Announcing Wine Blogging Wednesday #57:  California Inspiration

I am pleased to host and announce the May edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday with the theme, “California Inspiration.”

Appropriate thanks go to CorkDork for a job well done in April and, of course, to Lenn from Lenndevours for fostering this monthly commune, now in its 5th year, in online wine conviviality. 

Thematically, this month is intended to be broad while acting as homage to Robert Mondavi, the 1-year anniversary of his passing on Saturday, May 16th.

Because Mondavi was such an inspiration physically, spiritually and philosophically to so many – both in the industry and to consumers, while acting as the forefather of the modern California wine movement, I would like for WBW participants to revisit a California wine that they have enjoyed, or have a particular fond memory of, and tell a story.

Simply, Mondavi promoted an air of inclusiveness, not exclusiveness, conducting many of his business practices around a philosophy of aiding other wineries in knowledge and practices to create a profile for California wine that would rival the world’s finest wines.

Mission accomplished.

The easy route for this theme would be to taste a Mondavi wine, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Mondavi would have preferred an air of openness.  No good is accomplished by a singularity of purpose that acts as an exclusionary barrier for others.

Likewise, Mondavi was a people person, fostering a spirit of goodwill amongst friends new and old while promoting a life well lived that included wine and food as complementary companions on the table and in life.

As wine enthusiasts, some of our fondest memories, the various chapters in our lives, frequently have wine as a major player.  It is these stories that I want to see relived and recounted, with a California wine as the centerpiece. 

What is your “California Inspiration?”

Nostalgia, recent experience, poignant, triumphant, all stories are welcome, just make sure that it has a beginning, middle and an end with a specific wine.

Please go buy or pull from your stash, a bottle of whatever that wine was that created a memorable chapter in your life, revisit the bottle, and share your story.

The deadline for submission is May 13th. Please email me, post a link on my WBW post, or at this post.

I look forward to learning more about each of the participants through their words and stories. 

As a bonus, the best story, as judged by Lenn and myself will win a 1-year subscription to Sunset magazine, the lifestyle magazine for California and the West Coast.

A couple of Mondavi quotes as grist for your writing mill:

- Out of all the rigidities and mistakes of my past, I’ve learned a lesson that I’d like to see engraved on the desk of every business leader, teacher, and parent in America: The greatest leaders don’t rule. They inspire.

- I’ve always wanted to improve on the idea of living well, in moderation, wine is good for you - mentally, physically, and spiritually.

- It is giving me a great satisfaction, because I had the notion that we could make great wines equal to the greatest wines in the world, and everybody said it was impossible.

- There are a lot of people with a lot of money, and I’m amazed they don’t understand what a great pleasure it can be to give.

- Wine to me is passion.  It’s family and friends.  It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit.  Wine is art.  It’s culture.  It’s the essence of civilization and the art of living.

- Wine has been a part of civilized life for some seven thousand years. It is the only beverage that feeds the body, soul and spirit of man and at the same time stimulates the mind….

Goodness and Godspeed to all as you celebrate the Good Grape for Wine Blogging Wednesday and honor Robert Mondavi in the process!