Gags: This one's for you

[DaJudge]

Click. (http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/diningtravel/culinarytravel/burgundy?mbid=rss_epilf)

[Gags]

Very nice. Thanks Judge.

Our site had been getting a lot of European attention. Given all the people (friends and family) who have helped in my business we realized something interesting. We started to think about all the different nationalities involved and decided to map it with flags of their family's Countries. It's funny when you see Canadian, French, American, Italian, Afghanistan, China, Australia, Israel, Hungary, Czech republic, Lithuania, Morroco, Thailand, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, African, India. We realized what a mixing we really are. So, we as a company are going to state our opinion on things...Let's celebrate the things that humans do well. Let's share these diversities. Often times when travelers stand in the Old Places of the World they are overcome by a sensation of humanity and connection. Some would say these things only come with history and culture. We say these feelings can begin to be approached through the pallet. So let's get together and drink some of what we do best. Yes we are all different but the same on very basic levels.

[Gags]

30 something views and no opinions on the plan?

Not to hijack but Judge said this one was for me.

[Oscar]

What plan?

[Gags]

What plan?

To as a company take a stand and state an opinion on how we view things. Most companies are afraid to have a personality and express opions on how people can treat eachother. Wine is an opportunity.

[Oscar]

Well depends kind of a double edge sword. Just like here you have many opinions and those influence peoples decisions. How many people share you outlook versus those who don't. You could risk alienating potential customers for your own personnel views. And if you happen to be in the minority how much could this impact your business? For instance I am not a fan of the French so I go their sight and they are talking about French points of view and I probably would move on.

[Gags]

Well depends kind of a double edge sword. Just like here you have many opinions and those influence peoples decisions. How many people share you outlook versus those who don't. You could risk alienating potential customers for your own personnel views. And if you happen to be in the minority how much could this impact your business? For instance I am not a fan of the French so I go their sight and they are talking about French points of view and I probably would move on.

It is a double edge sword. Concerning the French, whether you're a fan of their politics or not undeniably they make great wine. The growers and producers are interested in making a great product to be shared. That alone I can get behind. My purpose is to expose the fact that when we think about we have a lot to share and exchange. If you still don't like ALL the French that's fine because you wouldn't be in the target audience. For those who rather share what what we as humans have done well and experience pieces of it then we are together. If prejudice prevents dialogue that's OK. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to be everything to everyone.

[scottycards]

Well, it's your business, so you get to make the call- that's the good part.

Personally, I am put-off when businesses get involved in things other than business.

For example- I have some friends who have a used furniture refurbishing business. They are fairly militant vegetarians, and have these vegetarian links on their website. I think it's a mistake.

I've sold to a lot of customers over the years, and every time an election comes around, one of them brings it up. I stay the heck out.

I don't put bumperstickers on my car for one reason- I have to park at work and in front of my customers at their places of business. If someone doesn't like Hillary, I don't want to lose the order over it.

Call it repression- I call it having tact.

My .02- your business is selling wine- stick to doing that, and doing it as best as you possibly can. If you think including things like you've posted above will help your cause, then do it. Personally, I'd shy away, but that's just me- what works for me might not work for you.

Follow your gut- it'll serve you well. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :beer:

[Oscar]

Just an example on the French could be any company take for instance the Mrs. Field cookie debate. Because the company made the choice about christmas how many customers did the lose versus gain for that? I haven't seen your companies sight so don't know how you are presenting your opinions but as with any point of view not everybody is going to agree and may not be in the best interest of a business. Now a forum like here that doesn't appear to be your companies point of veiw but just a customers point of view might be better for business and you still get the diversty of opinions and open communication your looking for.

[Gags]

It's about sharing history and culture. We share it this way.

That's about the extent. No comments on politics or religion. Finding common ground through ones pallet. The wine has history that I think people would like to know. For the same reason people may travel or read about culture. Open dialogue.

[Gags]

It is hard to argue against sharing things humans do well. Forget politicians becasue they all lie.

