Noshtalgia

Macrobiotic hippies London, 1971

I shared a flat with a couple of low pH* hippies in London in 1971. Their diet, which was therefore my diet, was allegedly macrobiotic. No meat, no tomatoes, a bit of yin, brown rice, a pinch of hing, an occasional dollop of yang, (see yin) carrots, green tea, no onion or garlic. That was it.

 It was inexpensive, but not too appetizing. I didn’t dare ask about alcohol so I’d sneak off to meditate, adopt the full lotus position and slurp a glass or two of cheap claret (chateau-bottled, in Bulgaria) for a vitamin boost. Continue reading

Star Drinking

Holey Dollar Over Proof Rum – seen around at $55 to $65 ***

This is a powerful drop at 57.2 per cent alcohol, but the power is smooth and constrained in its rich mouthfeel. Flavours are reminiscent of molasses, vanilla, walnuts, chocolate, toffee and warm spices. It goes down very well on its own, with ice, or with a splash of water. Try also as a fine mixer. For a Dark ‘n Stormy, pour one measure of rum over ice and add about four times that amount of dry ginger ale, garnish with a wedge of lime.

Chandon Vintage Brut 2006 – up to $40 ****

Yarra Valley, Victoria. Pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot meunier blend. This bubbly spent two and half years on yeast lees and the lees contact is evident in the aromatic, bakery oven nose. The palate shows brioche like flavours along with new season white peaches and a hint of lime juice. It finishes with lip-smacking zest. Continue reading

Vinix LIVE!

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Cosa accade quando alcuni produttori di vino legati a un territorio circoscritto vogliono promuovere il loro lavoro? Tra le altre cose possono organizzare o partecipare a degli eventi di degustazione. Ce ne sono tanti in giro. Se invece vogliono abbinare la degustazione alla possibilità di vendere concretamente le loro bottiglie al prezzo sorgente (cioè meno di così è impossibile) a patto di parlarne liberamente in rete e nei social network, e con una cena a base di prodotti di territorio, il tutto in una cascina che fa parte di questo piccolo e temporaneo consorzio, allora c’è solo Vinix Live.

Primo capitolo di questa iniziativa nata in seno al Social Network Vinix a Cascina Tollu. Ecco tutte le info (per la cena però rassegnatevi, i posti sono esauriti!):

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Grappoli e bicchieri

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Dopo leprime indiscrezioni riguardo ai tre bicchieri attribuiti dalla Guida del Gambero Rosso alla Liguria,  è stata resa nota la lista in modo ufficiale.

A Ruota è uscito anche l’elenco dei premi attribuiti dalla Guida della Associazione Italiana Sommelier AIS, ovvero i 5 Grappoli, mentre già prima era stata pubblicata la selezione della guida dell’Espresso.  Ecco dunque i vini premiati.

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Pricy Sommeliers

‘My own experience with sommeliers is that they invariably offer the highest price wine.’ So wrote Peter Robotti, restaurateur, in 1972. (Key to Gracious Living. Prentice Hall.)

I believe Mr Robotti’s quote holds pretty much true 37 years on. Sommeliers are meant to advise diners about wine selections and food and wine matching but in Australia they often end up as wine marketers for restaurant owners.  And if it’s not always the highest priced wine they suggest, sommeliers and wine waiters do have a certain knack of upselling… Never has any sommelier ever suggested to me selections from the inexpensive wines on a wine list.

A visit to a Swiss alpine fromagerie

Friend and cheesemaker Christian Nobel, writes about his family’s recent trip from Australia to visit relatives in Switzerland.

The mountain path

 We start at the valley bottom very early in the morning. The weather forecast is great and although there is no indication yet of the rising sun, the mountains are starting to appear as the darkness disappears. After a strenuous passage through a dense pine forest, we continue up a rocky path that has never seen a car or truck before.

These alpine trails are only for hikers or one or two wild alpine farmers riding motor bikes, which have been specifically adjusted for crazy and steep paths. Up in these high alpine areas, one either walks, or if available, transports goods by aerial ropeway or even by helicopter.

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Tre gotti 2010

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Quest’anno la fuga di notizie riguardo l’assegnazione dei tre bicchieri 2010 da parte del Gambero Rosso si è fatta particolarmente intensa, tanto da fare presupporre una preordinata regia per creare discussione e amplificare la mediaticità dell’evento in preparazione della ceromonia ufficiale che avverrà il 18 Ottobre 2009. Non c’è sito o blog che non anticipi qualche notizia. Valga per tutti il sinottico Intravino.

Colpisce abbastanza però che la fuga di notizie arrivi direttamente dal responsabile della guida Daniele Cernilli, il quale addirittura sul Forum Gambero Rosso scrive a proposito della Liguria: Continue reading

Spopolo! (Ovvero del vino ai tempi della crisi)

La crisi ha picchiato duro, è evidente, e la capacità di spesa delle famiglie italiane si è ridotta alquanto anche nel settore del vino. Cosa suggerisce allora Domenico Bosco, responsabile del settore vino della Coldiretti? Ma fatevi il Vino in Garage, perbacco! Lo spiega lui stesso così alla agenzia Adnkronos.

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The sun sets over Kuta Beach – 1975 & 2009

Kuta Beach Club Hotel, Bali, 1975

Kuta has an obvious village atmosphere. Bare-chested old men in sarongs sit on platforms and groom their fighting cocks. In and around the thatched buildings, scabrous dogs, chickens and swayback pigs root around, wistful-eyed cows graze in nearby coconut groves.

Traditionally dressed women place little woven trays of flowers, rice, and incense, as offerings to the gods at shrines and strategic sites. Soldiers with guns walk around the market stalls. Hippies and Bali Boys ride motor bikes along the beach waterline.

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Drinking books

Under the Influence – A history of alcohol in Australia

Ross Fitzgerald and Trevor Jordan. ABC Books, Paperback. $33.

Booze consumption, its benefits and abuse, have been an integral part of the history of Australia since the days of white colonisation. The authors present readers with a well-researched, academically referenced yet eminently readable account of the sometimes over indulgent foundations of this alcohol-girt land.

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