How quickly summer has flown, especially when it seemed there was no summer! Now that the grapes have been safely picked before the first serious rain that fell this past weekend, WineSpirit is emerging out of some dormancy with plans for our holiday party on Sunday, December 5, from 1 to 4 PM, to welcome the holiday season with Paul Wagner exploring wine's place in literature as a means for celebrating and toasting life's blessings from the past. What a wonderful segue it will be to inspire us all to look again at what and how we are doing on life's stage at this point in our journeys. What sets the WineSpirit holiday party apart from others is that like a fine blended wine, the party is a blend of culture and just plain fun, as participants through the joy of the experience reme...
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The happenings of WineSpirit and its emphasis on the institute of wine and spirituality.
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Admittedly, this blog is an occasional reflection rather than a daily passion. As more people come upon the WineSpirit website and/or learn that Sippin' exists, what I have written to this point is intended to be a useful account of the growth and development of WineSpirit and things related.
On June 13, in my capacity as rabbi, I guided the communities in saying farewell to an amazing man: a presence, a force, a blessing, an architect, a sculptor, a ceramist, a painter, a cyclist, a musician, a chef, a wine grower, a prayer leader, an ethicist, a modest man and more...Art Finkelstein, co founder with brother, Alan Steen, of Whitehall Lane, and Judd's Hill named for his son who carries on family quality and tradition, as Judd and Holly carry the flame from Art and Bunnie, with Bunni...
What a special piece of news to awaken to, today, March 8: a new positive review of Sippin' on Top of the World and again, the reviewer, Ward Kadel, choosing different Sips and giving a different perspective. Here is the link to this just released review by Vinopanion's Ward Kadel, contributor to Palate Press:
http://www.winelog.net/blogs/drxeno/2010/03/07/book-review-sippin-on-top-of-the-world/
It is nice to see pieces come together and complement in varieties of ways: growing WineSpirit, bringing WineSpirit and Sippin' to greater public attention, generating new programs, inspired by and based in WineSpirit conversation and Napa Men's and Women's Groups conversation ongoing 12 and 9 years, respectively: 6 weeks of Top of the World Programs...Sippin' on Top of the World, selection...
So much to reflect on since the last November entry. The first WineSpirit Quarterly Sunday afternoon was amazing with Burke Owens helping us enjoy an old school holiday party in blending fine wine, terrific taste treats, joyous catching up with associates and friends amidst an ambience of soaking all of that in, and through Burke's sharing, to bring us all to an intimate appreciation for blessings in our lives, a wonderful entry point into the brunt of the holiday season.
Meanwhile Sippin' continues to enjoy accolades from those who have seen it and read it. Each reviewer has praised Sippin' from different perspectives through their focus on particular Sips. What inspires me most about the reviews, and also true of the 11 reviews on Amazon, is that their words add insigh...
The events in November have been wonderful. The Sagers had 20 people in their home, a beautiful home indeed, for wonderful gatherings, one of which I was honored to be among! 75 people came out to the K-O-H center in Sacramento CA to hear about Sippin' from a Jewish perspective, as there are some Judaically grounded Sips among the 88 that comprise Sippin' on Top of the World. I was so delighted that our videographer Scott was able to film that visit and the wonderful energy among everyone present, with special kudos to Taliah who in her volunteer capacity built the event in a professional way. I am also delighted that they are interested in having monthly follow-up sessions with me, one of the purposes of Sippin', in bringing people together.
I enjoyed my annual visit to...
So much going on in these months that have come and gone! We have resumed the Sip of WineSpirit series that gave birth to Sippin' on Top of the World. Contact me if you want to be on the WineSpirit Email list to receive new Sips as they come out. I have just posted Sips #174 and 175, and since my last blog, #173, inspired by dear friends, Helen and Alan Bonapart.
I continue to enjoy opportunities to bring Sippin' to the public. I am excited about folks in Napa, Karen and Steve S. hosting me for a Sippin' Party, Program and Book Signing in their home on Tuesday November 10 at 7 PM (If you are in the Napa area, I am sure they would welcome you, if you let me know). Then November 15 at the brand new K-O-H Library at Mosaic Law Synagogue in Sacramento from 2 to 4...
