Try a case of these 12 local wines as a gift

Randy Caparoso Try a case of these 12 local wines as a gift

Posted: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:59 am, Wed Dec 14, 2011.

I don't begrudge my fellow man and stalk off or click off the TV every time one of those Lexus Christmas commercials comes on. I'm happy for other people's success, but after more than 30 years in the business of selling or writing about wine, there's one thing I never understood: Why do people spend too much on bottles of wine?

I'm talking about big-name, big-shot wines that cost over $100, $200 or even $500 a bottle. They're not like a Lexus, which at least gives you a nifty package of engineering. Fine wine is more like aesthetic arts or crafts: The qualities appreciated are sensory, and therefore very much a state of mind, not measurable technology.

Subscription Required

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Need an online subscription?

Already a print subscriber?

Login

Screen Name or Email Password Forgot?

Screen Name or Email Now I remember!

Or, use your linked account:

Need an account? Create one now.

Online services

1 E-edition$9.75 for 30 days$28.50 for 91 days$52.50 for 182 days$99.00 for 365 days
If you do not have a current subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel but want to read the e-edition of the newspaper, please chhose this option.
2 Lodinews.com Subscription$9.75 for 30 days$28.50 for 91 days$52.50 for 182 days$99.00 for 365 days
If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view more than 20 articles per month, please choose this option.

Current print subscribers

1 Businesses with Print SubscriptionsNo additional cost.
If you are a business with a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, please choose this option for FREE online access. You will need to know your account number to finalize accessing this service. If you do not know your account number, please contact us at 209-333-1400.
2 Current Print SubscribersNo additional cost.
If you are a current print subscriber to the Lodi News-Sentinel (and are not subscribed as a business), please choose this option for FREE online access. You will need to know your account number to finalize accessing this service. If you do not know your account number, please contact us at 209-333-1400.

Already a Print Subscriber? None of these apply to you? Back

Need an account? Create one now.

You must login to view the full content on this page.

Screen Name or Email Password Forgot?

Screen Name or Email Now I remember!

Or, use your linked account:

Need an account? Create one now.

kAmx? >J >:?5[ E96 >@DE 6I4:E:?8 H:?6 J@F 4@F=5 A@DD:3=J 8:G6 >6 H@F=5 36 D@>6E9:?8 E@E2==J ?6H 2?5 F?6IA64E65[ 3642FD6 x 4C2G6 @C:8:?2=:EJ 2D @AA@D65 E@ D2>6?6DDj DFCAC:D6 2D @AA@D65 E@ AC65:4E23:=:EJ]k^Am

kAmp?5 :7 E96C6VD 2?JE9:?8 7@C H9:49 {@5:\8C@H? H:?6D 2C6 364@>:?8 :?4C62D:?8=J <?@H?[ :EVD E96:C @C:8:?2=:EJ 2?5 E@E2=[ H@?56C7F= 23:=:EJ E@ DFCAC:D6] (9@ H@F=5 E9:?<[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ E92E H:?6D >256 7C@> 8C2A6D 42==65 %2??2E @C '6C56=9@ 4@F=5 E2DE6 D@ 8@@5n p=E9@F89 E96D6 8C2A6D 92G6 tFC@A62? @C:8:?D[ G6CJ 76H G:?E?6CD :? }2A2 '2==6J @C (2==2 (2==2 H@F=5 E9:?< E@ 8C@H E96>] %96JVC6 >@DE=J DEF4< @? 8C2A6D =:<6 r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? 2?5 r92C5@??2J — H9:49 2C6 A6C764E=J 7:?6[ 3FE ?@E 6I24E=J 2 EFC?\@? 7@C D@>6@?6 =:<6 >6[ H9@ 5C:?<D H:?6 7@C 2 =:G:?8 WJ629[ D@>63@5J 92D E@ 5@ :EX]k^Am

