Oracle...Team Emirates NZ

[shooternz]

O.K

Who is supporting who ....come Americas Cup Racing ..starts in 2 days.

Go Kiwis!

[the_wine_snob]

Hey, sounds like I need to fly over to NZ from SYD on my next trip down (actually had hopes of doing so this year, but things had to be tightened too much), but only if I can bring my guns...

No, in all seriousness, I envy you in many ways, though we also have good (to great) wines here.

Again, my plea to you is "send us your PM," and I will buy FC passage for him, personally (one-way only, as we WILL need him for a bit).

Craig, this toast, with a lovely '05 Puligny-Montrachet, is to you, and to your countrymen!

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

Rodney,

You should bring some GOOD Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs, if you are going down THERE...

Hunt

[Steven L. Gotz]

Craig,

You are more than a short swim (or wade) from your nearest neighbor. That makes a difference.

We have problems, in part, because the Southern border has way too many poor people crossing over trying to make a life for themselves, with no way to do it legally. I know how we could do it right and accommodate almost everyone, but I am not in a position to influence anyone.

We don't have the same problem with the overly polite people up North.

And it isn't so much neighbors as the people who hate us from farther away that is more my worry. If we had not stuck our nose into so many unwanted places... but we did.

Try to keep in mind that most of the things you hear about don't concern most of us as we go about our daily lives. They make a difference, but obviously not enough to influence the right kind of change.

[the_wine_snob]

While not in NZ, but across the straits, Australia has similar issues, and primarily from Papua New Guinea. Many issues, when we were down there. The issues reminded me of "back home," with the Southern border in AZ - vast streams of people looking for government handouts, housing, schooling, medical care and various programs, to put money into their hands. The US is not alone in this.

Hunt

[shooternz]

The Australian issue comes from Indonesia. 

"Political Refugees" (boat people) out of Iraq, Syria etc..

Its a very difficult one for them politically and humanity wise.

NZ is just a bit too much ocean for us to have the same dilemma.

NOW...doing my promote New Zealand thing..

Here is a link to a TV program called "Wild about New Zealand'

Shows off a bit of our land , parks, scenery etc...

http://tvnz.co.nz/wild-about-nz/index-group-5544454

Tip Choose  a high bit stream from the menu  at the screenbottom

[the_wine_snob]

Craig,

Unless you were the shooter, or the cutter, I am not sure if that was $ well-spent - everyone, who I know IS "wild about New Zealand," though one couple did just move back to Phoenix, after about 10 years in Christchurch. Think that that decision was based on grandchildren, but am not sure.

Still, in OUR sights (not my gun sights!!!!), for next trip down below the Equator. Gotta' go, and see for myself.

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

Bogus! Most of the videos are not allowed to be played in my "region." Must be the "guns" thing?

Still, got to see some of it.

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

I am guessing that Air New Zealand is NOT targeting folk from the Mainland of the US. They want people with money, like from Beijing, or Singapore, or Hong Kong, and not poor "Americans."

Hunt

[shooternz]

Links in here may work better Bill.  Maybe even ad free.

http://www.youtube.com/user/wildaboutnewzealand

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wild+about+new+zealand&oq=WILD+ABOUT+NEW+ZEALAND&gs_l=yo...

Can you see how hard I am working to get you to visit down here?

[the_wine_snob]

Craig,

Those DO work for me, a poor, Mainlander from the US.

We were just in Hawaii (last time I checked, they WERE a state in the US), but we were pushed aside, since we were not from either China, or Japan. Mainlander US citizens are, well like gypsies, and are not welcome in Hawaii

That happens in cycles, predicated on the Asian markets. Going back, we tried to dine an an up-scale O`ahu restaurant. We could not book an "ocean-view table," as all were kept, just for Japanese buisnessmen, bringing their prostitutes to dine. No Mainlander was allowed to sit at any of those tables, even if they were empty for the entire night. Fast forward a few years, after the Japanese market crashed, and that same restaurant was begging anyone to dine with them - until the Asian markets took off again, and then, Mainlanders were suddenly third-class citizens, and no longer welcome. That is how things change, and often quickly.

Back in the 1980's, my wife was shunned at the high-end retailers on Kalakaua Ave, and could not get waited on, no matter what she did. The Asian markets were flying very high, and US Mainlanders were considered to only be wasting time. Japanese children would come in, buy an entire rack in the Prada (not Prada Marfa) store, and have their servants package it up, to go into the back of a cube-truck, parked at the curb. Then, with a crash, those same ladies, in black sheath dresses, would stand, like "carnival barkers," begging people, like my wife, to come in and shop. Yeah, right!

