good grape daily: pomace & lees free run: field notes from a wine life around the wine blogosphere wine: a business doing pleasure good grape wine reviews new world influences red wine wine white wine wine blog news robert parker wine bloggers notes & dusty bottle items wine sediments wine business historical wine book excerpts wine blogs tasting safari: wines you can buy online cluetrain manifesto revisited winecast: a year in collaboration wine spectator wine blogger robert mondavi wine marketing indy food & wine vin de napkin vinography wine blogging dr. vino appellation watch: midwest regional review new vine logistics alice feiring wine books luxury wine tom wark natural wine gary vaynerchuk wine critics american wine blog awards wine reviews cameron hughes best wine blogs wine writers biodynamic wine best wine bloggers a really goode job california wine robert mondavi day robert mondavi winery fermentation blog penner-ash wine ratings wine research fred franzia tyler colman steve heimoff oregon pinot noir wall street journal wine indiana wine matt kramer champagne slender wine murphy-goode winery direct-to-trade inertia beverage group wine technology notre dame football stormhoek wine enthusiast bordeaux sparkling wine wine and the economy wine distribution wine.com terry theise biodynamics allocated wine wine news reading between the wines oregon bounty rodney strong the wine makers tv inniskillin hr 5034 wine advertising oregon cuisinternship wine review jim laube wine ethics three dolla koala sonoma pinot noir appellation america gourmet magazine zinfandel rockaway wine market council open that bottle night wine online winery marketing wine trends lynn penner-ash sommelier journal wine advocate rockaway vineyards good grape augmented reality hugh macleod pinot noir crushpad wine cellartracker dan berger amazon.com 100-pt scale southern wine & spirits grape stories church wine wine & spirits magazine mike steinberger vintank wine tasting notes trader joe's wine wine and spirits daily silver oak secret sherry society cult wines wine video game russian river valley pinot wine appellations reset "old world wine darwinism wine star awards tastingroom.com bruliam wine generation y. wine april fool's day wine snooth karen macneil music and wine german riesling wine competitions national beer wholesalers association clos lachance dr. oz yellow tail wine jon fredrikson wine blogging wednesday climber red priceline.com drew bledsoe amazon.com wine california cabernet paso robles wine sales hailey trefethen park avenue catering fine wine marketing wine tasting journal firestone vineyards wine trivia robert parker's bitch eryn supple the grateful palate heidi barrett john james dufour america eats willamette valley wines of chile specialty wine retailers association judd's hill rose wine recession wine wine & spirits daily hong kong u.s. wine 2006 hess collection monterey chardonnay adler fels wines & vines kelly fleming interview the pour oregon food and wine dan cederquist parks and recreation wine umami swanson alexis cabernet disney wine program value wines brand butlers american wine blogs forty-five north winery wine press release steve perry aussie wine glut clary ranch pinot noir john tyler wine wine economy mary ewing-mulligan non-profits and wine ebob bodeans mitch schwartz hourglass cabernet italian wine merchant dependable wine sutter home videos inexpensive wine jay miller keep walking wines that rock ani difranco peru wine trip barbaresco michael steinberger value wine jamie oliver paul blart: mall cop phillip armenier red bicyclette pinot noir wine blogosphere ge smart grid augmented reality trefethen family vineyards california zinfandel wineshopper aspirational marketing clark smith wine book publishing russian river valley the gaslight anthem the pioneer woman james laube sylvester pinot noir goodguide korbel wine blobbers oregon travel tokalon winery not-for-profit jess jackson massale selection wine & spirits magazines kenny shopsin next generation apple the psychology of wine the vintners art australian wine vinexpo jay mcinerney chimney rock elevage cornell enology wine tycoon game stavin kelly fleming national wine & spirits kurt andersen " "new world wine" poseurs macari vineyards sette 7 swanson vineyards sunbox eleven wine winery sponsorship champagne sales wine criticism cork'd 2008 vina mar reserva sauvignon blanc randy caparoso wine + music midwest wine culture wine wipes san francisco wine competition clary ranch tim hanni hunningbird wine beaux freres jon bonne the wine case climber white agency nil charlie weis sugar free wine a very goode job 2007 sean minor four bears pinot noir trefethen generation y and wine 2009 auction napa valley sonoma county discoveries pathfinder wine bar bets the winemakers tv australia wine fantesca judgment of paris women in wine oregon pinot gris three-tier carmenere wine heist purpose-idea rose wine sales vincellar dominic foppoli for dummies 2008 honig sauvignon blanc 1% for the planet wine industry news negociant wine business monthly 2008 food & wine winemaker of the year eric asimov travel oregon jordan winery amy poehler wine micro sites umami chris phelps vegas wine qpr wines jimmy clausen winery hospitality 2007 forty-five north cabernet franc alpine journey three dollar koala pinot noir reviews chronicle wine ed mccarthy wine to relax erobertparker little zagreb wine magazines howard schultz paul mabray wine blogging ethics youtube cheap wine wine bard weds wine dj klinker brick maria thun bad wine mumm napa slate wine columnist wine pricing wine blog awards 2010 bottle shock movie sketches of spain red bicyclette court paul gregutt trefethen oak knoll cabernet