[scottycards]

You posses the tact to do it right. I say move forward with it. Great idea.

[Gags]

You posses the tact to do it right. I say move forward with it. Great idea.

It's like moving off of extremes into the moderate, respectful, conversational.

[jtw2]

well since you asked I think it's utterly stupid when businesses mix politics in with their business. That being said it happens all the time. Just not a particularly savvy business move.

[Gags]

well since you asked I think it's utterly stupid when businesses mix politics in with their business. That being said it happens all the time. Just not a particularly savvy business move.

First, I appreciate all who replied to this. Thank you.

Part of the reason we came along this was due to a large enough European attention. When we started to think about the different Nationalities of all those involved we felt like recognizing it and celebrating it was a good thing.

At a time where people seemed to be focused on pointing out our differences I thought it might be helpful to take a moderate position and focus on something that is not political but taking a somewhat political stance of "we're all just people who often just want to have a good quality of life."

Being in Wine, we are talking about something that has been made for thousands of years and the French have arguably done it the best. Everytime I learn about culture and history I feel like I've improved my life just a little. This sensation is one that we would like to position and share.

I'm not talking about commenting on War, policy, who hates who but rather "let's relax and experience something as close as we can without going there."

If this was the position would you find it off putting?

[Oscar]

No poltics are the debil sitting and yacking about stuff is good

[Gags]

well since you asked I think it's utterly stupid when businesses mix politics in with their business. That being said it happens all the time. Just not a particularly savvy business move.

BTW, I know you and I don't always share the same opinion but I like that. Believe it or not I learn from our discussions. Don't hold back.:beer:

[Gags]

In honesty, I don't know if my position is so much political but rather a love for people, history, culture and the things we are capable of.

[Yota]

Lots of businesses take stands on lots of things that are far more off-putting than what you wrote. I agree with you 100%. One of the quickest ways to sample another culture is to taste its native food and drink. Food and drink are two of the greatest necessities of life so it makes sense that they would underpin everything else that we do.

I think your spirit is right on. Americans drink wine as part of our culture and part of our culture is to incorporate other cultures, which is exactly what we do when we drink wines from other places or eat food from other places. When we find something we like it creates an instant connection with that place.

:thumbsup:

[Rimmer]

Here's one little bit of information to burst your cultural bubble a little.

French wine isn't really from french grapes, virtually all the vineyards in Europe had to be replanted in the mid 1800's due to a disease that wiped out all the vineyards there...

They imported all the new plants from California, so genetically you are really drinking California wine...

Article follows.

In mid 1800?s, the American wine industry was relatively well established. Researchers conducted experiments to improve yields, taste and growing patterns. Some started cross breeding programmes to improve more than taste, appearance, colour and other desirable characteristics. A few researchers crossed native vitis labrusca, - rotundifolia or ? munsoniana family grape varieties, others tried to cross breed grapes varieties belonging to vitis vinifera and native varieties.

A lively exchange of grape vines developed between France and the USA. American researchers and growers were interested in French vines, and in turn French growers wanted to see how well American species would grow on their soils.

In 1865, a shipment of American vine cuttings arrived in the port of Bordeaux and was planted soon after. Two years after the planting, the vines showed atypical galls on the underside of leaves and a year later died. The disease, never encountered before up to that time in Europe devastated French vineyards within a decade, spreading rapidly from region to region, and eventually much of Europe.

Scientists were baffled and could not explain how the disease spread and what caused it. The French government was concerned enough to offer anyone who could solve the problem, 300,000.- French Francs, which would be the equivalent of more than $ 1.5 million today.

Today, we know what causes phylloxera vastatrix, and how to minimize its devastating results.

This terrible disease starts as a green fly measuring 1 ? 2 mm with a sophisticated reproduction cycle ? in the summer, the winged insect lay two types of eggs on the bark of the vine. The smaller eggs produce male and the larger female offspring. After mating, the female, at the beginning of winter lays one egg under the bark the vine that hatches in the spring to a female phylloxera-causing aphid called the founder. The beetle attaches itself under a young leaf and in turn lays several hundred eggs, which in turn spawn countless generations of gall-dwelling aphids feeding on the leaves.

