Oh, my. The Wine Giques have been very busy NOT writing about wine. But don't fret, gentle reader: it doesn't mean that we've dispensed with DRINKING the wine, as well. We continue to pursue that noble occupation, every chance we get.
Case in point: I was lucky enough to attend a forum hosted by a noted business school last night about investing in digital media. Given that digital media is my other obsession (we'll speak about shoes and handsome men later), I found the topic incredibly fascinating (the presence of many handsome men did not hurt). Speakers from Shamrock Capital, Rustic Canyon Ventures, DLA Piper, Ocean Road Partners ... each one more glorious than the previous. But the capper came when Silicon Valley Bank, which is smart enough to fund technology startups and fine wine producers (genius!), produced this guy's doppelganger:
Yes, Prince Harry apparently makes fine wine. And very fine wine, it is. Good enough for a royal wedding, and then some.
Actually, the gentleman at hand was named Peter Stolpman. He and his father, Tom, and mother, Marilyn, own Stolpman Vineyards, a gracious slice of paradise located in the Santa Ynez valley; an acquisition funded by those aforementioned geniuses at Silicon Valley Bank. Stolpman is dedicated to producing Rhône-style wines, with a special focus on Côte-Rôtie, and the occasionally foray into outliers like Sangiovese.
Peter had brought along L'Avion 2008, a white made with 100% Roussanne; a 2007 Sangiovese; a 2008 Hilltops HD Syrah; and most impressively, the 2009 La Cuadrilla blend (50% Grenache, 50% Syrah)--all profits from the sale of La Cuadrilla are given directly to Stolpman's vineyard crew. (Handsome and conscientious!)
Now, I have said repeatedly that I am a Rhône-style girl, and these wines tugged at my heartstrings: plummy, rich in fruit, smoky, delicious textures ... and of course, that Prince Harry doppelganger. And with prices ranging from $25 per bottle for La Cuadrilla to a little north of $50 per bottle for the Syrah, these are wines that lovely enough for your finest special events, but won't break the bank if your latest shoe obsession has gotten the best of you.
Comments