sauvignon zinfandel reviews tasting note desciptors natural winemaking wine content the hold steady paste magazine sensory evaluation petite sirah wine points the press-democrat oregon cuisinternship winner blog contests preakness stakes pork tenderloins wine & spirits restaurant poll 2010 eat me kenny shopsin amazon kindle wine politics what is terroir wine purchasing wine nose good wine under 20 patz & hall sonoma coast pinot noir notes on a cellar book wine tycoon video game oak alternatives cabernet bottle shock economy chronicle wines vignoles wine columns mirror wine joe roberts e-myth revisited bennett lane winery champagne and business a history of wine words marco capelli music + wine indianapolis vino chapeau wine medal winners petaluma pinot wine industry zap wine jr. san francisco chronicle wine ice wine c.g. di arie radiohead doubleback wine chateau thomas wine parker defamation blackstone wine trefethen fallow obama napa valley auction sonoma county wine french wine marketing tamari torrontes dirty south wine firestone contest doug frost whuffie factor wine reality show wine label design duane hoff resveratrol woman in wine organic wineries oregon wine snobs wine is the new black expensive wine will hoge wine spies gapingvoid rose summer wine corkd foppoli wines texas for dummies wine collection shorttrack ceo vintage of the decade markham mark of distinction sonoma wine company spike your juice celia masyczek jim koch pinot main street winery obama wine digital signage wine retail the fifth taste dominus bellagio wine the wine blue book conundrum winery customer service julie and julia oh westside road scott becker randall grahm party of five theme song wine spectator restaurant awards zig ziglar drvino.com wine direct shipping wine humor altar wine good wine livingston cellars persimmon creek vineyards liberty school cabernet sauvignon german wine biodynamic wine health research 2007 waters crest "night watch" late harvest wine clif bar wine cheap wines rick mirer indiana miss america lewis perdue pbs john trefethen elliot essman wine intelligence research steroids in baseball publishing trends wine laws cowboy mouth wine evaluation dark & delicious biod alpana singh dos equis commercials wine and sense of smell tim mondavi rachel alexandra 500 things to eat before it's too late wine & spirits guinness beer 2006 brancott pinot noir wine public relations facebook + wine millenials and wine penner ash deb harkness triple bottom line jim gordon kelly fleming wine mike hengehold traminette wine mobile applications rick mirer wine wine blogging tips professional culinary institute adobe road the the lost symbol wine stories wine 2.0 schotts micellany hugh johnson alloutwine cooper's hawk winery santasti kevin zraly paul clary sweet wines zinfandel producers california wine for dummies best wine blog us wine sales dessert wine di arie rose napa cab. napa cabernet amazon wine constellation wine washington wine john hughes '47 cheval blanc bordeaux reconquest top chef hardy wallace firestone wine contest burger wine lonely island where the hell is matt southern gothic wine food revolution french paradox dark side of the rainbow gallo thomas pellechia wine spectator top 100 2009 cinderella wine deck wine lindsay ronga batgirl wine michael ruhlman wine spectator wine reviews karadeci the business of wine iphone wine mobile apps winery promotions whole foods wine first blush juice cult cabernet boston beer company trinchero wine tasting rooms viktor frankl chateau petrus barack obama + wine sanford pinot noir rombauer digital marketing obama inauguration sherry wine tycoon healdsburg terroir wine branding global wine partners wine terroir southern wine and spirits wine lists adam strum tinybottles 100 point system vineyard church communion wine mark squires wine and music scheurebe nbwa old vine zinfandel cluetrain manifesto down under by crane lake unified symposium jackson-triggs vidal ice wine clif winery name your own price mirror wine company indiana gourmet food allocated cabernet the wine line core wine drinkers janet trefethen bruce reizenman luxury wine marketing wall street journal wine columnists "frankenwine" wine authors chacha rudolf steiner wine expedition fat tire beer mothervine supplements continuum texas bbq wine pairing prince's hot chicken king estate guinness advertising 2007 stoneleigh pinot noir wine pr wineamerica wine wisdom lewin's equation 1winedude hess collection wine social media expensive wine trends wines and vines kelly fleming cabernet the new yorker ted lemon whyte horse winery iphone wine apps. palate press wine blogging strategies wine certification the traveling vineyard wine and art jason kroman alloutwine.com wine mou sherry wine paul clary blog gracianna wine wine cartoons alan goldfarb fusebox wine moms who need wine ted jansen hourglass wine murphy-goode wine trading down dip johnnie walker chateau latour planet bordeaux argentina wine zephyr adventures barolo santana dvx au revoir to all that formula business ordinance .wine geocaching brigitte armenier rockaway wine red bicyclette social media topps augmented reality rancho zabaco zinfandel woot wine the new frugality patio wine bryan q. miller nba liquor advertising noble pig award of excellence ericca robinson andy warhol quotes fermentation anthony dias blue home winemaking consumer shopping research the best pinot noir food & wine magazine a year in wine apple iphone man's search for meaning st. helena catholic church new zealand wine sanford chardonnay lettie teague
April 11 2007
Congratulations to Twisted Oak winery—Jeff Stai, Boy Brainerd a.k.a. Pimp Daddy and their team for a successful market introduction in Indianapolis.
