Posted January 28th, 2004 by Michelle

Please excuse my absence of late- seems I’m full of excuses, but at least they are good ones.

I am taking a class at the Culinary Institute of America, here in St Helena, CA. The class is called Mastering Wine I, and is being taught by none other than Karen MacNeil, author of wine bible, brilliant Sommelier, wine expert of wine experts. And it is wonderful. I’m realizing that it’s as much the classroom environment as my object of study that I love. I’m good at this. I dig being in a class, filled by smart people, taught by a smart person, hearing about a topic that fascinates me and, better yet, experiencing undeniable truth that I’m learning something.

Speaking of which, I’m off to a Bordeaux wine dinner at the CIA where 70 of the 2000 Bordeaux will find their way into my little wine class. Yeah, you know, 2000. Vintage of the century. I mean, if I have to live in Napa Valley, this is what I should be doing, right? Also, for those of you who will appreciate this, the mustard had sprung out of the ground overnight. Beautiful, charming mustard flowers, nodding at each other in the breeze, filling in the rows between the vines with a brilliant blanket of yellow. If ever there was a time to visit, it’s now. (hint hint)