Tasting Spring Wines

It was a dark and stormy night with heavy rain hammering the Ames wine club members as they dashed from their cars to the welcoming door.  It was the night to taste the Three Wines Right for Spring, featured in the current issue of Make Mine Wine, and everyone was excited. Our gracious, poised hostess Julie, offered each wine in turn with a nicely paired treat. 

We began with the Conundrum from winemaker Jon Bolta, Caymus Vineyard, and assorted fine cheeses, crackers and bread. As the name implies, anticipating the wine is always a challenge since each bottle depends on the specific blend of the grapes. Our bottle of wine was sweet and delicious, and a nice start for the evening.

Next we tasted the Tuscan pinot noir, Frescobaldi Pomino Rosso, recommended by Genti Mesi at Carlucci, a fine restaurant in Downer’s Grove, Illinois. Julie served a family favorite, delightful mushroom turnovers and rounds with broiled Parma. Very tasty. The grand finale was La Storia Petite Sirah from Trentadue Vineyard in
California, served with chocolate truffles. The wine and the combination were excellent, and appeared to be the favorite of most! It was a wonderful evening … and I especially enjoyed the ladies, their wine knowledge, their opinions (corks, not screw caps), and their wine experiences.  The wine club members learned about the young wine industry in the state and some had already visited several of the local wineries. Make Mine Wine was a big hit … and received many fine compliments. Are you in a wine club? Set up a time to try the spring wines on page 7 or page 35 of the current issue, I’m sure you’ll enjoy! Cheers!

Barbara

Bright. Enthusiastic. Creative.

The students in Timothy L. Johnson’s Creativity Class at Drake University understand the model in Roger Von Oech’ A Kick in the Seat of the Pants: Using Your Explorer, Artist, Judge and Warrior to Be More Creative. Three teams of students, assigned to effectively and efficiently attract more subscribers to Make Mine Wine, spent one month exploring, creating, and judging the best ways to help me meet my goals.

Last night each team presented their best ideas for raising the visibility of Make Mine Wine. The ideas included promoting the magazine at upcoming events; in lobbies at professional offices, hospitals, and airports; at spas, salons and coffee shops; through wedding photographers; Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Lingerie Party and other sales organizations; as well as on line with links from sites that appeal to the same target audience.

The students were enthusiastic about the magazine, wine, getaways, pairings and fun. They associate wine with romance, sophistication, health, socializing and fun with friends, and are interested in learning more about wine and the comfortable lifestyle.

I will benefit from the ideas presented last night and I appreciate each team’s serious effort, creative thinking and support. I want to thank Adam Steen from Transitional Capital Management for arranging my opportunity with the students. Thanks again to the students who worked on my project and especially to Professor Timothy L. Johnson. Founder of Carpe Factum (Seize Accomplishment), he has introduced the MBA and MPA students to people, business models and creative learning experiences that they can refer to again and again when they are out of school and making their way in the business community.

As a warrior, I will accept the tasks they have handed to me and put as many of their ideas to work as possible. I’ll start right here with two of my assignments, and ask your help in completing them.

1. Are you interested in a subscription to Make Mine Wine (just $12 plus tax for 4 issues!) for your business? You may subscribe to Time, US News, Wine Spectator … why not Make Mine Wine? You will be in the know about the growing wine industry in Iowa and the Midwest … and the magazine will make great reading for your customers in your waiting room or lobby.

2. Do you know a bright, enthusiastic student interested in a summer internship, getting credit and sales experience for their resume? Do you know someone interested in event marketing? The students recommended I find some highly-motivated interns … and that’s what I want to do!

One last thing … if your business could benefit from fresh ideas … consider a brainstorming session with a college student. It is refreshing and invigorating!

Cheers!

Barbara

MakeMineWine@mchsi.com

Spring Events Spell Fun!

The Spring issue of Make Mine Wine includes perhaps the longest published list of upcoming wine-related Midwest events.

 The list (and more events) are also current on MakeMineWinemagazine.com.

