The highlight of my year was winning a Gold Medal and “Best of Class” for my 2006 Pinot Noir in the California State Fair homewine competition. Made in my garage, the grapes came from Foley Estate Vineyards, Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County, California. The wine lived in a 30 gallon French Oak barrel for about thirteen months before bottling.

Also winning a Gold Medal for my 2006 Syrah made my day because there were eighty entries. This wine also began the journey from grape to bottle from Foley Estate Vineyards in Santa Rita Hills.

While these awards are just for fun, it means a lot to a garage winemaker like myself. We work with the grapes, turn them into wine and fret about so many things along the way. Getting honest, objective, positive feedback feels great.

Homewine making is alive and well in Newport Beach. In fact, the Orange County Wine Society has a very active group of winemakers. The winemaker group has all levels of experience, from beginner to folks with over thirty years of making great wine.

If you are thinking about making wine, or have related questions, send a note or give me a call. It is a lot of fun and you meet great people along the way. I guarantee you, we won’t talk about Newport Beach real estate. We’ll talk wine!

Cheers!

While enjoying a glass of my homemade Zinfandel, I began to think about wine and real estate. As the amount of wine in my glass began to diminish, I began to ponder this question; What’s the relationship between wine, (is that fine wine or TwoBuck Charlie?) and real estate here in Newport Beach, California?

Well for starters, like wine bottles, homes in Newport Beach comes in many shapes and sizes. Just like a bottle of wine, who knows what you’ll get before you pop the cork or, shall we say, open the door. Go into the wine shop and start checking out all the bottles — Yikes! There is so much to choose from. Lots of inventory — heard that one lately? The prices — well, as any wine lover would say, you can spend a little or drop a ton. But, hey, it all goes down the gullet, whets the whistle and the effects will basically be the same. Well, you need a roof over your head and can you live with a one bedroom condo or do you need that super luxe resort home with the drop dead view? I’m thinkin’ Napa Cabernet!

The nose — pour it — let it breathe — give it a swirl — and, ahhhh, let it speak to you. What do you get? Blueberries, Raspberries, Lemon Chiffon Pie, Mint, Leather — there is so much to gain from taking that first whiff. Sorta like driving up to a house — take one look, drive-on or get out and check it out. What’s inside can sway you — is it clean, uncluttered, does it have pet odors — all of this can effect your taste — or should I say, opinion of the home.

Now, take that first sip, chew on it, thrust it around in your mouth — too much oak — just right — acid, just nice and crisp, swallow and now we’re talkin’ — it’s a good one. Was it an expensive wine? You know what the researchers are saying about the price of wine and our perceptions of quality? Well, suffice to say, our brain tricks us. Have you known people to say they want to live in this or that community because the perception was it was better because the price of admission was higher? Just like fine wines — Snob appeal. Pure and simple. It’s not a value judgment — it’s just the way it is.

Finally, the finish — are you left with a pleasant taste — does your mind start to race with the pleasant feeling of the wine going down? It makes me think about leaving a home I just toured — do I think about it, what is the feeling I am left with — good, bad or just indifferent.

Ah, after that fine meal and great bottle, let’s move on to the dessert wines — got a craving for something sweet — maybe a late harvest Zin Port with a little chocolate. Just like at the end of the day, kick off the shoes go out and soak up the backyard, the pool, the trees, the view. Man, this is livin’! Pass the bottle.