In autumn, a number of larvae migrate towards the roots and start attacking the roots of the vine causing cellular disruptions that develop to nodes. These nodes cause the total disappearance of the roots, thus causing the vine to die.

In July, to complete the cycle, pupae appear among the root-attacking aphids, which undergo a moulting and become winged insect mentioned first.

These then take advantage of strong winds to spread 30 ? 3- kilometres away fro their origin, thus vineyards adjacent to the source of phylloxera may be fully spared from the scourge, and those lying further afield be affected.

Phylloxera vastatrix does not survive in sand and a few small regions on sandy soils have never been affected, but there are only few vineyards on exclusively sandy soils. In any case, sandy soils are not known to yield fine wine grapes.

Two countries have never been affected by phylloxera vastatrix ? Cyprus and Chile ? due to rigorously enforced import controls of vines.

Grafting vitis vinifera family grapes onto vitis labrusca or rotundifolia or munsoniana rootstock solved the problem to a large extent

Eventually, rootstocks were developed to resist the dreaded disease, but phylloxera still ravages many regions as recently as 1980?s California, forcing thousands of vignerons to replant their vineyards at great expense.

This was caused due to the wrong selection of rootstock.

[Yota]

But all French grapes grow in France in French soil and all the wine is made there by Frenchies. :shrug:

[jnschwie]

Lots of businesses take stands on lots of things that are far more off-putting than what you wrote. I agree with you 100%. One of the quickest ways to sample another culture is to taste its native food and drink. Food and drink are two of the greatest necessities of life so it makes sense that they would underpin everything else that we do.

I think your spirit is right on. Americans drink wine as part of our culture and part of our culture is to incorporate other cultures, which is exactly what we do when we drink wines from other places or eat food from other places. When we find something we like it creates an instant connection with that place.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup: :beer:

[Gags]

Here's one little bit of information to burst your cultural bubble a little.

French wine isn't really from french grapes, virtually all the vineyards in Europe had to be replanted in the mid 1800's due to a disease that wiped out all the vineyards there...

They imported all the new plants from California, so genetically you are really drinking California wine...

Article follows.

In mid 1800?s, the American wine industry was relatively well established. Researchers conducted experiments to improve yields, taste and growing patterns. Some started cross breeding programmes to improve more than taste, appearance, colour and other desirable characteristics. A few researchers crossed native vitis labrusca, - rotundifolia or ? munsoniana family grape varieties, others tried to cross breed grapes varieties belonging to vitis vinifera and native varieties.

A lively exchange of grape vines developed between France and the USA. American researchers and growers were interested in French vines, and in turn French growers wanted to see how well American species would grow on their soils.

In 1865, a shipment of American vine cuttings arrived in the port of Bordeaux and was planted soon after. Two years after the planting, the vines showed atypical galls on the underside of leaves and a year later died. The disease, never encountered before up to that time in Europe devastated French vineyards within a decade, spreading rapidly from region to region, and eventually much of Europe.

Scientists were baffled and could not explain how the disease spread and what caused it. The French government was concerned enough to offer anyone who could solve the problem, 300,000.- French Francs, which would be the equivalent of more than $ 1.5 million today.

Today, we know what causes phylloxera vastatrix, and how to minimize its devastating results.

This terrible disease starts as a green fly measuring 1 ? 2 mm with a sophisticated reproduction cycle ? in the summer, the winged insect lay two types of eggs on the bark of the vine. The smaller eggs produce male and the larger female offspring. After mating, the female, at the beginning of winter lays one egg under the bark the vine that hatches in the spring to a female phylloxera-causing aphid called the founder. The beetle attaches itself under a young leaf and in turn lays several hundred eggs, which in turn spawn countless generations of gall-dwelling aphids feeding on the leaves.

