California wine shipments fall in US

January 28, 2010
By Richard Woodard

California wine shipments in the US fell for the first time in 16 years in 2009 as consumers turned to cheaper bulk imported wines, according to new figures.

Last year was 'brutal' for the California wine industry, analyst Jon Fredrikson told the annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, adding that many wineries had endured their worst year ever.

Bulk wine imports soared 87% to 25m cases in 2009, sending total imported wines up to 104m cases and giving them a 32% share of the US market – an all-time high.

But most bulk wines were imported by major US wine companies and distributors, such as Gallo and Constellation, Fredrikson said.

The total US wine market grew by 2.1% to 323m cases, but shipments from California edged down 1.6% to 236m cases – their first decline since 1993.

However, there were some signs of improved trends towards the end of the year, said Fredrikson, president of Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates.

Bulgarian-born pianist and film composer Mario Grigorov wrote the score for 2009 film Precious

Bulgarian-born pianist and film composer Mario Grigorov’s life has always been about music. Grigorov spent most of his life studying a range of musical forms including jazz, classical and world, before composing the score for Lee Daniels’ 2009 film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire (Knopf, 1996). This marks Grigorov’s third collaboration with Daniels; the two also collaborated on Tennessee (2008)and Shadowboxer (2005). Precious, the 2009 New York Film Festival centerpiece and current Lee Daniels sensation, is the story of the ultimate outsider, her struggle to survive and will to overcome. As someone with an acute sense of what it’s like not to belong, Grigorov found that the film resonated with him almost immediately.
A speaker of five languages, he lived in four countries and under three types of government before the age of 18: communist, Islamic and democratic. “I don’t speak a single language without an accent,” says Grigorov.
The son of a concert pianist and trumpeter, Grigorov was born in Sophia, Bulgaria, in 1963. At age five, he became the youngest student ever admitted to the Sophia Conservatory. His life has taken him all over the map, both musically and geographically.

Tacama Winery, in Peru was a good find

Tacama Vineyard has an area of about 200 hectares (494 acres) and is located in the Valley of Ica, a fertile oasis surrounded by desert. It is situated 300 kilometers from Lima the capital of Perú, and 50 kilometers from the coast, it is 400 meters above sea level. Tacama uses both French technology and receives advice from French experts.

Tacama has won several awards in international shows.

International Experts have classified Tacama's wines as being of worldclass quality.

Professor Max Rives, emeritus Director of the French Agriculture Research Institute, says about the Tacama vineyard: “This region is suitable for producing wines under exceptional conditions … thanks to the characteristics of its climate and soil”. “This allows wines of a characteristic, inalterable type, to be obtained with a quality compared only to the products of the best wine producing countries in the world”, he adds.

Backpacker Fashions in Machu Picchu, Peru

Hristo Vitchev is a modern jazz guitarist...

25 January, 2010 at Yoshi's @ 8 pm. Oakland, CA

Hristo Vitchev is a modern jazz guitarist and composer from Sofia, Bulgaria. Now residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hristo leads his modern (ECM) jazz quartet which features Brazilian (Grammy nominated) pianist Weber Iago, drummer extraordinaire Joe De Rose, and the completely amazing bassist Dan Robbins. The Hristo Vitchev Quartet’s debut album "Song for Messambria" received outstanding reviews by the international jazz community and was selected as one of the six best jazz albums of this year by E-Jazz News.

As jazz critic Edward Blanco describes: “Vitchev is the newest guitarist to enter the national jazz scene and does so with a stunner of a recording in “Song For Messambria,” one of the finest debut albums I've had the pleasure of appraising this year.”

On January 25th the Hristo Vitchev Quartet will present their completely unique sonic signature featuring compositions from the critically acclaimed album “Song for Messambria” , as well as material from their electrifying up-coming record. This night will also mark the official release of Hristo Vitchev and Weber Iago’s brand new duet recording “The Secrets of an Angel.” - featuring some of the most intimate guitar/piano playing.

As jazz critic Brad Walseth describes: "On the heels of his impressive debut recording - Song for Messambria, guitarist Hristo Vitchev returns along with pianist Weber Iago for a wonderful guitar/piano duet recording - The Secrets of an Angel." "...while the gentle title track shimmers like a glistening iceberg on a cold sea. The delightful two-part "The Last Pirate" is a highlight - brilliantly showcasing the exciting romantic bend inherent in Vitchev's music, while the the nostalgic lullaby "Leka Nosht (Good Night)" recalls a faraway youth and rounds out this fine release."

To purchase tickets please go to: www.yoshis.com

For more information about Hristo Vitchev please visit: www.hristovitchev.com and www.myspace.com/hristovitchev

Zahariev Cooperage

Mr. Zahariev, the owner of this cooperage in Bulgaria said:

I inherited the barrel handicraft from my grandfather and from my father. I strive to keep high quality in my work. My Main principle is: “Fewer products, but competitive to the home and international trade”. During the last few years the interest towards us has been increasing. We have gone too deep in this handicraft and we are going on straightforwardly ahead.

Cooperage, the art of barrel making, is an ancient skill. With the advances in every facet of culture, it is surprising to learn the actual barrel making process has changed very little. To achieve the highest standards of quality, the time intensive work must still be performed by the hands of a skilled cooper.

Happy New Year with Patricia Petibon