I missed getting our week in review out last week as we were up in Livermore and focused on more wine country adventures. And the down-to-earth, slightly folksy Livermore showed us a good time with plenty of wine tastings, barrel tours and fun times with friends. We also had a bonus meet-up with Al and Tanni of Danville (and Loreto Bay homeowners) for a delicious Thai dinner at Similan.
Last week we set a new record for people writing in to us. Thanks for that — it’s the best part of being part of this blog!
SSC becomes more interesting when there is a variety of voices; other perspectives and stories. So our appreciation again to Mike, Linda, Bob and Suzi, Annie, Jane and others that contribute their knowledge, wit, humor and community spirit. Don’t forget you can contribute too by writing comments on posts or emailing a blog entry to starkinsider.com. Also, readers continue to enjoy articles by regular writers Al Graichen (aka. Photographer in Residence), Carl Orthlieb (currently special corespondent on Bucerias), Tom Eden (movie buff) and Mike Carrall (gadget guy & sugar heart eater).
This blog continues to reach an increasingly global audience…
In January we had visitors from all over the world landing on this site to discover wine, Loreto, travel and Loni’s crazy videos. Places like Italy, UK, Australia, Central and South America, France and Germany to name a few. We say hello to you all! The world is indeed flat.
Our core audience continues to come from the US, Canada and Mexico with strong representation from Loreto (of course), Puerto Vallarta, Bucerias (attracting new readers thanks to Carl’s colorful stories), Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.
From Canada we see lots of visitors from BC (notably Victoria and Vancouver), Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton), Ontario (Toronto and Ottawa), Québec (Montreal) and Halifax out East.
In the US people primarily visit from both coasts, with the West Coast representing the largest audience (from the Baja up to California, Oregon, Washington and BC). New York is growing as is other areas (like Destin, Florida!) where people are interested in owning vacation homes, reading about wine country or just taking in some travel stories and adventures.
Okay enough pre-amble. For those that missed the last few weeks of SSC, here is the summary.
In Wine Country
- Napa Valley wine tasting: Inside the barrel room at Sequoia Grove
- Livermore wine country: Photo of the day
- Turnbull Wine Cellars, Napa Valley: Unassuming exterior, suprises await within
- The rise of Malbec
- Review: Superb ‘CellarTracker!’ software catalogs your cellar, enhances life with wine
- SouPerBowl or SuperBowl? Outtake from Livermore wine country
- All things wine – Livermore (Retzlaff and Fenestra) by Al Graichen
- Follow us on Twitter on today’s Livermore wine country tour
- John Evan “The Winter Star” by Al Graichen
Wine Reviews
- Valley of the Moon Cuvée de la Luna, Sonoma 1998: Interesting wine, tricky vintage
- 1997 Bollinger Champagne: Celebrating in style with grande boisson and food
‘Stark Sips’
- Fuzion Shiraz-Malbec, Familia Zuccardi, Argentina 2008 $7.45 (81 pts.)
- Clos du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2006 $13.49 (87 pts.)
- Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2006 $15 (84 pts.)
- Parducci Pinot Noir, Mendocino 2007 $9.99 (84 pts.)
- Novella Synergy Blanc, Paso Robles 2007 $4.99 (75 pts.)
- Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2006 $7.99 (83 pts.)
‘Wine Tales’ Podcasts
Loreto Baja
- Aeroméxico could connect to Loreto, San Diego and the DF
- Our Loreto Bay home, Casa del Lagarto Azul, may have a birth date of March 6th
- Loreto Baja updates: Press trips, extended promotion and La Mision Hotel
- Loreto Baja (Whale Watching) by Al Graichen
- Loreto Bay Founder’s swimming pool progress
- US IRS Tax forms by Al Graichen
- Casa del Lagarto Azul, may I present you to the world
- Pictures of Loreto by Annie Omens
- Amidst the changes at Loreto Bay, we get a status update
- Loreto Bay by Bob and Suzi Kopolo
- Loreto Bay sends official word: Replay Resorts’ management contract has expired
Around the World
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company: Don’t underestimate their firecracker sauce
- Bucerias, U-Save = U-Lose by Carl Orthlieb
- Sing me a little tune from a balcony in Alfama (Lisbon, Portugal)
- Bucerias, Catch a Tiger by the Toe by Carl Orthlieb
- Two strangers and an October day exploring Ghent and Bruges in Belgium
- Bucerias, The Perfect Margarita by Carl Orthlieb
Entertainment
- ‘When Harry Met Sally’, A favorite movie moment that makes every man cringe by Tom Eden
- Another classic movie moment: Michael J. Fox an all American (well, Canadian) kid by Tom Eden
News and Editorial
- Anthony Bourdain: Smoking, drinking and cursing his way to the top of the food chain by Mike Carrall
- Photo of the day: San Jose morning fog, mist and sun across the foothills
- Super Bowl weekend, who am I rooting for?
- It’s oh-so-fun living on the San Andreas Fault
- Around the World (a hometown hero’s welcome for Sully Sullenberger in Danville, California) by Al Graichen
- Quick tip: Use the search form to find wine reviews and other information by Mike Carrall
- To my heart, with a heart by Mike Carrall
- Inauguration Day: A momentous occasion
Tasty Stuff
Go Green
- Solar Energy Update: January 2009, news from Jim on the SunPower beta program
- Send Mother Nature a “Be my Valentine”
Email your Guest Blogs ([email protected])
Gadgets and Tech
- Windows 7: My first impressions by Mike Carrall
- The top 3 CES products worth waiting for (and 1 over-hyped to avoid) by Mike Carrall