Irregular Update
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Sydney Time
Copyright © Ric Einstein 2009
Welcome to this week's Irregular Update.
It was surprising that there was no feedback to last weeks article, James Hackers Story. Normally this type of story elicits a reasonable level of reader response. Shortly after the story hit the eater, I received a phone call from Eamonn Eagan the General manager of APW. He wasn't a very happy chappie, or enamoured with what I had written, but to his credit, Eamonn handled himself with good grace. However, he did point out that I had made a few errors and he also provided some very useful information about their operation. Changes were immediately made to the story to reflect this information. So, if you read the story and there was no mention of the name Eamonn Egan, its worth going back and looking at it again. Whilst I have not changed my mind about the viability of the average Joe investing in wine, or the past sales tactics behind these organisations, at least APW is trying very hard to to do the right thing and look after the customers post sale.
In the last few days I have also posted a Snippet. Another marvel of modern science has been unleashed on the public that claims to miraculously age wine in minutes. I don't even need to try the wine that has undergone "treatment" to know that much of what is claimed about this devices capabilities is rubbish. There are More Holes Than Swiss Cheese in the claims made by its inventor.
This weeks article highlights a critical situation facing our local wine industry, yet it has received almost no formal press coverage! The old Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times" holds true, especially for those in the wine business. Most wine lovers would be aware there was a huge wine glut a few years ago and that it has all but disappeared. The glut caused enormous strains of both growers and producers and many almost went to the wall. The glut being finished was great news for those in the industry; well it would be if it was true. Unfortunately it was not much more than a short reprieve. The excess wine lake is growing again, and if the industry forecasts are right, in two years from now things will be almost as bad as they were a few years ago. "Interesting Times" can be found here.
A few new Tasting Notes have also been added this week. They can be found here.
The News section has been busy for a change this week. Stories of possible interest include...
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Palandri Wine goes into liquidation
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Wine Spectator Announces New Mobile Platform
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Grape growers crushed by oversupply
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New Bordeaux appellation gets go-ahead
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Constellation Falls as Sales Rise Less Than Estimates
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Winegrape growers hung out to dry
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Heston Blumenthal: 'We are just scratching the surface of taste'
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Foster's Names Johnston CEO Amid Wine-Unit Review
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Wine workshops focus on climate change
Those stories and more can be found here.
This weeks wine fact. Wine has so many organic chemical compounds it is
considered more complex than blood serum. (And more fun to drink too.)
Until next time .... Cheers Ric
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Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008