Dawn Patrol
Newsletter 6
Silence Of The Bro’s
I know, it has been awhile since I sent an email blast your way, I am sorry, a lot has happened in the last year. To begin with, I have been out of stock on all but a little RRV Syrah so there was no need to add to the frustration of getting to the website and seeing all these “Out of Stock” messages. More important, I managed to take my first 20 day vacation in 18 years! I took my nine and thirteen year old boys to Israel where we rented a condo right on the beach in my hometown, Hertzelia. We had a blast and I learned two things: First, never wrestle in the water with a strong 9 year old unless you want to end up with a cracked molar and a broken crown (repair costs are more than the whole trip..) Second, never, I mean NEVER say it is ok to call the US on your rented cell phone unless you are willing to live with a $15/minute long-distance charge (OK, so I exaggerate a little but not much!). We all had a blast even though we did not experience any buses explode in our vicinity.
Longboard is doing great. I spent a few hours pouring the Syrah and a quick peak at the 2003 Cabernet with Steve and Tammi of Gourmet Au Bay in Bodega in early August. The event was well attended and the wines were quaffed enthusiastically by a fine crowd of folks from all over the Bay area. The 2003 wines are now released and drinking great, as usual, I am almost out of the single vineyard Cabs and Syrah.
And now for the BIG NEWS… During the past twelve months I have been working hard at trying to pave a road for a better future for Longboard. The main thing I realized was that what I enjoy most (and am good at, if I may say so..) is growing and producing killer wines. I do not like (or excel) in managing finances or selling stuff, it’s just not my forté. I decided to take the plunge and bring in partners to help me maintain Longboard as a class act as we grow it to something bigger than a hobby winery but smaller than factory. Robert Watkins will be managing sales and helping me refine our style, he has a great palate matched by a grounded enthusiasm for what Longboard stands for. Robert is an accomplished sailor and a veteran sales & marketing executive in the wine industry who, like me, would rather spend an extra month on the water rather than at work! Bruce Lundquist is the funniest, most brilliant financial genius I have ever met. Bruce’s favorite pastime is challenging Robert an I to a rumpus session... his version of a constructive debate. Bruce coaches soccer, basketball, gardens, jogs and had a full-time job as a CFO/General manager with a well known winery until a week ago. Like they say: “If you want something done, assign it to a busy person”.
I hope (as I am rushing out the door to fondle some grapes) that you and yours are having a great year. You can look forward to a new wine in the lineup, a revamped website, a revived newsletter/ journal updated monthly and a tasting room to open soon. Order forms for the 2003 vintage are on the website, please note we have a new fax number.
Mahalo,
The BRO’s (Bruce, Robert & Oded)
Eddies
Sometimes, especially in springtime right about when the kids are back in Little League, I end up questioning my sanity. It is as if all the forces of nature and modern living converge in a perfect storm to make your life a whirling jumble of deadlines that defy any attempt to arrange them in any logical order…
There you are bottling the wines from 2003 when the folks from the French cooperages tell you, you have about seven and a half minutes to guess how many of their barrels you wish to order, which forests you want the wood from, how long you want it aged, how deeply you want them toasted, the exact time you want them at your doorstep and whether you want fries and ketchup on the side, super sized or not. If you act fast you can get a discount of 10 Euros per barrel but since each Euro is now worth more than 1.3 dollars you make some mental somersaults and realize it is really an imaginary discount. I take a break and open email, today’s baseball practice was moved to tomorrow and, oh, we need you to be the third base umpire… The phone rings and my accountant tells me he really needs those files in order to finish my tax return, I ask him if he knows anything about being an umpire…
The acacias are in full bloom, damn! Now the allergy season is off to a great start! The mustard between the vine rows is about twelve feet high but because of the rains it is too muddy for the tractor to get in and mow it. The vines have budded, there is a nice, even, three inch growth everywhere but we can’t get in to apply the needed sprays… Great, a letter from the building department, they want me to pave a 15 foot section of my driveway (been there since the 50’s) that connects to the county road, just peachy. Isn’t road paving the reason I pay taxes? Ooops, I better get back to my CPA…. Wait, what’s that thumping noise? Oh, just your blood rushing through that vein that just popped by your temple. When is my next cholesterol check? Do I have to fast for it? How many Euros does it cost? Can I deduct that from taxes?
I somehow get to the end of the day without a visit to the emergency room. There is still light outside even though we just finished dinner, Benny insists we go and toss the ball, he wants to practice catching pop-flies (sp?). Barely a minute goes by and I notice I can smell the freshness of the intensely green grass by the driveway, a beautiful acacia fans a yellow streak over that wooded knoll to the west and the new leaves on the poplar trees start their rustling in the evening breeze. That is really all it takes; a moment connecting with nature to make you feel human again. I think to myself: “I wish I could capture this moment in a bottle of wine” Ladies and Gents, Brah’s, Wahinies, HoDads and Spongers…. I give you the 2005 Vintage Longboard Sauvignon Blanc. The rest is up to you. Check out the Technical sheet on the website if you have a need for details!
Thanks for your continued support, we look forward to a fun-filled 2006 !
