The Naked Vine Goes Glossy

The good folks at Cincinnati Magazine gave me a shot at a guest column in this month's issue. Many thanks to Amanda and the rest of the crew there...

If you've found your way here after reading the article, thanks for stopping by! Have a look around. Kick your shoes off, pour a glass, and stay awhile. Hope you enjoy what I've got here for you.

Cheers!

The Naked Vine...in your living room?

Looking for an idea to spice up a party? Want your friends to love you forever? I've got a deal for you...

Thanks to the good folks at A Taste Of Monterey, I'm now available for in-home wine tastings. The setup goes something like this:

The host/hostess purchases a six pack of wines at a discount. You provide some appetizers and the like, and I come to your place and lead a tasting. The wines span the spectrum, and they're all affordable -- most are between $15-20. If people like the wines, I'll take orders and these wines will be delivered to your front door. Yes, I get a commission -- but it's a whole lot more fun doing wine than Tupperware, Amway, or those "fun parties" that I hear women in my office whispering about.

In any case, if you're interested in hosting one of these things, or if you'd just like some information, drop me a line. The calendar fills up, so let me know!

Salon Selections

I'm happy to report that the Sunday Salon benefit for the Rape Crisis and Abuse Center of Hamilton County went extremely well, in my estimation. We had a good crowd, delicious appetizers whipped up by hosts Jan and David Lazarus, and some lively lighthearted conversation. It was my first such event as a speaker, and I'm happy with the way that it unfolded.

I've had a couple of requests to post a list of the wines we featured at the tasting. So, without further ado:

• Mumm Napa Brut Prestige ($13-16)
• Kenwood 2006 Sauvignon Blanc ($11-14)
• Excelsior 2006 Chardonnay ($7-10)
• Chateau St. Michelle 2006 Columbia Valley Riesling ($7-11)
• Belle Vallée 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($20-24)
• Francis Coppola 2006 Rosso Shiraz ($9-12)
• Kinkead Ridge 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17-20)
• Beni di Batasiolo 2005 Moscato d'Asti ($11-14)
  

Thanks again to everyone who made the event possible. I'm honored to have been able to help out. All the best!

The Naked Vine Goes Public

I’m honored and humbled to be asked to lead one of the Sunday Salons in Cincinnati. The Salons are fundraisers for the Rape Crisis and Abuse Center of Hamilton County. Tickets for the event are $65, and you’ll get to hear me ramble on in person about affordable wine. (As a friend pointed out, the ticket will be about the same price as the six wines I’ll be showing…)

If you’re in the area, come on out and say hello. It’s going to be a really nice event. The Salon will be hosted by David and Jan Lazarus. David, whose oenological knowledge knows few bounds, gave great assistance in selecting the wines for the event, while his wife Jan is a top-notch professional cook. She will be doing specific food pairings for each course. Delicious.

Also, you may have noticed that we’ve picked up another print home for the Vine. The Valley Planet in Huntsville, Alabama, is the latest to join the Benefactor Vineyard. Welcome to Jill and her crew in “Rocket City.”

The glass has rizz...The glass has set...

...an' here we iz, in Texas yet!

I would like to extend a hearty welcome to the three newest members of The Vineyard!

Thanks to erstwhile editor Jeannie and crew, The Naked Vine will now be featured in the Plano Insider, the McKinney Courier-Gazette, and the Frisco Enterprise. These three news and entertainment publications cover the North Dallas market. While I share Texas' love of bourbon and branch, I hope to at least provide the Metroplex with a few alternative tipples.

Come on in! Pull up a seat and stay awhile!

Hang on, Sloopy...

The Naked Vine continues its march through the Buckeye State with the very welcome addition of The Other Paper, the official entertainment weekly of Columbus, Ohio.

When I was in grade school, one of my best friends was originally from Columbus. He introduced me to the joys of COSI. A number of years later, a friend of mine who used to play in a band in Cincinnati introduced me to the joys of a number of the establishments in the Arena District...

Hearty greetings to the denizens of the Arch City. Grab a glass and stay awhile...

You Can't Go Home Again?

The newest addition to the "Vine's Benefactors" reflects on my past. Some of you may know that I did indeed attend Duke University, and the good folks at newest entertainment paper there -- the Durham Flyer -- decided to start running the Vine.

From Brightleaf to 9th Street to the Bryan Center, I guess I made it back for my class reunion after all. Welcome aboard -- even if you happen to root for Carolina...

Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer!The Naked Vine's in Alabama!

The good folks at Planet Weekly in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, are the latest to join the Vine family. I may not be able to install sauvignon blanc as the official tailgating beverage at the Iron Bowl, but I guarantee I'll find you a pairing for some Dreamland take-out.

Get yourself a glass, pull up a seat, kick back, and stay awhile...

Greetings to Greensboro!

In the midst of putting Wine School together, I completely forgot to announce the Vine's latest branch. So, without further ado, I'd like to welcome in Yes Weekly of Greensboro, NC. They're the first willing to give me a run weekly. Many thanks to them and a hearty welcome to the good folk from the Gate City. Cheers!

Welcome, Fort Wayne!

Whatzup, the entertainment weekly of the Summit City, started running The Naked Vine in print this week. While not quite as notable as the playing of the first major league baseball game, we at the Vine aim to be the official wine advice column for The Landing, the new NBDL franchise, and all the wine drinkers of Allen County. Welcome! Kick back. Grab a glass and enjoy...

Notes of Thanks

I want to extend a heartfelt note of thanks to Gina Daugherty of CinWeekly magazine. CinWeekly is one of the two main arts and entertainment weeklies in Cincinnati. Gina put together a piece on local bloggers, and she was kind enough to include The Naked Vine. She also included my good friend Dave Purcell's Radio Free Newport (which fittingly got top billing for the article -- it's brilliant writing and commentary), as well as Chris Glass' The Last Ten Days, Nur Jemal's Rockin' Hejabi, Joe Hansbauer's The 'Nati, and Kasmira Oar's What I Wore Today.

The last trip I took by air was to Los Angeles -- the jumping off point for the Santa Barbara excursion. I flew into LAX at night -- and I still get overwhelmed when I think that every light below is a person with a story to tell. I never cease to be amazed by the sheer number of fascinating perspectives and ideas hovering out there awaiting discovery. It's been fun to add my voice to the chorus.

Many thanks to Gina (one of the cooler people I've met recently), and to David Sorcher for dealing with the glare off my noggin while he was shooting the picture for the piece. Many thanks to the Sweet Partner in Crime and Mooch the Magnificent Mutt for support and inspiration. Most of all, thanks to those of you who found your way to my little corner of the Internets. I hope you can find something useful and fun here.

Here to keeping the Vine rolling for a long time to come. Cheers!