Above: Yesterday, my friends Alex Stuempfig (left) and John Rikkers (right) and I tasted Lunar together — some very orange wine — at the first-ever San Diego Natural Wine Summit at Jaynes Gastropub. Photos by Tracie B.
Tracie B and I had a blast yesterday at the San Diego Natural Wine Summit. A big heartfelt thank you from me to Jayne and Jon (owners of Jaynes) and the staff, to the suppliers who generously poured and spoke, and to all the folks who came out to taste, to trade notes, and to share in our passion for natural wine.
Above: It was super fun to float around the tasting, talking to people and tasting wine. At one point, I jumped behind the Kermit Lynch table. That’s me, riffing on some killer Guy Breton Beaujolais Morgon.
As I floated around the tasting, talking to people, tasting, and comparing notes, I couldn’t help but think about how natural wine is so much more than just a style or philosophy or ideology of winemaking. As I watched and enjoyed the many oohs and ahs of people tasting a vivace (gently sparkling) blend of Cortese, Favorita, and Arneis (the Arcese by Bera, which Tracie B noted was THE wine of the tasting) or the killer Mikulski Aligoté (which has got to be the best Aligoté I’ve ever tasted), it occurred to me that natural wine is also a lifestyle, an attitude about food and wine and what we put in our bodies, and a culture that brings like-minded folks together. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone drank natural wine?
Above: Even Aria loves natural wine. Her daddys are the nicest folks and just another reason why I love natural wine.
Nobody said it better than Jayne: “Whatever it is — food or wine — the things I like the best are the things that are manipulated the least.” Great words to live, eat, and drink by, no?
I’ll be posting more on the tasting here, at the Jaynes blog, and at the 2Bianchi blog as well, so please stay tuned… and thanks to everyone for your support!
Do Bianchi 
Great job team Do Bianchi! It was a pleasure seeing Jeremy again and meeting the lovely Tracie B. (smart boy…….beautiful ring!). My dads agree…. the Arcese is the new black!
Cin cin
Aria
You even have the Lunar in an Official Lunar Decanter (R) … okay, so I have one of those, too. I brought a bottle of the 2005 to the Orange wine tasting dinner in SF and, at long last, it has improved and no longer Closed, Closed, Closed. I keep thinking that Lunar is released too early. The 2007 is promising, too.
Jar,
“We’ve only just begun to live,
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way.
And yes, We’ve just begun.”
What a wonderful defining moment for Jaynes. It was so nice sharing it with you and Tracy B. And it does continue. Opened Dagueneau then a bottle of Lunar for our good friend J G last night at the gastropub. Hope you’re well back in Austin and tell your Tracy B thanks again for saving me with tobacco breaks and arcese.