semi wine-related

I just returned from a one-week stay in Sonoma County. There I met two Internet buddies in person and for the first time: Tom Wark and our own Hoke.

Wark operates a blog called Fermentation and he is the prez of an organization of specialty wine retailers, fighting the good fight against restrictive wine commerce regulations and the WSWA's disingenuous diatribes against opening that commerce like all other commerce is open in the US. We had a fine dinner and great conversation, and Tom proved a congenial host.

On the other hand, Hoke proved to be an intractable nice guy who went out of his way to show me and an associate around Sonoma wineries plus to a fine Portuguese restaurant. I had a feeling before I met Hoke that we would be somewhat simpatico, what with he being a damned Socialist and all that, but we seemed more than simply simpatico: we discovered that we share some important character building background experiences, even though he may be 20 years my senior .

Most impressive was the tour Hoke gave me of Bonterra's biodynamic vineyard operation in Mendocino County. Aside from the vineyard's ability to speak directly to my Mediterranean bloodline, you know, olive groves and such, the morning was extremely educational as it related to the biodynamic philosophy and the Bonterra methods. And I was impressed by Hoke's knowledge of the subject--of course, he could have bamboozled me, since I have (used to have) limited knowledge concerning a farming method that receives its share of ignorant chiding.

You should all make arrangements fast to go out and visit with Hoke. That ought to go a long way to alter his pleasant demeanor...

To Tom (he pops in here once in a while) and to Hoke: thanks for making a major part of my stay a pleasure. Now, if either of you could do something about the sorry state of air travel from San Francisco to Rochester, NY I'd be most appreciative--do I have a harrowing story on that score!

I had the pleasure of meeting Hoke and his lovely wife on a trip to CA earlier this year. I found Hoke to be every bit as charming offline as online.

I found Hoke to be every bit as charming offline as online.

Depending on the circles one travels in, Princess, that could be taken as damnation with faint praise Having also had the pleasure of breaking bread with Hoke and Roxi, though, I can concur wholeheartedly with the praise for his generosity and conviviality, not to mention his good taste in restaurants. To Thomas: 20 years younger than Hoke? Are you really 15?

Mark Lipton

You guys are ruining what little rep I have, you know.

I found Hoke to be every bit as charming offline as online.

Depending on the circles one travels in, Princess, that could be taken as damnation with faint praise Having also had the pleasure of breaking bread with Hoke and Roxi, though, I can concur wholeheartedly with the praise for his generosity and conviviality, not to mention his good taste in restaurants. To Thomas: 20 years younger than Hoke? Are you really 15?

Mark Lipton

Guess I miscalculated by five years or so...must have been the way he jumped up that flight of stairs.

Mea culpa for not mentioning Hoke's darling wife, too, plus Peter Spann, a Charbono winemaker from Yonkers who could not have been more hospitable--he somehow made me forget about having lunch that day.

[James Roscoe]

I found Hoke to be every bit as charming offline as online.

Depending on the circles one travels in, Princess, that could be taken as damnation with faint praise Having also had the pleasure of breaking bread with Hoke and Roxi, though, I can concur wholeheartedly with the praise for his generosity and conviviality, not to mention his good taste in restaurants. To Thomas: 20 years younger than Hoke? Are you really 15?

Mark Lipton

Mentally that makes Thomas about five which seems about right.