Midtown heat
July 12, 2011
I’m at the Starbucks at 49th and Park in Midtown Manhattan and basically flying off my seat. I am worlds away from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand where I spend most of my time these days. The pace here is different, the visuals are different and there are people everywhere. I spent a great deal of my 20s in and around NYC but in the past 4 years in New Zealand it was easy to forget all the things about NYC that make it pop. Today is hot, very hot. Much hotter than any summer day in New Zealand, even on the Gimblett Gravels. The pace is fast. Everyone is sweating. Rich or poor. Stock brokers or street merchants, we’re all sweating. Everyone has a glaze on their foreheads and we all swipe our hair out of the way as we text, tweet and talk on our mobile devices. This little Starbucks rises and falls in waves of people lined up to the door with folks after their fix. The temperature rises in here as the door opens more and more and the temperatures peak as the traffic motors around the Helmsley building just ahead.
A Brooklyn Market
But my thoughts remain focused on all of my madness. The travel and the spreading of the word. Tonight it’s Brooklyn for dinner. Then it’s a trip upstate to my place of birth for my favorite kind of event on Thursday. My dream is slowly coming through of taking my passion of winemaking and enjoying it through events with independent music. A fitting start begins with my brother in arms, Tommy Connors. What better way to introduce new folks to the wonders of Hawkes Bay, then with beautiful, live, original music? Instead of knocking on their door like a vacuum cleaner salesman, we’re able to lure folks in like a Nix, as they drown in my wine.
What’s been amazing this particular trip has been the excitement of finally letting the reigns lose a bit and really getting the word out to folks in Philly, NJ and NY. The weather has been hot and the chilled Sauvignon blanc has been met with smiles and dancing eyes of refreshment. I tell folks of the ways we enjoy the Hawkes Bay grown drop within NZ much more than what is grown down in Marlborough. And they can understand why. I’ve been fortunate enough to have poured the wines on two occasions with the pairings from Chef Tod Wentz. I have known Tod for many years, but it is more apparent now than ever, that he is one of the more talented Chefs on the east coast. I say that because I can only speak for the east coast right now.
I look forward to heading up to ‘the Cuse’ for what is hopefully a milder summer. Upstate NY boasts some of Americas most unique (and pricey) wines in the Finger Lakes and Niagra regions. It’s probably a very good time of year to enjoy some crisp Rieslings and Ice Wines. I’ll have to give a full report and possibly some gifts to some friends back in Philly enjoying ‘The Summer of Riesling’.
As my career develops and I continue to spread the word about Decibel, I continue to meet some amazing and passionate people here on the east coast. I’m still processing the information, ideas and laughter given to me from Marnie Old the other night at dinner. Her message of translating wine nerdom from guys like me to the people on the streets drinking the plonk is commendable and challenging. It involves a knowledge and skill set that not many people have. Given what I wrote in my last blog, you know that I’m not a big fan of wankers, snobs and folks who completely miss the point of the wine experience. Marnie, however, gets it. She can sift through the piles of nonsense, get to the goods and then bring to a wide range of folks who need it. I’ll certainly be watching her space in the coming months.
So a quick one for now. But stayed tuned. Lots more to come from the trip upstate to the Cuse, the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in C’ville (VA), and a sneaky trip into Greenville (SC) to visit an old friend. And, oh yeah, I’ve also got a small trip to Napa for 3 months waiting just ahead…..
