Microsoft's new wine

By Jack Heeger

Blue Monster is a new wine label produced by South African vintner Stormhoek, but you are not likely to get any. It’s a brand created for only Microsoft and its employees.

The winery’s blog indicates that the idea came from a marketing strategist for Stormhoek who has many friends who work for Microsoft. The Web site says the name comes from “a sharp-toothed blue creature and its tagline, ‘Microsoft — change the world or go home,’ (which) has now been adopted by some Microsoft employees and fans as a symbol of the company’s innovation.”

An executive at one of Microsoft’s UK affiliates said Blue Monster reminded people that Microsoft “has a sense of fun and humor.”

(This opens Windows for other corporations to have their own wines.)

Celebrity wine

time again

Martha Stewart has joined forces with E & J Gallo Winery to produce Martha Stewart Vintage, a line of wines to be sold for $15. It will include chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, all bearing a Sonoma County appellation.

But you’ll have to travel a bit to get a bottle. It’s being sold only in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, N.C., Denver, Phoenix and Portland, Ore.

Also joining in the celebrity branding is Marilyn Manson, the entertainer who took his stage name from Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, who, he said, represented the ultimate and most disturbing dualism in American culture.

However, his product isn’t wine — it’s absinthe, a distilled spirit, and will carry the label “Mansinthe.”

(And, to quote Martha, that’s a very good thing.)

French wine tax increase

French wine producers and merchants are up in arms because they fear the tax on wine will be raised by 300 percent from its current 4 cents per bottle.

Timesonline.co.uk reports the Health Ministry said an increase on all alcoholic drinks is being considered to ease the $6 billion deficit in France’s social security system, which is dominated by health care costs. But the Web site said insiders think the tax will be only doubled.

Wine is considered France’s national drink, so the taxes are considerably lower on wine than on spirits. Although wine consumption has dropped by 25 percent over the last 25 years, the average citizen still drinks 46 bottles a year, most of it French.

(They want to erase the deficit caused by health care costs. But don’t they realize that wine is considered good for your health?)

Serving tastes is illegal

British authorities have told Selfridges, a major retailer, that its wine bar cannot serve tastes to consumers.

The company had been serving wine in 0.85 oz. and .5 oz. portions, but now must sell a full-sized glass — 4.2 oz. and 6 oz. The wines are served from an automatic machine, which have been re-set to pour the full amounts.

Decanter.com writes that the government said the ruling was made for consumers’ protection because there was no way of knowing whether the consumer had actually received the correct serving.

Decanter.com reports that one of the wines Selfridges served was 1996 Chateau Petrus, and it charged $65 for the sip, but now, with the full glass, the cost will be nearly $325. (And we think a $25 tasting fee is high.)

A lot of hot air

A winery in Chile is experimenting with a machine that uses hot air to control pests.

Harpers.co.uk reports that the Thermal Pest Control machine was originally designed to get rid of morning dew and control frost, but an enologist found that vines treated with the machine produce grapes with thicker skins that are a better barrier to botrytis and other forms of rot, which previously required the use of pesticides. The machine also is said to control spiders and other pests.

The machine blows air at about 212˚ Fahrenheit and a speed of 125 miles per hour.

(In the U.S. we would call that a hot hurricane.)

Schramsberg release

Schramsberg Vineyards recently conducted one of the classiest release parties in recent memory. About 80 members of the trade and media were treated to a candlelight dinner to commemorate the release of the 2000 J. Schram sparkling wine and the 2004 J. Davies cabernet sauvignon.

The dinner was in one of Schramsberg’s caves which, fortunately, was empty at the time. A couple weeks later it will be filled, following the bottling of the winery’s blanc de blanc.

Unfortunately, the always-gracious Jamie Davies was unable to attend, as she had broken her wrist only a few days before, but her son, Hugh, the winery’s CEO, handled emcee duties perfectly.

(Classy products from a classy family.)

Quote of the week

“A house where neither wine nor welcome is served to friends, soon will have none.” — Rob Hutchison

Jack Heeger can be reached at jheeger@napanews.com.

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