This past week has been a delight in bringing Sippin' out in different ways...developing a new model...a few people at a time...Sippin' Lunch, monthly on Tuesdays, and Turnin' Happy Hour into Sippin' Time, monthly Thursdays at 5PM.
What joy to see and be with Burke Owens, as we were this last Tuesday at the launch of Sippin' Lunch. Burke chose Sip 12 with which to inaugurate Sippin' Lunch, reflections on the mellowing of wines and people as they/we age. And the wine we drank was an old Sauvignon Blanc with redeeming features, character that outshone its age. 6 of us came away inspired by the insights that were shared on connecting with elders and youth.
This evening we launched Turnin' Happy Hour into Sippin' Time with Ron Scharman bringing a special boutique win...
So much has happened with Sippin' parties and programs, all very exciting, lots of fun, and truly dreams come through...Janet & Craig kicked it off with 30 people in their lovely waterfront home in Tiburon. Wonderful family and friends gathered and enjoyed special home made treats made with lots of love by Janet. We enjoyed varieties of red and white wines that Craig was pouring. Presenting the book and inviting conversation in a home environment was as warm and inviting as I had imagined.
It set a good standard for the book store welcome in Marin by Susan at Book Passage on Monday, August 3. Sharing among friends and community, many of whom took home copies of Sippin', was very rewarding. It was particularly meaningful when my daughter, entering college in...
Rare numbers with which to move on with the blog!
Enthusiasm for Sippin' continues to grow, as people discover it exists. We have distributed the first 100 books and will receive our next order of soft covers locally by July 15. An extra special dimension to Sippin' is the wonderful input from so many people that shaped how it is, both with Sips...thank you Sondra, Paul, Liz and Larry...and with editing input...more names than I can put here...
With each Sip a potential conversation, it occurs to me that Sippin' provides an added dimension to Happy Hour...turning it into Sippin' Time...enjoying a leisurely visit with friends, sipping a nice wine and reflecting on life's blessings, challenges, and where we are in the journey.
Sippin' catches the attention of all who lov...
Yesterday I had a wonderful visit with Jan Shrem of Clos Pegase, a major sponsor and host of WineSpirit activity. Scott our WineSpirit web keeper and videographer filmed us in follow up conversation to a Spiritual Harvest video we did with Jan some years ago and are now editing. Jan is truly magical in his insights and the ways he expresses them. I cannot wait to finish editing this video and making it available to everyone.
One of the truly magical moments was when Jan invited us into the tasting room and personally poured 4 special wines climaxed by a wonderful Reserve Cab.
I was also very moved and excited by Jan's offer to carry Sippin' in the tasting room with the offer of giving WineSpirit ALL proceeds from the sales. Clos Pegase is now the first winer...
Yesterday I went to wineries along Silverado Trail in Napa to introduce Sippin' and find out the names of people to contact in each locale for possibilities of them offering Sippin' in their tasting rooms and shops. Wineries I visited included Judd Hill, already accepting copies for interested customers, Robert Sinskey, Hagafen, Darioush, Clos Du Val, Luna, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Chimney Rock, and Cliff Lede. I look forward to connecting with the buyers of each of those wineries' shops and seeing about Sippin' becoming available to visitors to the wine country.
I had a lovely visit with Tom Scott of Tom Scott Winery offering me a wonderful Cabernet in exchange for a hard copy of Sippin'. Tom and I go back a long way, and it was good to see him after a good many years....
The books are here!· It felt like they would never come!· The anticpation was agonizing and delicious!· And, of course, now that they are here, the challenge is to put them into people's hands.· Even now, few have seen Sippin'.
Terrific news!· I wasn't able to reach the specific contact person that a friend had encouraged me to contact.· Even more rewarding was that the person who greeted me on the phone at Book Passage, Marin's signature independent book store at once lit up at what she heard me describe.· So, I am delighted and honored that Book Passage of Marin (www.bookpassage.com) intends to introduce Sippin' at an author event on Monday, August 3 at 7PM.· And blessings from Sonoma!· Readers' Books (www.readersbooks.com) has invited me for an author program on Thursday of that week, ...