kAm$@ :7 J@F ECF=J H:D9 E@ EFC? @? E96 3:8\D9@E H:?6 =@G6C :? J@FC =:76[ 4@?D:56C AFEE:?8 E@86E96C 2 42D6 @7 E96D6 `a 6I4:E:?8 {@5:\8C@H? H:?6Dik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h p=E2 |6D2 r6==2CD[ {@5: '6C56=9@ WS`cXk^DEC@?8m — rFEE:?8D @7 E9:D 8C2A6 @C:8:?2E65 7C@> E96 pK@C6D :D=2?5 @7 !:4@[ 5:D4@G6C65 3J G:8?6C@? #@? $:=G2 H9:=6 G:D:E:?8 9:D 72>:=J 9@>6] p>2K:?8 5CJ H9:E6 H:E9 A6249 D<:? 2?5 =:>6 A6C7F>6D[ 9:?E:?8 2E D46?E65 82C56? 96C3D =:<6 A:?62AA=6 D286 2?5 =6>@? G6C36?2j E2DE:?8 =:89E=J E2CE[ D:=<J D>@@E9[ DE@?J 5CJ] u:?5 2E {@5: (:?6 U2>Aj ':D:E@C r6?E6C] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]=@5:H:?6]4@>QmHHH]=@5:H:?6]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h &G288:@[ {@5: '6C>6?E:?@ WS`cXk^DEC@?8m — (:?6>2<6C y:> |@@C6 42==D '6C>6?E:?@ E96 QE9:?<:?8 >2?VD !:?@E vC:8:@[Q H9:49 :E :D — DE@?J BF2=:E:6D =2465 H:E9 4:ECFD 2?5 5C:65 96C3[ =2G6?56C\=:<6 ?@E6Dj E96 A@EA@FCC: D6?D2E:@?D <:DD:?8 E96 A2=2E6 H:E9 =6>@?J 4C:DA?6DD :? 2 =:89E[ =:E96[ =:>36C 3@5J] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]FG288:@]4@>QmHHH]FG288:@]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma_`_ #:2K2[ %6CC2 p=E2 ':?6J2C5 r=6>6?ED w:==D\{@5: p=32C:ñ@ WS`hXk^DEC@?8m — {@5: 92D 366? 7665:?8 E96 8C@H:?8 56>2?5 7@C E9:D 8C2A6 H:E9 E96 =2C86DE A=2?E:?8D @FED:56 :ED 9@>6 :? #:2D q2:I2D[ $A2:?] !62<D @7 >:?6C2=D 2?5 7CF:E :? 2 3@?6 5CJ[ >65:F> 3@5:65 A24<286j D46?ED @7 H:=57=@H6CD[ 9@?6J[ 8C2A67CF:E[ A:?62AA=6[ 6G6? 8C66? >2?8@] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]C:2K2H:?6D]4@>QmHHH]C:2K2H:?6D]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma_`_ ~5:D62 r@49@?[ r=6>6?ED w:==D\{@5: vC6?2496 q=2?4 WSadXk^DEC@?8m — $F3E=J 4C27E65 H9:E6 6IF5:?8 2D >F49 2 ?2EFC2=?6DD @7 7CF:E 2D AFC6[ F?25F=EFC2E65 :?E6?D:EJi 3:==@H:?8 7C28C2?46D @7 H9:E6 A6249[ 2AC:4@E 2?5 EC@A:42= 7=@H6CD[ H:E9 9@?6J65[ >6=@?J[ BF:?46\=:<6 7=2G@CD =2J6C65 FA@? D:=<J[ DH:C=:?8[ 4C:DAJ[ 4C62>J D6?D2E:@?D] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]4@49@?H:?6]4@>QmHHH]4@49@?H:?6]4@>k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__g q@<:D49[ %6CC2 p=E2 ':?6J2C5 r=6>6?ED w:==D\{@5: v2C?2492 WS`gXk^DEC@?8m — uC@> 2 4=@?2= D6=64E:@? 4F==65 7C@> $A2:?VD #:@;2 q2;2 — G6CJ 7:?6[ D6?DF2=[ DEC2H36CCJ =:BF6FC\=:<6 7CF:E[ A6C>:DD:G6 :? E96 ?@D6[ 56>FC6 @? E96 A2=2E6[ 7:?:D9:?8 H:E9 52?86C@FD H9:77D @7 E@3244@] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]3@<:D49G:?6J2C5D]4@>QmHHH]3@<:D49G:?6J2C5D]4@>k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h # Wy677 #F?BF:DEX[ $:=G2DA@@?D {@5: $@FKã@ WSacXk^DEC@?8m — u6H G:?E?6CD 3@E96C H:E9 $@FKã@[ 6G6? :? :ED ?2E:G6 !