Nobody's perfect.

Colossus of Rhones, Gill Vineyard, West Paso.
4.1 acres clone 877 Syrah

Estimated yield 4 tons
Actual yield 3.9 tons

Target brix 28
Actual brix 28.0

(Indecent accuracy)

DEATH TO THE INFIDEL ZINFANDEL!

Actually, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel. With bacon.

This is wine club only, needless to say.

Yes, that's a real picture of the prophet Mohammed with a Zeppelin

The prophet Mohammed, waking up on Satan's couch with a terrible hangover, saw the label of the wine he'd been drinking last night; something from the New World that Jesus's friend, that singer with the big hair, had sent down as an Easter present. "Contains BACON?!?" yelled Mohammed . . . and then it came back to him that he'd known that when he drank the third bottle. Hmmm . . . he'd better go see Moses about the kosher stuff, and then figure out how to get his own Halal wine made. What to call it? Infidel Zeppelin? Kevin Bacon Fatwa?

So When's The Next Raging Party, Dude?

"and can my group play? We're a really tasty Steve Miller tribute band, and we rock the house!"

Well, this hasn't happened to me yet, though between the paint fumes and the brick stain of the new winery office / tasting room I'm not sure I'd notice. Until we have locks on the doors I'm not willing to put up any artwork worth more than $10, which is rather limiting. Of the $5,000 computer/cash register / massage therapist, I will say nothing except that if you buy something that expensive you perhaps should have a security system that goes with it. And we will also have wine, some of it of sufficiently stellar quality to make it rather expensive, and swanky and clever furniture and other items made from wine barrels.

I'm wondering if we can get a motion sensing device that dispenses meth directly into the nearest raccoon den? We still have a lot left over after our last white wine bottling, abalone shell scouring, and use as floor cleaner; you pick up the oddest things at law enforcement agency auctions.

(I didn't even know there was a "Panamint County" but they seemed happy to make the sale.)

A troll in the fog; tales of "Wet Zeppelin One"

A trollish person of uncertain origin* is telling tales about Wet Zeppelin I, the Cal Poly viticultural scholarship held on Sept. 25, 2009 at the Cayucos Veterans Hall, to anyone who will listen. I've only heard his nutty exaggerations and distortions secondhand; he seems to be claiming that anything named Wet Zeppelin is a drug fueled abomination that must be forbidden, or something of that nature. He has not been polite to persons unwilling to listen to his tale.

I've organized twelve events - birthday parties and scholarship fundraisers, none for profit - many with a 'Wet Zeppelin' name, in the past few years; this one was completely unique in one respect. The Lions Club contract for Veterans Hall rental includes a charge for uniformed security; the security is hired by the Lions Club, and was scheduled to arrive at 6 PM on the date of the event. No one showed, so I called the Lions Club. When they arrived 90 minutes later, I noticed that one of the three 'guards' was quite short, older than I, and did not seem alert.** (The other two were alert, but young and not imposing.) This person was apparently assigned the back door, where he proceeded to get drunk and chat up women; this was mentioned by several persons.

About an hour later, I and several others personally observed him stagger through the front foyer (where we were checking IDs, collecting donations, and wristbanding attendees by age) and out into the night. I found and informed the other two guards, who immediately both went out looking for him and did not return (without him) for at least thirty minutes. During this period and afterwards, dozens of unauthorized persons went in the back door, and came and went as they pleased. Some of these persons stole and presumably consumed wine, attacked performing musicians and authorized attendees, and generally made a mess. One person was injured, possibly while trying to get onstage, whereupon I contacted ambulance personnel and law enforcement, to whom I clearly outlined the situation and described the security breakdown. They recommended stopping the event and I did, at about 11:45. Neither I, nor any person associated with the event except by unauthorized attendance, was cited or questioned further that night or later in connection with this. I did hear rumors, but from the less credible of my wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
And finally, if someone thinks that a painting of the death of Elvis Presley is somehow in favor of the abuse of perscription pills, they'll believe anything.

*People are describing the troll as an old, rude, do-gooder.
** The little old 'guard' is apparently known as Sleepy Gonzales.

SLACKER or INFIDEL? Yes.

Too much time on the ephemeral Facebook (photos excepted) and not enough time posting here. There is in fact news: a probationary reconciliation with Red Zeppelin Winery in order to assemble a tasting room in Baja Cayucos; a new wine, the 2009 Stillman Red (no political humor, please) and of course the Infidel, which is related but not identical to the Stillman, in addition to having a jihad-worthy label. Preliminary artwork here.

Yes, that's Mohammed in Hades. He seems to have lost weight on a diet of bacon and wine.

2010 STILLMAN BROWN GRENACHE BLANC

The Chateau d'Abalone is here.
Our friends out at the Ocean Rose Abalone Farm, the largest producers of abalone in the US, are always experimenting with new recipes. I'm frequently a test subject, despite not being a foodie - perhaps it's because I bring wine to the "experiments" (parties). Perhaps the voice of the late great Bill Hoppe whispered in my ear, "make a wine that goes with abalone, Swill" or perhaps it was a coastal Gale, but I have. 80% Grenache Blanc, 19% Viognier, 1% Roussanne. All stainless, bone dry, and it's acidic instead of alcoholic. Citrus, cleanliness, richness. 75 cases made, email or call me to get some. You know how to find me, right?