This weekend, spend some tmie checking out the events … and make plans to attend one. You’ll find live music, pairings, dinner theater, garden tours, Mother’s Day events, art shows, and sunset dinners, all in association with wine tastings and fun.

 In most cases, you can meet the wine-maker and his or her family. It is a chance to ask questions about the grapes, the wine, the inspiration, the history of the winery, and area attractions.

 The sun will be shining, the weather will be warming up, and you can get away from your routine by spending an afternoon at a winery. Or, spend a couple of days and catch all of the action on The Iowa Wine Trail (April 28 & 29) or on the Western Iowa Wine Trail (May 5 & 6).

 You’ll have a great time …. and I have no doubt you’ll enjoy the wine!

 If you would like a subscription to Make Mine Wine (only $12 + tax for 4 issues), go to MakeMineWinemagazine.com or call 1-515-962-5515.

 Cheers!

Barbara

Delicious Easter Dinner

The recipes in the current issue of Make Mine Wine magazine are, like the tailgating with wine recipes in the fall issue, delicious and easy to make. At least that is our intent.

This weekend I decided to try the recipes and see what the family thought!

I was in mid-Missouri for the weekend, and went to a local, non-chain grocery store and gathered the ingredients for the Mixed Berry Salad, Country-Style Potato Casserole and Coconut-Orange Caramel Rolls. I already had a nice ham, as well as ingredients for the other dishes I planned to serve.

Back in the kitchen, I was happy to see that the recipes in the magazine really were quick and easy to make, and turned out “just like the pictures”!

I heard very favorable comments throughout the meal — and I know these recipes will become family favorites — and the cooks’ favorites too! We like good food …. and we don’t like to spend days preparing it.

If you are a reader of Make Mine Wine, I would love to know the reaction from your friends and family when you served recipes from the magazine. Or the recommended wines.

I have ever reason to believe the food and the wines will be a big hit! 

Cheers!

Barbara

Is Our Wine Industry Here to Stay?

Timothy L. Johnson, Chief Accomplishment Officer of Carpe Factum, Inc, is a published author and professor. He asked me to speak to his Creativity Class for MBA and MPA students at Drake University.

First, a few words about Timothy. You will know something about his sense of humor and his seriousness about accomplishment if you understand the name of his company. Carpe Factum – Seize Accomplishment!  His first book Race Through the Forest – A Project Management Fable offers a roadmap for effective project management and team communication. The newly released Gust – The “Tale” Wind of Office Politics offers how-tos on understanding office dynamics and playing the game successfully. 

The Drake students benefit from his creativity, understanding of behavior and motivators, and insistence on goal setting and strategic planning.  They interact with business people who inspire and challenge. The students are actively engaged during class and it seems they understand Timothy’s class is one that will provide them with real tools for their future. I spoke with them of the new grape and wine industry and the challenges of launching a consumer magazine.  

One student wondered if the interest in wine is a flash in the pan; a fad that will soon fade. I don’t think so. Do you? 

The known history of wine stretches back to the ancient world. The Guinness World Records dates the oldest wine jar to 5400 to 5000 B.C. The oldest bottle of wine (325 A.D., found in 1867) resides in a German museum.  Wine has been made in Egypt, Mesopotamia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the
United States, Australia, Argentina and elsewhere around the world. In the United States, wine was made by Germans in Missouri (see the article in the current issue of Make Mine Wine). Now grapes are grown and wine produced in nearly every state. 

Of course, the production of wine has little meaning, unless there are people interested in drinking wine … and people do drink wine. Wine lovers in at least 30 countries of the world drink more wine per capita than in the United States, probably because the consumption of wine here is complicated by political, religious, social and cultural issues.   Still, wine consumption is on a slow rise in the United States and I believe that will continue. 

Why? Wine tastes good … and, in this hectic world where the focus is on accomplishment (and there is too much to do!)… wine can help people slow down and achieve a little balance in their lives.  Balance … that something else that Timothy Johnson believes in as much as accomplishment!

Cheers! Barbara