Mood Wine Club - Palm Springs Founders Event...

Ok, so let me start by saying: My built in photographer (Jake) was busy playing host and his camera was out of action most of the night - However you can visit David A. Lee's photo album to see tons of WAY cool people shots he took. David is a photographer and freelance writer and awesome guy!

That being said, Jake did get some cool pics that captured the essence of the evening...

Robert, Scott, (Erik in the background). and Kurt

I'm sure these guys were discussing the amazing nuances and seductive beauty of the three wines they had just tasted with me on the back deck (Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Yalda). That or how much they loved the Reunite, Inglenook White Zinfandel, and Manischewitz in the blind tasting; I mean after all - Kurt did win one of the raffle draws based on getting the blind tasting correct.

JUMP FOR MORE...

Before I continue with people shots, these are the three magical wines that were included in our OH-SO-POPULAR blind tasting...

Inglenook White Zinfandel

This wine was so popular in the 80's, especially Sutter Home, that people were astounded to eventually learn that the Zinfandel grape is actually a red grape.

Although mostly considered laughable by serious wine drinkers, white Zinfandel was HUGE in introducing beginning wine drinkers to the wonders of the grape!

Next was this...

Manischewitz - White Cream Concord

Concord says it all. I love that the label says "containing no less than 51% concord", makes you wonder what else is in this wine, but HEY, it is Kosher!

The condord grape is the American root stock grape that is used for Welch's grape juice. This is what the official Manischewitz website says about this wine...

"Cream White Concord
A sweet wine with a pleasant mouth feel and a smooth aftertaste. A smooth fruity wine with plenty of grape flavor and a subtle aroma of confectionery flavors." YUMMY!!!

And the third wine is probably best remembered for the "Riunite on Ice" ad campaign and jingle from the 70s and 80s that many of us can still sing...

Riunite Lambrusco

Like the White Zin, this wine is made from a respected wine grape - Lambrusco from Northern Italy. Lambrusco wines had the largest volume of imported wines into the US during all of the 70's and 80's... thanks to Riunite! However, the grape has been around for thousands of years... it has been found and identified in ancient Etruscan archeological sites.

So now you have the run-down on the silly blind tasting we offered and used for a raffle drawing. IT WAS FUN! 

And then Jake, after a long night of greeting guests at the door, was finally able to join the party... and what does he do? He finds his new BFF Ashley Forbes-Rosenow, and his arch-rival for her love and attention - Brian Wolbaum...

Brian, Ashley, and Jake

These two, battling it out for her attention when the one she really wants is me... seriously guys, get a GRIP! BTW, Brian is an amazing artist... HOPING to do some Mood Wine related thing with him and his art.

Although Jake was working hard to make sure everyone was having a good time, he got a few fun shots in, like this...

A good time was had by all

And in the end, he managed to get my backside - so you at least get to see my blazer a little... I was talking to this cool guy I met at the event... Ray Vigil - I feel like I'm writing a social column... oh wait, I am!

L-R, Patrick, Ray, Robert, Scott, (Ashley way in the back) and Kurt

The rest of the guys in this picture are Robert, and Scott, and Kurt (Kurt and Ray are a thing!)... AND NO  Kurt is not brown bagging it, this is the bottle of wine he won in the raffle... hmmm, he knew his white zin, Manischewitz and Riunite pretty well.

STAY-TUNED FOR THE FOOD POST COMING UP NEXT... hint - it includes some raw vegan stuff I did for one of the MOOD WINE CLUB founders.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME... THANKS! IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT MOOD WITHOUT YOU!