Renee from Feed Me/Drink Me, Ashley & Rob from Cork and Cracker, distributor Crossroad Vintners and I all collaborated on a tasting in March to coincide with their launch in Indiana—much fun was had by all and their distributor has delivered with what appears to be good placement for a new brand to the market.
A quick rundown on where to find Twisted Oak in Indy:
Calaveras Syrah
L’Explorateur
Adams Mark
Cork & Cracker
Calaveras Tempranillo
Payless 96th
Cork & Cracker
14 West
Brix
Spaniard
Cork & Cracker
Payless 96th
Grapevine Cottage
Brix
Calaveras Viognier
Cork & Cracker
Payless 96th
Red Rhone Blend
Payless 96th
Cork & Cracker
White Rhone Blend
Payless 96th
Cork & Cracker
Classic Spirits Carmel
Silvaspoons Verdelho
Payless 96th
Joe’s Butcher Shop Carmel
14 West
Brix
And, in the vein of “What to Eat with What you Drink,” I offer up suggested food pairings from the menus at the restaurants where Twisted Oak has secured placement:
Syrah at L’Explorateur – Big Fat Pork Chop with shitake mushrooms and red wine reduction
Syrah at Adams Mark – Filet Mignon
Tempranillo at Brix - Grilled lamb chop with a bacon barley risotto, fried eggplant
Spaniard at Brix - Turner Farms meatloaf wrapped in bacon with blue cheese knish, green beans & mushroom demi-glace
Silvaspoons Verdelho at Brix - paella with mussels, clams, & chicken over saffron risotto with mark turner sausage, olives & tomatoes
Again, congrats to Twisted Oak and Godspeed for continued success and longevity in Indianapolis and beyond. And, if you haven’t enjoyed their wines go try them. I think you’ll be pleased.
March 11 2007
A full cross-post from Indianapolis Foodie web site, Feed Me/Drink Me. Renee, who used to exclusively go by the online nom de plume of “braingirl,” is my partner in crime in helping get local wine and food enthusiasts, bloggers and media types out for a Twisted Oak winery market introduction on Thursday, March 15th. And, you don’t have to be a writer of any sort to attend. In fact, you don’t have to have any talent beyond being able to eat or drink. Be sure to set aside time to head to the Upper Room, enjoy some good wine, appetizers and company.
<> <> <> <> <> <> <>
From Feed Me/Drink Me:
Bloggers, writers, and fans, many of us have met virtually, but thanks to Jeff Lefevere, (The Good Grape), Ashley from Cork and Cracker, and the guys from Twisted Oak in Calaveras County, we can all meet in person! These fine folks have put together a special wine tasting for a food and wine writer/blogger meet-and-greet this week! We’ve invited the bloggers and writers we knew or could think of who cover food and wine in Indianapolis (and if we missed you, accept our apologies and come anyway!)
And in a special bonus! The Hoosier Beer Geeks will be meeting afterward (8:00 p.m.) on Thursday across the street at Brugge Brasserie. So, come for wine early, then come raise a glass with the Beer Geeks (and save room for the frites.)
If you’re reading this, consider yourself invited. Spouses, fans, foodies, and general hangers-on are welcome. Please feel free to forward this on to anyone else we may have misssed or who might be interested.
Here’s the scoop:
Twisted Oak Wine Tasting
6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m.,
Thursday, March 15,
The Upper Room (at Broad Ripple Steak House)
$15 for wine, snacks, and some give-a-ways.
Hope to see you all there!
