I was born and raised around wine.
My grandmother was one of the most productive bootleggers in both Sonoma and Mendocino County.
As a child, I crushed grapes for wine by foot.
A little older, I worked in the vineyards as a teen.
I have worked for decades in the wine industry.
Mostly, I worked marketing wines, with my marketing leading to revenue increases for my employer.
Current job: tasting room and wine club manager for McFadden Vineyard.
I’m also the secretary for the Destination Hopland board of directors.
I love wine, but I would rather watch my son play basketball with his high school team than drink a 100 point Parker rated Cab from Napa.
I’m old enough to know what is really important.
January 10, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Keep the passion! Just found your blog and love it. Thank you.
February 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Thanks for the nice review of my book, WineSpeak. If you ever get into the New York City area, let me know and I will treat you to a lunch (with wine).
Bernard
February 26, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Bernard,
Your book is at my left elbow as I type. I recognized some of the more colorful wine descriptors, I subscribed to Wine X magazine when it first appeared on the scene just to read their wine descriptors and giggle.
Seriously, well put together and valuable reference work for a wine writer.
Thanks and cheers,
John
April 2, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Hi John,
Came across your blog when I was looking at the best blog nominations! Good stuff. I do marketing for Jabari Wines, we are available in a few stores in CA, but are launching our website and a new label soon. Will keep your blog bookmarked! Looking forward to reading
Kristen
PS: website and blog aren’t up yet, so I gave you the link to our fan page. It will be http://www.JabariWines.com…coming soon!
April 2, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Thanks Kristin, I will keep an eye out for Jabiri. – John
April 3, 2010 at 4:17 AM
John,
I’m another one who found you from the blogger nominations. I’m enjoying reading your stuff. Good work.
I hope you can make it to WBC – Walla Walla so I won’t be the only 45+ blogger in the room.
Cheers,
Chris
yakyakwine.com
April 3, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Thanks Chris.
There are a few of us with extra experience out there.
Sadly, I had a trip scheduled long in advance that will prevent me from coming to Walla Walla, but I hope to meet you at another future event.
Cheers,
John
April 8, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Too bad you will be missing out on a great event!
April 8, 2010 at 11:14 PM
No worries, most of the wine bloggers at last year’s Wine Blogger’s Conference were over 45
May 5, 2010 at 12:31 PM
John, it was a pleasure meeting you this past weekend. Thank you for taking the time and energy to visit us during Passport. I will be looking for you at Starbucks!
May 5, 2010 at 4:05 PM
Thank you Sherrilynn!
I had a great time. The wines were dead solid, the food well chosen, your smile was as much a part of the atmosphere as the presence of Guinness. I look forward to visiting you again in Hopland when it isn’t Passport weekend, or seeing you in my local Starbucks.
Cheers,
John
September 22, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Dear John,
I’d like to exchange links on our blogs. I feel that many of your readers would appreciate what my blog has to offer. Readers can use my site to find Wineries, wine bars etc. throughout North America. They can also follow my daily Video Vocabulary of Wine where we interview a winemaker or winery owner about a specific term used in the world of wine. The videos are being compiled to create the first ever video wine dictionary! Just for fun I’m also producing a new web series called “Just A Taste.” Each week we review one wine and give updates from the world of wine in a humorous format. You can watch a webisode here: http://www.winetrippingtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=36&Itemid=50
I sincerely believe that my blog is offering something new and unique in the world of wine!
If you would like to exchange links, please send me an email and I’ll get yours up on my blog roll right away.
Thank you,
Dan Ganshirt
WinetrippingTV.com
September 23, 2010 at 11:59 AM
I am happy to add your blog to my blog roll, it is bright and interesting.
John
October 20, 2010 at 10:36 AM
J. Frank?
October 20, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Indeed.
November 5, 2010 at 3:07 PM
Awesome read, very interesting .. you have a favorite band
March 6, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I somehow came across your writings thru Joel Petersen or somewherelse, liked your blogs and articles. Good move going back to school, congratulations on a fine future career, never too late.
dan & vicki dooling
owners/operators mariah vineyards & winery
March 6, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Thanks Dan, it is very kind of you to leave your note. I have taken Mountain View Road to the remote Mendocino Coast, and read so many good things about wines made from Mendocino Ridge grapes; I look forward to upgrading my transportation from a 235k mile minivan missing on two cylinders so that I can visit, taste, and write about all of Mendocino County’s wineries and their wines. I look forward to visiting you and Vicki one day.
John
May 24, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Congratulations John!!!!
Got the news in the monthly newsletter that I receive from Sandy Peters. I am so very happy for you…”I’m just sayin…”
Hope you will still have the time to make your fabulous Risotto and Chardonnay ice cream.
Good luck in your new endeavor!
Tania
May 24, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Thanks Tania.
Yeah, I love my job, and I use Word and Excel daily, but for big things I still prefer working at home on my Mac where Word has more bells and whistles.
No homemade risotto or ice cream tonight, but I am making sausage stuffed mushroom caps from scratch tonight.
I hope you are doing well, in life, in learning, in travels.
John
June 29, 2011 at 6:22 AM
John, I hope you dont mind I used one pic from your blog, giving you full credit of course.
http://dedewilson.blogspot.com/
Please let me know if this is OK. The PR kit from the winery didnt have pics as lovely as yours!
June 29, 2011 at 8:01 AM
Dede, I don’t mind at all, and thank you for the credit.
Nice article recapping your experience.
John
January 13, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Hey John: Beethoven just endorsed you https://www.engageorganics.com/uncategorized/engage-organics-salt-free-prime-rib-to-drool-for/. Thanks for all the doggie treats you give him!