The Computer Buzz

November 5th, 2009

Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth - owners - The Computer Factory
 

Win 7 in the “No Spin Zone”

As “yuppies” a few years back, Nome and I decided to enhance our social standing by becoming mavens in the world of wine. We took a community college course in “wine appreciation” and bought a couple of beautifully illustrated “Wines of the World” coffee table books.

Having mastered the terminology and gained a rudimentary understanding of the winemaking process we set out to taste our way to fame and glory. We toured wineries, attended tastings and started a “wine Cellar.” At the time we lived in Canada so we actually had a cellar.

While we gained credibility as “oenophiles,” we were becoming suspicious of the entire process. The merchants and sommeliers found attributes in the wines that we couldn’t detect. Essence of strawberries in the Pinot, bananas and peaches in the Merlot and perhaps a hint of Kumquat in the Syrah. Strawberries, peaches and kumquats? Get real.

We also found little correlation between the price of a wine and whether or not we liked it. The wine gurus would tell us what wines we should appreciate as we sniffed and sipped in ovine unison. None of us understood what we were doing but we all nodded in agreement with our mentors so as not to appear déclassé.

As time passed Nome and I became increasingly cynical. Eventually we drank up our cellar and quit pretending.

Today we enjoy wine more than ever. We’re still not experts in “Wines of the World” but we do know the vineyards and the vintages of “The San Diego Vintners Association.” We also know many of the men and women who tend the vines, crush the harvest, age, bottle and proudly put their names on the wines they produce. They are the same folks who pour the wine in their own estate tasting rooms.

Each vintage is a fascinating story when told from the perspective of the folks who live with the wine in symbiotic intimacy through every step in its evolution from the vine to your pallet. The art of making good wine requires the qualities of hard work, patience and integrity. That makes these folks awfully nice to be around.

Day tripping the wineries in “the Association” is a great way to spend any weekend but we especially love “tripping” the mountain vineyards in the fall. Fall colors, mountain air, Julian apples, ciders, Dolcezza (apple wine) pies and scenic back- country driving make this time of year special.

It takes many years to become an “international wine expert” but only a few weekend excursions to become “expert” in the knowledge of our own San Diego County wines and wineries. That knowledge is far more practical, and a lot more fun to share.

To get started simply log on to “The Association’s” website at www.sandiegowineries.org.