was Juice. Jeremy, from Country Vintner, has made it a point to see how much wine he can pour down my gullet, and I absolutely love him for it. Twenty-six of the wines I tasted were at his company’s mini-show at Marc’s on Market, and then he brought some crazy Aussie in here Friday to taste. But that’s how he rolls.
We had two great tastings here last week, with Kristin – from Choice Specialty Wines – starting things off by showing some great varietals on Thursday. Her selection included the Hyatt Syrah, a Washington State wine that was wonderful – and people agreed, because it sold out. Friday, as I said, Jeremy and a member of the Longview wine family from Australia showed up to pour the wines his family makes. Great crowd Thursday, nice crowd Friday, which led into Dave and Lou rocking the house. Dave and Jeremy played Saturday, and they always sound good together.
Wednesday, I am pouring a red (the Sacred Stone) at the Chamber Social, as well as preparing a couple appetizers to get people thinking about the Treehouse Bistro.
Thursday, Amanda, from Juice, will be hosting our tasting. She will present some really nice reds from Tin Barn (YUM!) in Sonoma, including a Syrah that will absolutely knock your socks off, along with a Champagne and an Oregon Pinot Gris. Juice has amazing wines, and they were one of our original vendors (although our rep was Billy, who is now with Tryon).
Friday is our anniversary, and I know we will do something, but I don’t know what. We had one customer who was kind enough to offer to make us a sheet cake, so, if nothing else, there will be cake! And, well, wine goes with cake. Plus, Your Elected Officials will be back to play Friday. One year. Hard to believe, but we certainly appreciate all the regular customers who have become part of our dysfunctional wine family, as well as those who have simply wandered in for a brief Grind experience. We really like what we have created, and are even more excited about the kitchen. I love food and wine, and I will finally have a place to eat- even if it is ten o’clock! Good lord, you can’t get decent food after about nine on this island, but our kitchen will be open until we close at eleven.
So, if no one else wants it, at least we will get to eat before 2 or 3 in the morning (yes, that actually happens quite regularly. At least once we were eating pasta at 4:30 in the morning…if it wasn’t for the stress diet, I would probably weigh 300 pounds!).
OK, so that might be too much information, but that’s what happens when I get on a roll. And, no, I have not been drinking (yet).
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Saturday, Dave will return to play, and we never know who he might bring with him, we only know it will sound good, whoever it is! Perhaps Lou has been practicing? Maybe some percussion? A harmonica? Like I said, we just never know. But that is not a complaint, I’m just sayin.’
Summer is just around the corner, the kitchen is coming (at some as yet undetermined date), and the shelves are full, so come on down to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass.
Shawn
Post Date: 05/14/2009
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