In autumn, a number of larvae migrate towards the roots and start attacking the roots of the vine causing cellular disruptions that develop to nodes. These nodes cause the total disappearance of the roots, thus causing the vine to die.

In July, to complete the cycle, pupae appear among the root-attacking aphids, which undergo a moulting and become winged insect mentioned first.

These then take advantage of strong winds to spread 30 ? 3- kilometres away fro their origin, thus vineyards adjacent to the source of phylloxera may be fully spared from the scourge, and those lying further afield be affected.

Phylloxera vastatrix does not survive in sand and a few small regions on sandy soils have never been affected, but there are only few vineyards on exclusively sandy soils. In any case, sandy soils are not known to yield fine wine grapes.

Two countries have never been affected by phylloxera vastatrix ? Cyprus and Chile ? due to rigorously enforced import controls of vines.

Grafting vitis vinifera family grapes onto vitis labrusca or rotundifolia or munsoniana rootstock solved the problem to a large extent

Eventually, rootstocks were developed to resist the dreaded disease, but phylloxera still ravages many regions as recently as 1980?s California, forcing thousands of vignerons to replant their vineyards at great expense.

This was caused due to the wrong selection of rootstock.

My bubble isn't burst at all. I was fully aware.

The wine is terrior driven and in our case most of our wine has been being made by the same families for hundreds of years.

[denverd0n]

Really just wanted to say ditto. Like the others, I see no issue so long as you don't dive too deeply into politics and such.

On the other hand, I readily admit to being a bit of a Francophile. Having visited France more than once I have discovered that the French seem to be much better than most Americans at not taking politics personally. When people over here were deciding that they didn't like the French because of their stand on the Iraq war, the French were deciding that they didn't like what our government was doing, and what the Bush administration was doing. See the difference?

(Yeah, I know that YOU see the difference, Gags, but I'm not so sure that some others do.)

Anyway, France is a beautiful country with a rich history--much of which is wrapped tightly around our own history. The people are friendly, interesting, considerate, and mostly nothing like the stereotypes that most Americans seem to hold. Yes, they are proud of their culture. Why shouldn't they be? Aren't you proud of yours? Personally, I'm all in for anything that encourages cultural exchange between us and them.

[Oscar]

Except the folks in Paris they are differnt. In our trips to various places we will stop and go into grocery stores we have found you get a good feel for the people. The ones we stopped in France we had a blast cause the folks were overly helpfull cause us poor americans didn't know what was the good stuff.

[Gags]

I was in Davidson's doing a wine tasting a couple weeks ago. It was me and three very pretty girls pouring wine. Of course, I only carry French wine so we were doing a region tour. And still, one guy came up, told him that it was French and he immediately gave serious attitude and said he hated the French. I was thinking, "Dude, who cares, there are three hot chicks here and this stuff tastes good."

[denverd0n]

Except the folks in Paris they are differnt.
Actually, the last time I was there I found the people in Paris to be more friendly than in the provinces. Generally speaking, at least. It's a big city and, like all big cities, it has its fair share of people who are surly and don't have the time of day for ANYONE!

[denverd0n]

"Dude, who cares, there are three hot chicks here and this stuff tastes good."
Something about cutting off your nose to spite your face comes to mind.

[Gags]

Something about cutting off your nose to spite your face comes to mind.

I know man. It gets a bit tiresome but I don't take it personally I just think "maybe you should read more" when it happens.

[Oscar]

The folks in Paris weren't mean or really rude just differnt kind of like east coast folks here.

[Gags]

The folks in Paris weren't mean or really rude just differnt kind of like east coast folks here.

Totally, it's like the difference between people from NYC and Minneapolis.

[Yota]

I was in Davidson's doing a wine tasting a couple weeks ago. It was me and three very pretty girls pouring wine. Of course, I only carry French wine so we were doing a region tour. And still, one guy came up, told him that it was French and he immediately gave serious attitude and said he hated the French. I was thinking, "Dude, who cares, there are three hot chicks here and this stuff tastes good."

:lmao:

That's the spirit, baby! :D