The end-of-the-month what-have-we-learned blues wrapup

Another month shuffles, like Fred Thompson, off into its deserved oblivion.  I see no overarching theme.  I sense nothing momentous in the Zeitgeist except the possible implosion of the Clintons and the deepening irrelevance of the Bushes.  And the oft-heralded Decline of the American Empire.  It might be for real this time.

Nothing much of deep moment in the world of our favorite juice.  "Business sucks," etc., etc.

So I offer a series of random thoughts, quips, japes, apercus and whatnot.

Presidential politics

Obama vs. McCain -- two roses.

Clinton vs. Romney -- two dung heaps.

Blogger down!

My good friend and pre-eminent Italian wine blogger, Giampiero Nadali, is leaving the hospital after suffering a severe attack of angina.  Giampi is 47, the age I was when I suffered the Big One.  And lo! I lived to sin again.

I hope he recovers fast, gets more exercise, eats less Camembert, and keeps on tasting and writing.

Recession-proof Italian wine?

Alfonso Cevola told me that December ended up strong where he works -- Italian wine ended on the up side in sales volume and value as wines of other provenance fell off.  Like everyone, Alfonso has expressed caution if not outright pessimism about the year ahead.  Even so, retail trends and research predictions indicate a better-than-average ride for vino italiano in America.

Picturesque interlude

But not all Italian wine will prosper

Even big spenders cut back in a recession.  I hear that the Brunello tasting on Tuesday drew a large and enthusiastic crowd.  (I didn't go because I actually had things to do.)  Brunello is lovely stuff, cheaper than Barolo and supertuscans, and drinkable at more dining occasions.  Rounder and, in my opinion, more balanced than most Chiantis, too. 

People are still saying they're fascinated with the South and its local grapes.  The price points are usually very attractive as well.

Meanwhile, out west

I feel like a matchmaker.  Thanks to the Six Degrees phenomenon, I have managed to get two San Diegans together to talk about wine and the universe and so on.  Jeremy Parzen and Robin Stark, both recently featured on these hallowed virtual pages, are having lunch today.  Truly a meeting of the adorable and the adorable.

What's with Stumbleupon?

Lately I've had hundreds of visitors a day come via Stumbleupon.  What was posted as being so all-fired compelling?  Why do they come?  I hope it's for something besides that old Liev Schreiber picture -- nice if it were because of a wine article, though I doubt it.

Yeah, I'm scraping the bottom of the topic barrel today.  I should quit procrastinating and pack for today's flight to Nice and thence to northern Italy, from Piemonte all the way over to the Slovenian border in Friuli.  A tour of select wee vineyards in several regions.  May the Blackberry work as advertised and promised by Verizon.

Oh, one more mildly amusing thing...

They're searching what?

Recent searches that led visitors to mondosapore include:

Liev Schreiber -- thousands of times

Hillary Clinton naked -- hundreds of times.  Why why oh why...

Tre bicchieri and Gambero Rosso -- the pace is increasing

How much weight did the Tofanelli family loose [sic] -- how much did your family lose?

Italian vs French wine -- a worthy subject for debate

Italian vs. French food -- no contest, secondo me

Dick head or Dickhead -- I hope they meant that metaphorically

Meaning of dickhead -- did they mean that metaphorically?

Are bouts of depression usual after quitting smoking -- no, you just want to tear someone's head off

Alphabet City restaurants -- a perennial favorite

Accademia del Vino [actually 'di vino'] New York

Andy Rooney bio father -- well don't look at me!

Spectacular tuscan restaurant design photo gallery -- could you be a little more specific?

	:-)  so i broke his stick and ...ng dai self now good sack hole -- sure, sure, anything you say, pal...

Comments

[Marco]

Good ole Marconi. Six Degrees is also a great record label. Separation is a leitmotif of the times. Parental love, I thought, was the only love that grew toward separation. Not so, I guess,
In the search category you have some germaine search hits. Tops for me is the lyrics to the song "If Ever I Cease To Love" that concludes Mardi Gras, sort of.
2nd is "Qui cazzo!"
Followed by a distant 3rd "Uncle Fester Face"

[Lisa Qiu]

I want to see the ol' Hilldog naked. I think it'll really help her campaign if she does a nip slip.

Love the picturesque interlude.