13.1 Miles!
I am writing this while hugely inspired by Arsenal’s amazing come from behind 4-2 victory over Bolton tonight in London. My Gunners now sit at the top of the English Premier League, at least for a few days. It’s been an amazing turn-around since dropping 11 points off the pace just a few weeks ago…
Their gutsy performance has inspired me to go public with my intention of running the Wine Country Half-Marathon this September 4th. You should know, first of all, that I’ve never run more than three or four miles at one time in my life. 13.1 miles at this point seems about as reachable as running to Seattle. I am determined, however, to give it my best shot.
Thiébault Huber - my Burgundian running partner
There’s a half-marathon through the vineyards in Burgundy that takes place every November while I’m over there. This past November Thiébault Huber (Domaine Huber-Verdereau in Volnay) and his wife Marielle and I made a pledge to each other that next year, we would all run it. We said that, of course, after feeling especially sluggish from a week of non-stop foie gras, potatoes in goose fat, duck confit, and copious amounts of great old Burgundies. I don’t know if we all took each other seriously or not, but Thièbault - I’m calling you out, mon ami - we’ve got to go for it.
Lord knows I need to lose a pound or 40. I’ve been alternately lean & hard and round & soft throughout my adult life, and dearly want to get lean & hard again while I still have the chance of enjoying something resembling a youthful middle-age. So, I am now in my 3rd week of training - with the intention of working up to a 10K, and then kicking it up to the half-marathon level by September. Assuming I survive that, I’ll gun for the run through Pommard, Volnay & Meursault in November as well. I am taking some solace in the fact that the courses for both events appear to be relatively flat, so there may be hope yet. And, the finish line for the Oregon event in September is literally a few paces from our tasting room door in Carlton - so I can crawl into the cellar on my lips if necessary… Wish me luck!
On other more vinous matters, it’s time to start making plans for Valentine’s Day weekend. This year we’ve got two special events happening on Saturday Feb 13th. From Noon ’til Five that day we’ll be pouring two special flights in the tasting room. Our regular $10 tasting fee will get you some of the killer Marc Chauvet Champagne, as well as an assortment of Burgs and our elegant Pinots. Additionally, we’re doing a very rare tasting of the coveted 1er & Grand Cru Burgundies from Lucien Le Moine - the high-scoring cult superstar of Burgundy. These wines are generally never available for tasting anywhere - so if you’d like to taste for yourself and see what they’re all about, plunk down your 25 bucks and we’ll have at least five major bottles open for your dining and dancing pleasure. (Tasting fee is refundable with any six-bottle purchase.) If you want the best for your Valentine (or yourself, of course), this is the stuff. I am really looking forward to this one! NOTE: we will be closed on Sunday, Valentine’s Day, so we can spend it with our honeys!
In the cellar with Mounir at Lucien Le Moine
Then that evening I’ll be teaching a Burgundy seminar on the village of Chambolle-Musigny, which as of this writing is one or two seats away from being sold-out. Email kellykarr@scottpaul.com to book your seats or to get on the waiting list. We DO definitely still have a few seats for the Burgundy 101 class on January 30th - again just email Kelly to get yourself all set up. And we’ve decided to run a contest for our Blog, Facebook & Twitter followers - to give a way a couple of free seats at the Burg 101 class in January - watch this space for more details shortly…