@CEF82= WH96C6 :E :D FDF2==J 8@6D :?E@ DH66E 7@CE:7:65 H:?6DX[ 2?5 E9:D =FD4:@FD[ 5CJ C65 E23=6 H:?6D =:<6 E9:D >2<6 J@F H@?56C H9J] q=24< 2?5 q:?8 496CCJ 6IA=@D:@? :? D@7E[ 3C:89E[ 2=>@DE =6G:E2E:?8 >65:F> 3@5J] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH];677CF?BF:DEH:?6D]4@>QmHHH];677CF?BF:DEH:?6D]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__f u6?6DEC2[ $:=G2DA@@?D ':?6J2C5D {@5: %@FC:82 WSagXk^DEC@?8m — |256 7C@> E96 Q<:?8Q @7 !@CEF82=VD !@CE 8C2A6Dj 96C6[ G:?:7:65 :?E@ 2 5CJ G2C:6E2= C65[ 8:G:?8 D6?D2E:@?D @7 C@2DE:?8 3667[ 4@?46?EC2E65 A=F> 2?5 3=24<36CCJ:D9 7CF:E :? ?@D6[ H:E9 E9:4<[ >62EJ J6E A=:2?E A2=2E6 D6?D2E:@?D] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]76?6DEC2H:?6CJ]4@>QmHHH]76?6DEC2H:?6CJ]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__e p<:? tDE2E6D[ r9C:DE6D6? ':?6J2C5 #6D6CG6 {@5: %2??2E WS`gXk^DEC@?8m — %9:D $@FE9\(6DE uC6?49 8C2A6 :D ?@E 7@C E96 72:?E @7 962CE — D@ 56?D6 2?5 7F== J@F 42? 62E :E H:E9 2 DA@@?] *6E 2>2K:?8=J A=F>A H:E9 A=F>>J[ 3=24< 7CF:ED[ 72:?E=J @7 =62E96C[ 5FDEJ =@2> 2?5 H@@5D>@<6] pE (@@53C:586 &?4@C<65 (:?6 q2C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]H@@53C:586F?4@C<65]4@>QmHHH]H@@53C:586F?4@C<65]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h z:556C u2>:=J[ {@5: $JC29 WSaeXk^DEC@?8m — r2=:7@C?:2 $JC29 92D 364@>6 D@ F?72D9:@?23=6 E92E J@F H2?E E@ 46=63C2E6 H96? 2 H:?6>2<6C =:<6 p2C@? z:556C >2?286D E@ A=F>3 566A :?E@ E96 8C2A6VD :?EC:?D:4 362FEJ — =:<6 C682==J C:49 G:@=6E 2?5 pD:2? E62\=:<6 DA:46 A6C7F>6D[ 2?5 >62EJ[ 7=6D9J[ J6E G:3C2?E[ D:=<J D6?D2E:@?D E92E 7:== E96 >@FE9 H:E9@FE H6:89:?8 :E 5@H?] %@ 7:?5[ u2463@@< z:556C u2>:=J (:?6CJ]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__g vC2?5D p>:D[ t=< ':?6J2C5 !C:G2E6 #6D6CG6 q@C56? #2?49\{@5: !6E:E '6C5@E WSadXk^DEC@?8m — |256 7C@> q@C562FIVD =62DE 2AAC64:2E65 8C2A6 — 2 4@>A@E6 @7 C2DA36CCJ 2?5 3=24<36CCJ 2C@>2D 282:?DE 324<5C@A @7 2==DA:46\=:<6 @2<j E2FE[ 56?D6[ J6E DF>AEF@FD E6IEFC:?8 8:G:?8 2 4@>A24E[ 6=682?E 766=] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]8C2?5D2>:D]4@>QmHHH]8C2?5D2>:D]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h |:4926=Os2G:5[ x?<3=@E {@5: r236C?6E uC2?4 WSbdXk^DEC@?8m — uC@> E96 Q@E96CQ 4236C?6E — 2 9F86=J C:49 J6E D2E:?J D>@@E9 C65 H:?6 H:E9 7=@C2=^G:@=6E\=:<6 G2C:6E2= 2C@>2D 6?EH:?65 H:E9 7C6D9[ H:=5 36CCJ A6C7F>6D 2?5 DF886DE:@?D @7 D>@<J[ C@2DE:?8 4@7766] |2J 36 E96 36DE H:?6 E9:D H:?6CJ 92D 6G6C >256P k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>:4926=52G:5H:?6CJ]4@>QmHHH]>:4926=52G:5H:?6CJ]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma__h $E] y@C86[ {@5: $@3C6>6D2 WSab^92=7\3@EE=6Xk^DEC@?8m — u:?2==J[ D@>6E9:?8 E92E >2<6D 2 =:89E 56DD6CE :? :ED6=7[ G:?:7:65 7C@> E96 %@CC@?EéD 8C2A6D — 2 D6?DF2==J D@7E[ 62DJ[ 5:D4C66E=J DH66E 6DD6?46 @7 A62C 2?5 2AA=6 ?64E2CD H:E9 EH:DED @7 =6>@? A66=] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]DE;@C86H:?6CJ]4@>QmHHH]DE;@C86H:?6CJ]4@>k^2m]k^Am

