Didja hear the one about the art raffle?

Posted by Colleen | Events, Napa Valley, Pegase Circle, Wine & Art | Posted on February 11th, 2011

Join us tomorrow, February 12, 2011!

Lots going on…a hint you ask? Well, I did just get back from a local chocolate confection store in the Napa Valley…

Ah-So THAT'S how it works!

Posted by Colleen | Musings, Wine News | Posted on February 10th, 2011

Growing up in Wine Country, wine was always a staple at family parties and my parents had this strange looking tool that they called an “ah-so” which they used to open wine. They also had the traditional waiter’s corkscrew, a set that included a foil cutter with the screwpull/rabbit ears-looking mechanism, which was much easier to use, but in times of cork crisis, the ah-so was the go to wine opener of choice. Except that how to use it properly always evaded me. So I just gave up, because, truly, there were other methods by which to open wine and if the cork got pushed too far into the bottle, well, I pulled the wine damsel in distress card and asked someone else to save me.

Until, that is, I began working at Clos Pegase. They used them all the time and fear slowly crept over me. How was I going to be able to open wine quickly and without embarrassing myself? The mere thought of having to do so induced the same feeling that Ralphie had when he thought he shot his eye out with his Red Ryder BB gun.

Then our Visitor’s Center Manager showed me the tricks of the trade. It took a little practice, but my confidence in using the ah-so to open wine has grown, even enough to film myself using it!

I swear, it truly is easy. Take a look below and fear the ah-so no more.