Now, it is all about China, and both Japan, and the US Mainland, are like lepers - not to be waited on. ONLY the Chinese.

Maybe next year, that will be the Syrians?

Hunt

[shooternz]

i guarantee you a welcome here.

[Biggles Lamb]

Craig

Be warned if Bill gets to NZ you may not get rid of him

You do after all produce some of the greatest wines in the world, especially whites

Col

[the_wine_snob]

Craig,

Thank you for that warm welcome. We hope to make that happen, though 2014 is supposed to be the "remodel year." Who knows?

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

Biggles,

I do not know about NZ, but Australia was emphatic - no one STAYS! They had that printed on all of our travel documents. They require a Visitor's Visa, and demand to know your immediate family's location, so they can sneak into their homes, and hold them hostage, until you return from "Down Under."

While everyone there was extremely friendly, their Gov. let us know that we were more than welcome to come, but staying was out of the question. That was fine with us, but I will admit, that after 10 days, we still had much to see, and that was JUST in SYD. My next trip there will include 3 more days in SYD (to see/do things that we just did not have time for), and then a week in SE Australia in their "main" Wine Country.

For NZ, I could see a week minimum on each Island, and feel that we would not even scratch the surface.

My biggest regret is that so many great wines from both OZ and NZ, never make their way into the US. We see many gallons of the plonk, then there is a gaping hole, before one gets to the fine and rare stuff. While the latter is great, that profile misses some extremely good wines. It's sort of like US wines into the UK - plonk, or rare with monster prices - you never get to really experience our "good stuff," unless you have a title in front of your name, or a major corporate expense account. I completely understand why the folk in the UK do not think that the US produces any good wines - they never get to see them, unless they come stay with me, and then I quickly change their minds.

Also, since I have to leave my little Bulldog-girl back in the States, I have a big reason to return home...

Hunt

[Biggles Lamb]

Bill

Ah, my Sister in Law and two Neices live in Perth and are citizens of Oz hence we have no bother at all when we go over their, its you subversive Americans

Oh yes the Kiwi's and Aussies definately keep the good stuff for themselves and export the remainder, that said its still pretty good stuff, there are some great wines that we have had from the USA

I used to be a member of a wine club, my we did taste some great wines, limited import by specialist retailers. 

We also have a small supermarket chain near where I live that import themselves and they have great wines.  A gas station about 10 miles away in the shop at the back of the garage they sell award winning wines, strange setup but well worth a trip out

Some one introduced me to desert wines, St Jean de Minervois great with the cheese course, especially shortbread biscuits on which a slice of Cambozola cheese is placed (it has to be Scottish shortbread and Cambozola cheese). Try this combination and you will be in seventh heaven (he says as he looks at a bottle on his PC workstation that he has just taken out of his wine store).  I've tried other desert wine combos but this trip works best

Col

[the_wine_snob]

Well, the Gov in Australia knows that you will not be able to stay too long - your in-laws will throw you out!!!

I have found many great dessert wines, that go beautifully with certain cheeses - I especially love a Sauternes with a big Bleu. As I am also a fan of Foie Gras, and often get a glass of dessert (by tradition) wine with that earlier course, I almost always save a bit, for my later Cheese Course. While I have not had the St Jean de Minervois, I can well imagine that it would be a great pairing.

Personally, I find that more white wines (especially big FR Chards, such as a Meursault) accompanies more cheeses, than do most reds. If I want a red, with a very general Cheese Course, I will usually either order, or keep, some FR Burg (Pinot Noir). Some really like their older Bdx. wines, as they will have worked up to those, through the earlier courses of the meal. I, OTOH, would want to be able to carefully pick my cheeses, with such a wine. When we host a meal, and have many wines, and then a Cheese Course, I work hard with my caterer, to pick JUST the right cheeses, to go with the bigger reds, that we will possibly have moved on to - no creames, no young cheeses, and more aged (especially dry-aged) hard cheeses. I also seldom hesitate to bring out a big white, though we have moved on to reds, just for a Cheese Course - and then there are the dessert wines, if we go with a heavily-veined Bleu.

You have made me very hungry, and ready for my Cheese Course, and I haven't even had lunch yet! You naughty boy...

Hunt

PS - In SYD, we had some great Cheese Courses and finely-paired wines - maybe not up to the exacting standards of the UK, or FR, but very good, none the less. I was impressed.

[Steven L. Gotz]

German wines are the same way. The only affordable wine I ever enjoyed was produced in the area where I lived. But they don't export it. There isn't enough of it.

