El Bloggo Torcido - Twisted Oak Winery

A Post on Posted Comments to Posts

Blog comments can sure get away from you, and I have gotten behind, so I am posting the replies to the comments to some earlier posts...

First, thanks for ALL the comments on the WSJ article. Dorothy and John's column was my favorite weekly wine column even before they wrote about us! To Dr Debs, thanks for the kind words. To Brenda, I keep hearing all of the great nightlife happening in Turlock these days, so yes please! JB, someday I may be tempted to test that out! And David... I responded privately but the general answer is we can absolutely ship to NY and also even NC! I would, however, ship it 2nd day rather than ground because of the heat.

Back to Wincasto Torcido - Tim, if you don't have room for a rubber chicken in your bag... you need a new bag. Or take it as carrion, er, carry-on... nonetheless, a borrowed rubber chicken is a workable alternative, and is approved by the Twisted Institute... to Dr Debs, take a chicken! And to Ryan and Gabriella - looking forward to the pictures...:)

(Don't forget - Cave Loot Aug 18th, just for the Twisted Few!)

Save Your Wine and Cheese!

We have quite a few customers in states other than California, including Wisconsin. The citizens of Wisconsin have enjoyed the right to have wine shipped to them directly for the past 20 years. Tonight that right is in danger, slipped into a budget bill in a most cowardly way - you can read the full story here. If you live in Wisconsin, please write your representatives!

Mile High Chicken!

Actually, more like a mile and a half, to 8000 feet...! El Jefe has been gone for the past week or so hanging out in the southern Nevada desert, enjoying cool 120 degree temperatures, dust devils galore, and some really big rockets. Our friends (and Twisted Few members) John and Veni were also out there - in fact, they were running the event - at "Large Dangerous Rocket Ships (LDRS) XXVI." John found a little time to fly his "Y" on a big long burning motor, with the "LDRS Chicken" as the Featured Astronaut. A couple of pictures of the fabled bird, and the launch itself - aren't they pretty?

(If you want to see more rockets, visit http://www.rocstock.org/ and click on the daily links at the top of the page.)

The Journal! Woo hoo!

On Friday the 13th, yet... today's Tastings column in the WSJ features Twisted Oak 2005 (our Roussane / Marsanne blend) I think I can quote the important paragraph here:

Buffalo tenderloin with braised fennel, radishes and satsuma tangerine vinaigrette, with 2005 Twisted Oak Roussanne / Marsanne from California. "The buffalo course had the smoky buffalo pieces, then two sauces, one made with tangerines that gave it a citrus influence and then the vinaigrette, which added acidity to the dish. Then chunks of blood oranges. My thinking was if I'm going to pair the buffalo by itself, a Syrah from the Walla Walla region of Washington would be good. But in this dish at the beginning of the meal I didn't want to go really intense, so I found this wine from Rhône varietals. This wine has some citrus tones and a little bit of oakiness that pulls together the smoky flavors of the buffalo. Verdejo from Spain has some of the citrus quality and some of the wines from Campania [in Italy] have some citrus qualities, so there are different choices that could be made."

To read the whole article: direct link for subscribers or temporary link that should last a week.

Just by the way, we do have a very limited quantity of this wine available for order on our web site. Like we're counting bottles, not cases...

And even though they didn't refer to it by its proper name, I think this rates a "WOO HOO!"

Arrrr! El Jefe Screws Up!

Twisted Few member Lori Miller sent along this photo of her in a lovely pirate outfit - she sent it last March! I can't imagine why I didn't find it until today - hope everyone (especially Lori!) will forgive me!

(Lori - I hope we'll be seeing you at the Cave Loot on August 18th!)

UPDATE: Friend sad I didn't post picture. El Jefe doesn't want friend to be said, here's friend AND a bonus naughty nun - enjoy!

Local Chicken Color

Twisted Few members Ken & Liz Drachnik sent these along:

"Ok, these are local, but are warming up our camera to take pics of our Twisted Chicken we call "Shaun" (as in "Of the Dead") in Santa Cruz and Rome.  Here are 2 for the archives. Enjoy!"

Thanks Ken & Liz!

We Ship! Just Ask!

I don't normally post thank you letters, though I probably should more often. However, I especially like this letter so here you go:

Rubber Chicken, Pirate Crazies of the Twisted Oak,

I was at your establishment Memorial Day weekend, late on Saturday afternoon, up on the hill and you shipped my my wine (not just that purchased at your winery) back here to Wisconsin.  I wanted to say it made it safely, but alas, a few have now become past history.  I shared a bottle with friends today and they loved it, and I thought I would pass on that enjoyment to you all in CA.  You have a kick ass establishment and someday I will be back to visit.

It's Toasting Time and thanks again for shipping my wine to Wisconsin.

Erica D.

We're more than happy to ship your wine home, in our box to any place we can legally ship, whether or not you bought the wine from us (though it helps!) Just stop by the winery in Vallecito any day.

Nat Matches

Got a nice note today from Natalie MacLean - I might be tempted to believe it was a personal note but it did seem more like a form letter directed to wine bloggers. But no matter... what she wrote about was her food and wine pairing web site.

I played around with it a little bit - it's certainly fun and easy to use, and she includes recipes. However, the accompanying PR refers to "360,000 Daring Matches"  yet I could find no pairings with SPAM or with French Toast... so I tried "Petit Syrah" and only the usual beef, steak, and venison were listed. Not very daring. I guess at even 360,000 data points there is more to be done...!

(Just by the way, Nat writes a great free newsletter and her site is loaded with great info. Even though she is sometimes Ontariocentric (new word!) her newsletter is always worth it!)

UPDATE: She's got haggis - there's hope!

Winecasto Torcido

Lucky Tim over at Winecast got to go to Spain and spend a couple days with the Catavino Kids Ryan and Gabriella. (I'm trying to post these from Ryan's flickr account, so wish me luck! While I work on it, here's a link to Tim's first post about the trip for you to enjoy!)

Sounds like Tim had a great time, and he had an even better time because he brought his rubber chicken with him. Next time you travel, take your rubber chicken with you, take some pictures, and show us your Twisted!

All photos taken by Ryan Opaz of Catavino! (Also check out his Festa Mayor Terrassa pictures, they're smokin'!) And thanks again Tim, Ryan, and Gabriella!!!

naked rubber chicken

Slow Adults, At Play

Maren over at Wine Tasting Network (the people that ship our wine for us) sent along this picture of a neighborhood gathering for your enjoyment! (They appear to be enjoying a bottle of Twisted Oak Calaveras County Viognier!)

(Remember, you too can send in pictures showing us your Twisted! Please!)

naked rubber chicken