Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái! 新年快樂! 恭喜發財!

The Year of the Rabbit was a year of organizing, prioritizing, starting, completing, connecting, designing, gardening, cooking, sharing, and much more. I chose “Thrive” as my 2011 Themeword, and thrive I did.

Instead of blogging, I engaged in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and especially face-to-face.

I observed trends, frequent questions, areas of expertise, and passions. I reviewed and recommended dozens of places and products. I attended educational events and shared advice on design, technology, social media, WordPress, getting organized, gardening, cooking, wine, and British entertainment. I resumed photography and collected topics for further exploration. In short, I spent the Year of the Rabbit immersing myself in life.

As the Year of the Dragon rolls in, I look forward to sharing some of those observations here and on official review sites, beyond the fleeting moments of Twitter and the walled garden of Facebook.

A huge thank you to those who have participated in these discussions and welcome to those who will join us this year. May you all enjoy a very healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous Lunar New Year!

新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!

As we embark upon the Year of the Rabbit tonight, I wish you a healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous new year.

Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!
新年快樂! 恭喜發財!

Supposedly, decent table wines are now being produced and boxed all over the world. The technology and wineries willing to brave the box have improved. European and Australian consumers drink table wine from boxes or refilled plastic jugs, but does the US sell anything worth drinking?

That is what we aim to find out this evening with an impromptu box wine tasting. Check out the hashtag #boxwine on Twitter and feel free to join in!

Why box wine?

Benefits cited include:

• Ecology
• Longevity
• Economy
• Portability

But, it really doesn’t matter how great the price, how convenient the product, or that 3L of wine is expected to stay fresh for 4-6 weeks if you want to dump it as soon as you open it!

I love the idea of wine on tap, a single refreshing glass without having to be concerned about finishing the bottle before it oxidizes. I love the portability and many other aspects of the packaging design. I love the price point. But I have questions, too.

There is certainly a case to be made for the ecological benefits of bag-in-box packaging, but I still wonder about the ecological impact and health hazards of drinking wine out of plastic bags. Every choice has trade offs.

I would like to see the glass bottle reuse industry grow, because glass is a highly reusable material that allows wine to retain its quality without leaching harmful chemicals into the product. Unlike plastic, glass is not manufactured from fossil fuels. Reuse saves far more energy than recycling, particularly in the case of glass. Wine Bottle Renew, a new Napa startup, expects to reduce the carbon footprint of wineries by 95% and lower their water use by 25% by sterilizing and reusing wine bottles. I hope they do!

Theoretically, the bag-in-box packaging (sealed spout vs. open bottle) also reduces oxidation, which would make it possible to enjoy a single glass of wine without reducing the quality of the remaining wine. However, as studies show and Joshua Sweeney points out in his extensive boxed wine search, the oxygen-permeable nature of the plastic bag itself impacts the quality and longevity of box wine.

Box wines are also generally less expensive than their glass counterparts, with 3L (4 bottles) averaging about $4-5 per bottle. That’s a great bargain, but it’s only a deal if it’s worth drinking 4 bottles of the stuff.

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the packaging, confusion that goes well beyond the basic question of quality. No wonder the thought of box wine makes us skeptical!

I commend my fellow wine lovers, including Carl Sorvino, John DiMuccio, and anyone else who is game for this adventure. My research and tasting was inspired by a tweet from Tamara Belgard last weekend and it’s been an educational journey so far!

Tonight, we will be sampling various wines that come in boxes. Other questions aside, our focus is simple: Do we like the wine?

What am I tasting?

I love Sauvignon Blanc, particularly from Marlborough NZ, so that’s where I’m starting my exploration of box wine. Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc 2009 box wine rated well in posts I found by Joe Suzadail, Joshua Sweeney, and their commenters. Supposedly, this wine is true to the region’s characteristics and I am truly excited by the idea of having a good Sauvignon Blanc on tap in the fridge.

What’s in your glass?

Photo courtesy of Octavin Home Wine Bar.

I’m not a Chardonnay fan, but I’m excited about this tasting because a fellow Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Noir lover helped me select a budget-friendly Chardonnay I might like, and from a winery that impressed me recently with their Reserve Syrah.

Tomorrow, I’ll be tasting Columbia Crest’s Two Vines Chardonnay 2007, most likely paired with pasta and a mushroom cream sauce. That’s a pretty standard pairing for Chardonnay, but I also love pairing mushrooms and white wine, so I hope it gives the Chardonnay a chance!

The Winemaker’s Tasting Notes sure sound promising:

“This Chardonnay offers fruit-forward apple aromas with hints of spice and honey. Rich flavors reminiscent of apple pie and cinnamon end with a pleasant note of toasted marshmallow. Vibrant Washington fruit characters, with fresh acidity marry beautifully with toasty oak nuances.”

– Ray Einberger, Winemaker

What are you tasting and how are you pairing? Do you have a favorite Chardonnay? What other wines do you love?

Leave a comment and please do say hi on twitter during the tasting!

Photo and tasting notes courtesy of Columbia Crest. Read more about how this wine was made.

Would-you-like-a-cup-of-tea?

Obviously, over here we’d have a cup of tea… the answer to everything!

Wise words from a friend in England last week while I had to wait. For huge design files to transfer. For software to run. For technology to work its magic, while not knowing whether or not the solution would work.

I wanted to use the waiting time productively and I was growing impatient.

So, I took his advice. I waited out the 40 minutes of file transferring and software processing away from the computer. I brewed a pot of tea, cleaned the kitchen, and listened to Eat Pray Love on audiobook.

And guess what? He was right. I was more calm and focused. I’d still been productive, too, but in a much needed physically active, get-away-from-the-computer way. In a fill-my-mind-with-something-inspirational way.

Take a break. Have a cup of tea. Embrace the waiting time, the uncertainty, as a moment to recharge, so that you’re clear and ready when the next task arises.

That advice is still making me smile days later, popping into my head while I wait for decisions and files so I can finish another design. The kitchen and laundry are clean.

Geeky footnote: The latest episode of Dr Who (just days after this advice) has a bit about tea, so read the photo caption like a Dalek!

As Adria mentioned, I am looking to play a greater role in the conversations and strategy surrounding your brand and to get involved with what people are saying about your products and services. Particularly in the wine and food industry.

3 roles I am eager to play in your next project:

1. Conversationalist (What are people saying about your brand online? How can you engage in the conversation?)
2. Conference Evangelist (How do you connect at conferences and trade shows? Who’s out there talking about you?)
3. Design and Content Strategist (What are your words and visuals actually saying about you? What do you want them to say?)

I am detail-oriented, LOVE people, and love sharing everything I discover about wine and food! Currently on the East Coast (US), I can work with you anywhere (gotta love technology!) and am open to relocation and new adventures.

Who do you know? How can I help?!?

Last month, I was particularly moved by an episode of Glee featuring the immensely talented Chris Colfer and Lea Michele in a duet of Defying Gravity (from Wicked). The song’s soaring determination resonates deeply on my journey of transformation.

Incidentally, if you haven’t watched Glee, yes, it is definitely the best show you’re not watching. Huge congratulations on your Screen Actor’s Guild Award tonight, Glee! So well deserved!

Defying Gravity

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!

It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I am defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!

I’m through accepting limits
’cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!
Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost!

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!
bring me down!
ohh ohhh ohhhh!