Posted by Mark Marino on March 29, 2008
March 29, 2008
Well it seems that there are many bloggers out there that are upset about these wine blog awards.
I am surprised that so many are so competitive about these awards that Tom made up to give some credit to those that are winners.
Personally, I do this blog because I love it and I do not worry too much about awards. My readers are a reward in themselves, I never thought anyone would read my articles. I did this blog to retain and gain clients that want to do wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma counties. I am very knowledgeable about the wineries and wine makers. I have done so many tours I do not think there are many with more experience.
My wine list is greater and more full with information about wines and wineries than any other I have seen. I have spent years studying and tasting. So most folks are not a threat to me as I have been tasting for 50 years, few can say that and still be in retention of their faculties, because most are 75-80 years old. I started tasting at 5 so I have years more experience. All I do is study wines and talk with winery folk, so whether anyone gives me an award or not, my knowledge cannot be taken away.
I do wine tours because I love to see people so appreciative of a day of tasting, hugging me and thanking me. Sending me wine and paying me to give them advice is nice too. I love my job and I thank my clients for giving me such a wonderful life. Every day is another’s special day and I am driving the car!
Thanks to all who have come and come again to tour the most beautiful place in the world Napa and Sonoma counties. Please to all that read my blog: come again and do another tour! Thanks Mark!
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Posted by Mark Marino on March 26, 2008
March 26, 2008
The Napa Valley has developed into the premiere wine region in the US in the last forty years. Beginning with the break up of Inglenook in 1965 things started changing. Robert Mondavi opened his winery and one after anotherothers followed suit. Today Highway 29 is a veritable winery row and the Napa Valley has gone from one wine growing region to 14 and soon to be 15 with the addition of Calistoga as an Appellation.
In 1976 the blind tasting in Paris brought notoriety to the Napa Valley. It was instigated by the then little known wine merchant Steven Spurrier, (now head buyer for Christie’s Auctions of London) who arranged a tasting in Paris. At this tasting the participants declared Stag’s Leap Cask 23 and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay best Red and best White of the tasting, an honor the French would never have bestowed had they not unknowingly given it.
Over the years there have been many changes in the valley but one thing has not changed and that is the passion to produce the finest wine the earth can create! The synergy brought about by so many great wine makers in one place has accelerated improvement in the quality of the wine and developed a style that can only be produced by the unique climate and volcanic soils that the volcano Mount St Helena has provided.
At Limos America we have been watching and adapting to these changes through the years! From years of experience we can get our clients into wineries and tasting rooms that are only known by locals. At these properties the wine is bought and consumed without distribution, because the quality is such that distributors are not required and production is so low. We believe that if our clients come here to taste they should be experiencing wine which they would not be able to find where they live. This is the point of coming here!
On our extensive wine list we have catalogued over 50 varietals grown in the regions of Napa and Sonoma and are approaching listing 1000 wineries. There is no other Limo service that can compare to our dedication to our clients as illustrated by our wine list and Blog. If you want the most knowledgeable and experienced service there is no other choice.
If you are looking for wine tour to which value is added by the driver’s experience and knowledge then Limos America is your choice. We can assist you in making your tour a day not soon forgotten. From a simple tour to an extravagant procurement and collection of a serious cellar we have the knowledge and experience to assist you!
I was born here in 1953, who else says that in their literature?
We await your putting us to the test!
Mark V Marino
http://www.californiawinelimo.com Blog
http://www.limosamerica.com/
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Posted by Mark Marino on March 20, 2008
March 20, 2008
Well it has taken me another week to manage write of one week of tours, to add the last day, day five!
I just got back from the Limo show in Vegas and have a day off today.
I picked up a couple from Phoenix at the World Mark in Windsor. They told me they had a list of wineries they wanted to visit as they had free tasting tickets. They were very happy to be here tasting and had not had too much experience with wines. They were complete opposites as far as their wine appreciation. He liked big reds and she sweet whites! She was very nice and announced she liked free tasting tickets because she was cheap but also because she had extras, she enjoyed giving them to people along the way so they too could taste for free!
We headed off north to Geyserville and stopped at Geyser Peak which was started long ago by Henry Trione, a local legend for his business success. 15 years ago he sold it to corporate America . It produces some widely distributed wines and is best known for it’s Cabernet. Next stop was Mosaic, a winery which is more boutique in size and nature. The owners here are very hands on and the tasting room is adorned with the art of one of the partners wives. Her art is truly beautiful and completely unique. This places makes some good and reasonably priced wines. The clients liked the Sangiovese and purchased several bottles! Next, we drove over to Clos du Bois, another big winery made famous by the purchase of it’s fruit from the great Robert Young Estate Vineyard. Great wine is made with great fruit and it is true here as well, their Cabernet has always been good! The place we went next was Simi on Healdsburg Ave. at the end of town going toward Geyserville. This is another long established winery with a colorful history, my clients bought the Late Harvest wine here. Our last stop was the Alderbrook Winery, right at the beginning of Westside Rd outside of Healdsburg. This is where an old business associate of mine was married years ago to his para legal–to the upset of his recently divorced wife, but that is another story. They tasted the wine there and did not buy, but purchased a lot of accessories, chocolate covered blueberries and peanut brittle.
That was the day for those two and the week for me. These five articles were to illustrate the wide variability in wine tours from one day to the next! Hope you enjoyed it!
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Posted by Mark Marino on March 11, 2008
March 11, 2008
The next day was Saturday and the big event in Sonoma County was the Barrel Tasting in Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. This year was the first time they held it on two weekends. March 1-2 and 8-9 it was $20 to taste, per weekend, out of the barrel at almost 100 wineries (an impossible task). My job for the day was to ferry some local tasting veterans who numbered seven all women. All had known each other for years and decided a day away from husbands and children was in order. These women knew where they wanted to go and had a road map assembled with some diligent work and thought by Becky (the planner).
First stop was Russian River Valley, the Olivet Lane wineries, Harvest Moon and Hook and Ladder.
Harvest Moon had a Magician, George Winters, entertaining between tastings. Then over to Hook and Ladder Winery where things were busy and Cecil Deloach was on hand cooking his famous Firehouse Chili. I picked up some of the great Palo Alto Fireman’s Pepper Sauce sold there.
The morning started out slowly as it took a bit for all seven to get into the car. Initially
the talk was of past years. The party got started, though, after a couple of wineries.
We next stopped at Moshin where they were serving Wild Boar Chili. I got the recipe, while they were busy tasting the barrels of the future wines. The show was complete with the band “Bucky Walters” playing some good Bluegrass music.
We jumped in the Limo and headed up Westside Road into the Dry Creek Valley. Our destination was Armida, home of PoiZin their famous Zinfandel. These guys know how to party!
Leaving the Russian River we then proceeded to Dry Creek Central or A. Rafanelli, long known for their Zinfandel. This was quick as they had only two wines to taste.
Our next stop was the Family wineries there on Dry Creek Road. This was a fun stop as there are about six wineries in the complex and each was doing their own thing so there was lots to try.
Barrel tasting stops at 4 o’clock so we were pretty much done at 4:30 but heading up in the direction of Healdsburg we saw that Wilson Winery was still open and stopped to taste their wines which were being poured despite barrel tasting being done.
That was a wrap and the limo headed back to Petaluma to return the ladies to where we started. The third tour of the week was done!
Posted by Mark Marino on March 11, 2008 at 01:57 PM | Permalink
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