kAmk6>m#2?5J r2A2C@D@ :D E96 >F=E:\2H2C5 H:??:?8 D@>>6=:6C^C6DE2FC2E6FC 2?5 =@?8E:>6 H:?6 ;@FC?2=:DE H9@ A6?D E96 3=@8 7@C E96 {@5: (:?68C2A6 r@>>:DD:@?VD k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]=@5:H:?6]4@>QmHHH]=@5:H:?6]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

Thank you for reading 20 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 20 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription at this time and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 209-369-2761. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Need an online subscription?

Already a print subscriber?

Login

Screen Name or Email Password Forgot?

Screen Name or Email Now I remember!

Or, use your linked account:

Need an account? Create one now.

Online services

1 E-edition$9.75 for 30 days$28.50 for 91 days$52.50 for 182 days$99.00 for 365 days
If you do not have a current subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel but want to read the e-edition of the newspaper, please chhose this option.
2 Lodinews.com Subscription$9.75 for 30 days$28.50 for 91 days$52.50 for 182 days$99.00 for 365 days
If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view more than 20 articles per month, please choose this option.

Current print subscribers

1 Businesses with Print SubscriptionsNo additional cost.
If you are a business with a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, please choose this option for FREE online access. You will need to know your account number to finalize accessing this service. If you do not know your account number, please contact us at 209-333-1400.
2 Current Print SubscribersNo additional cost.
If you are a current print subscriber to the Lodi News-Sentinel (and are not subscribed as a business), please choose this option for FREE online access. You will need to know your account number to finalize accessing this service. If you do not know your account number, please contact us at 209-333-1400.

Already a Print Subscriber? None of these apply to you? Back

Need an account? Create one now.

Posted in Randy caparoso on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:00 am. Updated: 6:59 am.

Rules of Conduct

1 Use your real name. You must register with your full first and last name before you can comment. (And don't pretend you're someone else.)
2 Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually oriented language.
3 Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
4 Be truthful. Don't lie about anyone or anything. Don't post unsubstantiated allegations, rumors or gossip that could harm the reputation of a person, company or organization.

5 Be nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
6 Stay on topic. Make sure your comments are about the story. Don't insult each other.
7 Tell us if the discussion is getting out of hand. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
8 Share what you know, and ask about what you don't.

Welcome to the discussion.

Screen Name or Email Password Forgot?

Screen Name or Email Now I remember!

Or, use your linked account:

Need an account? Create one now.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days. You will see 10 articles for free before being asked to register, and then you can view 10 additional articles by registering or logging in. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) free articles remaining ((%remaining_reg%) before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) before being asked to subscribe). Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) total free articles remaining ((%remaining_reg%) before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) before being asked to subscribe). Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You have viewed (%viewed%) of your 20 free pages in 30 days. Please login or register at this time and enjoy the next (%remaining%) articles free of charge. After your 20 free articles, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. Because you have already viewed this article, you may view it again as many times as you would like without subtracting from your remaining free article views.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for registering on Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) remaining. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) remaining. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days. This is your last free article this period. On your next article we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading 20 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 20 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription at this time and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 209-369-2761.

Top Story

More headlines

Top Story

More headlines

Top Story

More headlines

Top Story

More headlines

Top Story

More headlines

Randy Caparoso Try a case of these 12 local wines as a gift