[the_wine_snob]

Steven,

I agree. Most wine shops, from big-box (Total Wine, etc.), to mom-n-pops, usually limit their GR wines to the very lowest end. However, if one does some looking, at say a retailer such as K&L, they CAN find some great ones - just not everywhere.

I have been getting many of Dr. Loosen's upper-tier wines, from one wine shop here, and if they do not have them, then I call up K&L. Also, as I really appreciate older GR wines, and especially at the Auslese QMP level, I often call K&L, to see if they have any GR Rieslings from the late 70's or 80's. One DOES run a bit of a risk with older wines, and especially older whites, but other than a hint of oxydation in two early 70's wines (light to mild, and the effects blew off quickly), all have been great. Now, older Rieslings are not for everyone, so one should do some tasting, before investing in a couple of cases.

Due to some lousy wines from GR, and some mediocre domestic Rieslings, many people pass on good GR wines, and the shop owner has more trouble moving them - unless they have some clients, who know their GR wines. Same with some great FR Chabils. As many US producers used the name "Chablis" for some horrible wines, back in the 70's - 80's, that name is off-putting to many, who just do not know better. Gotta' be tough for a wine shop to get the inventory correct.

Heck, even my Costco, which had a great wine selection for several years, after they opened, has scaled things way back, and now seldom have even mid-level wines. Have not been to the Scottsdale store, which always had the best wine selection of any Costco in AZ.

Hunt

[Biggles Lamb]

Bill

It is usually a case of my Wife and her Sister starting to get on each others nerves, it is time to move on, and there is plenty of space to hide

If you are into cheese as much as you are fine wines then next time you are in London and on the cheese course ask if they have any Stinking Bishop, I'm not pulling your leg, that is its name and it leaves Rochforte dead in the aroma stakes.  My own favourite is made about 10 miles away, Blacksticks Blue.

[the_wine_snob]

Biggles,

Will be there at end of month. I know that two of the restaurants DO have cheese trollies, so will look for Stinking Bishop. Any wine pairing suggestions?

Appreciated,

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

Biggles,

I would hate it, if things came down to some minor technicalities. This should be about yacht racing, though maybe I am just living in the past?

Hunt

[Kevin-Monahan]

Went to the America's Cup Pavillion the other day. Pretty impressive. Lots of killer yachts too.

[the_wine_snob]

I have heard the same thing.

I hate that I was just there, but time did not permit me to head across the peninsula to drop by. Some people have ALL the fun.

Hunt

[the_wine_snob]

Steven,

We just hosted some NZ "winos" to dinner in SF. They came for the races, and then extended their stay, when it looked like the series might actually go a day or so, beyond what they initially anticipated. We did not make to any of the races, though wife did see the Oracle boat practicing on Monday, from her "office away from home."

While they WERE very big supporters of "Team NZ," they were very nice about it - especially as we were dining in a restaurant in SF. As the gentleman stated, "how could anyone hold any animosity against a bunch of 'kiwis," who are so 'warm and fuzzy," and good sports?" My data might not have too good, or complete, but everyone, with whom I spoke (US, or NZ), was pulling for Team NZ - everyone! I do not think this was due to a lack of nationalistic pride, but more "anti-Ellison" sentiment. Now, perhaps if my sample had been say a million, things would have sorted out differently.

Some enterprising person opened a NZ "pub" at the race site, with full NZ brews, and wines, plus food. That has become a very popular spot, and not just for the NZ folk, attending the races.

Too bad that we were not able to take in some of the racing - we arrived late into SFO from HNL, and had to catch up on the races, as there was zero coverage in Hawai`i. By the time that we did catch up, it was time to head back to PHX, so will be checking the Web site for updates.

BTW - we were on final onto 28L, late Sunday evening, and our 777 was on VFR. Just short of the runway, we hit a major fog bank, and there was not time to switch over to IFR, so we did a steep climb, then a go-around, and an approach with IFR. Not sure why the crew did not get the warning about that fog bank, but it WAS there, right in front of the runway. We lost all of our visuals, on that second approach. It was total peasoup, right off the runway, at about 350-500 ft! Let's just say that this got the passengers' attention. Not sure how many realized that we were coming in on 28L?

Hunt

[Steven L. Gotz]

I grew up in Long Beach, California, so I am familiar with the concept of turning a ship into a building. They did it with the Queen Mary.

I was driving down the road on the way to a job on Friday and much to my surprise, the boat that appears to have been used by Team Oracle has been turned into a monument of sorts. It is up on its side a bit as though fighting the wind, sitting in a pond in front of an Oracle building.

Talk about out of place. Kind of like taking a Kentucky Derby winner and putting it on display at a petting zoo.