Having returned from a sales blitz in Louisiana, I was thinking about what to blog about regarding winemaking.  But it didn’t seem right to ignore the great people and great environment that New Orleans has to offer.

New Orleans is located on the large Mississippi Delta.  The only other Delta in the US is just south of Sacramento which holds the growing district of Clarksburg.  So naturally, I was focusing on our Crusher Clarksburg appellation brand given this similarity.  Our brands on this sales trip were widely accepted in a number of venues.  Regardless of our success, I was most impressed with the people.  What a friendly city.  There must be something in the water that makes those folk so happy and polite.  That was true Southern hospitality.

And then it comes to the food, you won’t find regional cuisine in the US that is as distinct to one location like in Louisiana.  I ate as much gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, and creole/cajun cuisine as possible (all paired with our wines of course).  I was a big fan of the crawfish stuffed quail over andouille sausage and wilted greens paired with our 2008 Crusher Clarksburg Pinot Noir.

So if you haven’t been to New Orleans or haven’t been in a while, make plans to visit this city for the wonderful people, great cuisine, and positive vibe of this historic city.  And please buy a bottle of your favorite Don and Sons wine while you are there.  This way I can afford to go back and visit on vacation rather than business.   I had fun and I was working.  I can’t wait to go back just for fun.  And to our friends in New Orleans, thanks for the great sales trip and your warm hospitality.

Over and out, your winemaker, Greg.