These cats here at WineLog have asked me to blog with them. In asking me to do this, I’m pretty sure they don’t know quite what they have gotten themselves into. Heck, I’m pretty sure I don’t know quite what I have gotten myself into, either. In any case, I can give fair warning that I find myself passing into a curmudgeonly rabble-rousing phase so anything is possible…

We began this strange journey in 2001 by starting a winery in Calaveras County, of all places. One of the things I plan to share with you here is why I think that Calaveras is truly the Last Best Place in California - an undiscovered jewel and a mother lode of winegrowing potential unrecognized and untapped for 150 years - and maybe send you a postcard now and then about what is going on up here with the wines and wineries.

Other things I might talk about include the internet, the web, Web 2.0, Web 3.7 Build 269, varietals that I like but won’t make, varietals that I like and I do make, varietals that I don’t like and won’t make, silliness, seriousness, rubber chickens, the Nature of God, the Nature of the Rubber Chicken God, outer space, inner space, spam (both kinds) - and any other random %@#$! that might fly into my head. (Here’s one future working title: “Web 2.0? WTF?” More on that soon…)

This would be the place where I would use the tired cliche “strap yourself in and hold on for the ride,” but I will spare you that pain. I’m sure the airbags will protect you…. - j