December 20 2006
I’m always curious to meet people from outside of Indiana, particularly from either coast who view Indiana in much the same vein that I view Kentucky—a cultural backwater left circling the drain without any progress made since 1989—a flyover state without much going on.
For the most part, it’s not true. It’s egregiously incorrect, in fact. Indianapolis has a lot going on including a burgeoning music scene, artists creating, living and working successfully and enough nightlife to keep you interested for a month of Sundays. Louisville, KY, similarly, is in the same category of having ‘things to do and people to see.’ Though, I can’t vouch for the rest of Kentucky.
I’m convinced that aside from climate, topography and water features, most places in the U.S. are pretty much the same. You’re going to have a Target, Best Buy, Bed, Bath & Beyond, a Costco or Sam’s Club and a serviceable grocery store in every major market and you’re going to have professional sports teams—either your own hometown team in close proximity, or one close enough regionally.
Aside from that cultural sameness though, what really differentiates a city are its independent businesses—the touchstones that have become icons over the years.
For this reason, and almost singularly for this reason, I try to frequent independents as much as possible. And, for this same reason I also eschew chain eateries when and where possible
I’m reminded of this as I head out to Green Bay, Wisconsin tomorrow to watch the Packers play the Vikings at Lambeau Field, a guy pilgrimage to potentially see Brett Favre’s last home game as a Packer (I’ll surely hold on to my ticket stub). And, we’ll eat somewhere that is small, off the beaten path and local (hopefully they also serve cheese curds, too). Last year when we traveled to Nashville, TN to watch the Colts play the Titans we ventured off the beaten track to a hole in the wall to get ‘Hot Chicken,’ a Nashville delicacy that can best be described as fried chicken with cayenne pepper used in place of the flour for dredging.
These are the places that make our cities unique.
Austin, TX has even gone to the extent of organizing a grassroots campaign around this local flavor called Keep Austin Weird.
Indianapolis is, perhaps, a year or three behind Austin in terms of this marketing of individual progressiveness and we’re a geographically dispersed city in contrast to Austin, with the largest amount of land incorporated for a major metro in the country. But, we’re not lacking in the effort department either.
A few cool sites have sprung up that celebrate what is unique and diverse about our city, including the following: I Choose Indy, the Curious City and several others that are trying to tie together the cultural aspects of our fair land like Indy Arts and Indy Hub. The Curious City highlights, for example, the Red Key Tavern, a bar just a few blocks away from my home that keeps house rules sacrosanct—no coats on the backs of chairs, no feet on the furniture, no unwelcome advances to woman unless they invite you to engage in a conversation, etc—all lovingly tended by a WWII vet who has owned the place for decades longer then I’ve been alive.
So, this brings me to my point about the First Annual Good Grape “Indianapolis Wine Shop of the Year Award.” If, as I suggest, it is our independents stores that make us unique, then my Indianapolis Wine Shop of the Year award goes to the Grapevine Cottage in Zionsville, IN.
Barumph.
It’s in Zionsville.
What, nothing in Indianapolis?
A winner by default?
Alas, this isn’t about who wins, but about who doesn’t win.
Yeah. Indianapolis has a wine shop, several of them in fact, but the one that could have been a contender has been on the northside for years, since 1979 in fact. There are some warts, sure, but it has old school flavor. A good selection from all major regions and you can buy Bordeaux futures, even if the overall pricing in the store sometimes begs pointed questions. They’re also moving locations, too—not too far away, just a couple hundred feet into a brand spanking new building on Keystone Avenue. If you’re in Indianapolis you might have driven by during the building process—the steel girders went up like in an Amish barn raising, the aluminum sheeting on the exterior and the breathless promise of a concrete-floor style wine warehouse in the monthly newsletter. Stack ‘em high and watch ‘em fly, Costco-style.
Sadly, though, this wine store, unless I’m vastly in error will never win my Wine Shop of the Year Award. When given a perfect opportunity to create something unique with a local flavor, something new, but time-tested, something that engenders an espirit de corp and a customer base that spreads the word, they chose the path of non-creativity sameness with aluminum walls warehouse-style with concrete floors to boot. This is, unfortunately, over the opportunity for something personal and unique.
I shouldn’t be surprised, maybe they live in a spec. home on property that was a farm 10 years ago and eat at Olive Garden and it’s all they know. Or, maybe I’m rushing to judgment; maybe there is a kernel of community engagement here that I’m overlooking. After all, the store doesn’t even open until January so I am a bit premature. But, then, I drive past the progress being made on the liquor barn and I’m not sure I’ll make it in.
Curiously, I doubt this store will make its way to the Curious City web site and it’s too bad, they could’ve done something great for the wine community in Indianapolis and they could have added to our city tapestry.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License
Design by The Blog Studio
