Bob Thompson Status??

Bob Thompson used to be one of my favorite wine writers. Back in the '70's-'80's. He was the wine columnist for the SanFrancisco Examiner up until 2000. I loved his wine articles & books. Very well-written & informative. Not really a writer of wine reviews, though.
Sometime in the late '90's, I made a visit w/ Bob at his home in StHelena. We tried a wine and chatted for several hrs. In the end, he was more interested in interviewing me and what wines I liked that were Au Courant. It was a wonderful afternoon well spent.
I'm curious as to how Bob is doing?? He would be about 90 yo by now. Anybody had a recent contact w/ Bob?? There's no obit out there that I could find. Carole??
Tom

[Robin Garr]

Tom, I don't know Bob, although I fondly remember his Pocket Encyclopedia of California Wine and may even still have it stashed around here someplace.

It appears that he has archived his work at UC Davis, though:
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/1303 ... tire_text/

Tom, I don't know Bob, although I fondly remember his Pocket Encyclopedia of California Wine and may even still have it stashed around here someplace.

It appears that he has archived his work at UC Davis, though:
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/1303 ... tire_text/

Yup... I really liked his Pocket Encyclopedia & bought it every year it came out w/ a new edition.
Tom

Just had a nice chat w/ Bob for 30 min or so. He’s at 90 yo but is doing well. Plays pickleball a bit. Walks regularly. Mind seems to be really sharp. His wife exercises regularly at the Senior Centre.
Doesn’t do any wine writing anymore (feels like he doesn’t have anything new to say and laments have said the same thing several times over) but no longer on the cutting edge of Calif wine. As before, he kinda turned our conversation around & started to interview me!! But still has an avid interest in wine. But just drinks what he likes… including Chianti because they’ve kept the alcohol levels down. The 14%/-16% are just a bit too much for him nowadays.
But, anyway, I’m delighted to report that Bob is still with us and seems to be thriving. Something all of us wine drinkers hope to be doing at 90 yrs old!!
Tom

[Robin Garr]

Thanks for pursuing this, Tom!

Thanks for pursuing this, Tom!

He seem touched that there were people in the Wine World who remembered him & made the effort to reach out to him.
Tom