1974

Florida Jim

Florida Jim

Florida Jim
This afternoon, Diane and I attended a party given by a couple who live in Yountville.

We drove into the neighborhood at the appointed time; it was not a fancy or upscale area - it was just a neighborhood.
The front door was a sliding panel; please take your shoes off as you enter; and then, come into the living area of a home that was in the Japanese style - open beams, tatami mats, native timbers, not a nail or screw in the entire building. There was nothing Mc-mansion-ish here; no sign of wealth or flamboyance - rather, this was a home that spoke to stillness and tradition and calm. And family.

Our hostess is a fiber artist with a studio out back. Hand dyed fabric, handmade everything. Heart-stoppinly beautiful.

The guests were an eclectic group; Bill Mayer from Age of Riesling, Paul Costigan from Premier Cru, Lou and BL Kessler, Napas unofficial king and queen, and Walter Schug - the Walter Schug. Walter made the first syrah made in CA - in 1974, for Heitz. And he brought a few of his wines along for tasting.
So many other accomplished, engaging, friendly people from all walks of life - and a sense that we were all there together and not by chance.

There was great food, the wines were stupid good and the backyard was awash with folks enjoying this moment and their time together. This was not the first of these gatherings; just the first that Diane and I had attended.

I was moved by the entirety of the circumstance - and I want to say this right:

'It aint about the wine.
Its about the whole thing.'

I doubt I have ever been happier.

Best, Jim
 
what an unusual coincidence...I found the "age of riesling" tonight on the internet...for the first time....looking for a Knoll wine...never heard of it...thought about posting a query.... I didn't know I had an "inside connection"...
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
the Walter Schug. Walter made the first syrah made in CA - in 1974, for Heitz. And he brought a few of his wines along for tasting.
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I thought Walter made it for Phelps with grapes he purchased from Freemark Abbey? At least I thought that's what he said when we had lunch together in that traditional Japanese home a couple of years ago.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Florida Jim:
the Walter Schug. Walter made the first syrah made in CA - in 1974, for Heitz. And he brought a few of his wines along for tasting.
Click to expand...

I thought Walter made it for Phelps with grapes he purchased from Freemark Abbey? At least I thought that's what he said when we had lunch together in that traditional Japanese home a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

You're right that it was made for Phelps, Brad. I have a bottle that I picked up as a historical curiosity.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Florida Jim:
the Walter Schug. Walter made the first syrah made in CA - in 1974, for Heitz. And he brought a few of his wines along for tasting.
Click to expand...

I thought Walter made it for Phelps with grapes he purchased from Freemark Abbey? At least I thought that's what he said when we had lunch together in that traditional Japanese home a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

You're right that it was made for Phelps, Brad. I have a bottle that I picked up as a historical curiosity.
Click to expand...
And those grapes came from a vineyard owned by Christian Brothers.
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Florida Jim:
the Walter Schug. Walter made the first syrah made in CA - in 1974, for Heitz. And he brought a few of his wines along for tasting.
Click to expand...

I thought Walter made it for Phelps with grapes he purchased from Freemark Abbey? At least I thought that's what he said when we had lunch together in that traditional Japanese home a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

You're right that it was made for Phelps, Brad. I have a bottle that I picked up as a historical curiosity.
Click to expand...
And those grapes came from a vineyard owned by Christian Brothers.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was it. I typed that first, but wavered on what Catholic thing it was, a Christian, or an Abbey.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim: Bill Mayer from Age of Riesling
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So is he still doing the business? Last I remember I placed an order with him, he never sent it (but never charged me either, so no biggie), but then I stopped receiving his emails as well. I just assumed he finally made the switch to full-time artistic etc. pursuits.
 
Awesome, Jim, and I imagine you didn't want to desecrate the "no nail or screw" description of the experience by encumbering it with tasting notes.
 
To the best of my knowledge, The Age of Riesling continues to sell wine but Bill's focus is more on the importing side of the business than on the direct-to-consumer side so persistence with him is worthwhile.

As regards Knoll, his new importer is Circo Vino (http://www.circovino.com) and they may well have the wine Dr. South seeks.

-Eden (and Paul Costigan is barely half the man he used to be, given his incessant pacing and caloric-intake-reduction)
 
Indeed, Bill is alive and well in Berkeley.
He still sells a wide variety of German and Austrian wines, but now concentrates on importing from those same regions (Weiser-Kunstler & Ott to name 2).
Bill is forever a poet, but something has to pay the bills!
He does respond quite well taking into account his current gospel mode of proselytizing (call and response style, he now in the role of responder). 510 549 2444.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Exalted circles, Jim.

I haven't seen Bill Mayer in way too long.

Not to mention Lou and BL.
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I chatted for an extended period of time with Bill Mayer and your name came up and nothing but positive vibes ensued from the conversation. I said we were going to be in NY next week and he said to be sure to say hello if we saw you?
Eden M. has it correct Paul Costigan has lost between 130 to 150 pounds, not having seen him for almost a year at first I wasn't sure who the hell it was?
The annual Mark Anisman it's "Not Labor day party" was a virtual blast of good wine and food with a large contingent of Bay people present. To show "we can all get along together" Mark even invited people such as F. Jim and his charming wife both residents of that area west of our wine country called Sonoma to grace us with their presence.
 
our family was again blessed to host a gathering of good folks.
as Lou intimated, a gaggle of people from the Bay were sighted in the throes of good times. this , of course, it not to be confused with Baywatch.
a minor correction for the book of records regarding the official event name : " the annual Labor Day party that is held neither annually nor on Labor Day"
important factoid of the day (gleaned from the musings of our 11 year old niece Shira) : Shirley Temple was the initial choice of the "Wizard of Oz" casters for Dorothy.
and I personally broke the barrier and began to enjoy "orange wines". of the many that I was introduced to, one that really caught my tongue was the 1976 Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium Graacher Himmelreich BA.
 
originally posted by Mark Anisman:

and I personally broke the barrier and began to enjoy "orange wines". of the many that I was introduced to, one that really caught my tongue was the 1976 Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium Graacher Himmelreich BA.
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No sweet wine guy am I, but I could drink more of that.
Thanks, again. Mark.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Mark Anisman:
Bill Mayer and the Age of RieslingIndeed, Bill is alive and well in Berkeley.
He still sells a wide variety of German and Austrian wines, but now concentrates on importing from those same regions (Weiser-Kunstler & Ott to name 2).
Bill is forever a poet, but something has to pay the bills!
He does respond quite well taking into account his current gospel mode of proselytizing (call and response style, he now in the role of responder). 510 549 2444.[/quote

Bill had a tough year, his wife's mother died and that was very difficult; he also had a bad run with his own health in the spring and early summer. Last we communicated was around July and he was starting to feel himself. Glad to hear he was up and about and his more usual good company more recently.
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