How wonderful it is to resume the WineSpirit Spiritual Harvest Series, my interviewing elders and sages of the wine world, most recently Jack Cakebread and yesterday, Mike Grgich. They are both amazing spirits. Yet, what made me laugh was seeing the Jan Shrem video of 2002 and a man who claims to be an agnostic speaking more openly and passionately about the Higher Power than anyone else. I also enjoyed the flash forward to Jack Cakebread when Jan said back then that if you can find work that doesn't feel like work, then you will never have to work a day of your life. It was wonderful hearing it from Jack 7 years later, on May 14. I am feeling giddy because revisiting Jan Shrem (as part of the editing process we are doing with that video) and enjoying every ...
This has been such a strange and wondrous time of dwelling vividly in the unknown: Since receiving first copies of Sippin' on May 11, only yesterday I received first copies of the softcover. The first copies had flaws, and the version after, which delayed by these weeks the release of final edition. I hope you like Sippin' and will add a Sip of your own. I am thrilled and relieved that quite a few people who have seen the first flawed copies that I was "showing and telling" at every opportunity were very complimentary. Hopefully folks who read Sippin' will agree to add a Sip and also to begin to use the WineSpirit website, the WineSpirit Tasting Room, now under construction, to connect with each other in sharing answers to questions and raising new questions, as provided ...
May and June are shaping up to be active months for WineSpirit. In addition to video interviews I look forward to conducting with Jack Cakebread, May 14, and Mike Grgich, May 31, Silo's on Main Street in Napa will host a public celebration of Sippin' on Top of the World on Tuesday, June 23 at 5 PM. I had a wonderful pre interview meeting with Jack Cakebread the other day. His story is amazing, from car mechanic, to photographer who studied for years with Ansel Adams, to premier winemaker in the Napa Valley. I cannot wait to sit with him and catch his insights on film. Any day now, I will receive the first copy of Sippin'. Very exciting!
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4-20-09 I am delighted to reach this moment as WineSpirit emerges out of dormancy, a lengthy process involving the editing of Sips of WineSpirit in creating Sippin' on Top of the World, available as of May 10, 2009.· Each Sip is a moment's pause or an hour's conversation...or both.· You decide.· I will look forward to your feedback.· While the book has been two years in the shaping, even after working with material generated years earlier, it feels right for Sippin' to come to light in the times we are in ... challenging us to think differently and do things differently as we turn things around in our society.· The most valuable resources we have are also the most underutilized...people.· The more we can build trust, the more resources we can have in fixing up what we can in our lives an...
Welcome to my blog. WineSpirit is a dream come true, participating in generating community in a secular context, where people can meet face to face or, now by internet and explore life's values, meaning and specialness, as inspired by so many nuances and facets of wine, a beverage unlike any other. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the best in life, as it adds wonderful dimensions to the tastes of food and the times we share with each other. I hope you will make WineSpirit your secular community home and use this setting to share your story, as we learn from each other's journeys and experiences how wonderful life can be when we have good people with whom to share..
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Robert Mondavi reads and discusses the 15 Points that he learned in life and included in his book "Harvest of Joy".
Andre Tchelistcheff, Winemaking Leader
Mike Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate talks about his mentors in his career as winemaker, his experience creating a winning wine at the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, discovering Zinfandel came from his native Croatia, and his admiration for Andre Tchelistcheff.
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WineSpirit celebrates:Sippin' on Top of the World ...
Toasting Good Times and Better Days,
by David White and WineSpirit members
Available NOW through WineSpirit for a donation:
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Also at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and online book sellers around the world.
If you love wine and the joy and connection that comes from sharing it with friends and family, this book is for you. Sippin’ on Top of the World is filled with 88 inspirational wine passages―“Sips”― describing benefits of wine in your lifestyle, in moderation and balance, inviting you to be in this moment: celebrating life, promoting healthy living, enhancing food, and engaging spiritual lessons from the vineyards. Many Sips include material for toasts, identified by bold italics, and questions inviting further reflection, conversation and questions of your own.
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