Rogue Grapevine: “This is a story about journeys that start in one direction and end up going in another, where both choice and accident play a part and deviations along the path turn out to be positive. It involves winemakers Brian Gruber and Vince Vidrine.”
MJ Daspit: “Rogue Valley wine grower Terry Sullivan keeps a yearly record of what he calls season milestones, noting the dates of budbreak, flowering, onset of ripening and harvest. Budbreak is the point in spring when the vines emerge from dormancy and show their first tiny leaves and shoots. Later flowers appear that will form fruit after pollination. Veraison begins in late summer as the bunches of green grapes change to a ripe color — purple or gold, depending on the variety.”
MJ Daspit: “Caprettone got my attention because I’d never heard of it before. A light, dry Italian, it was refreshing and delicious. … ‘Caprettone is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the Campania region of southern Italy … Caprettone is also grown in the Rogue River Valley of southern Oregon.’ Wait — what? We’re it outside Campania? How did that happen?”
According to Wine Spectator magazine, the restaurant associated with the Ashland Springs Hotel, Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine, offers exactly that: a world-class wine list. Larks is among the restaurants in some 70 countries worldwide to receive a Wine Spectator Restaurant Award for 2022 as announced on June 27.
MJ Daspit: “The last time my wine column appeared was in April 2020 in the Mail Tribune. Let’s just call it two years ago, give or take. Amid the recent viral contagion, my husband and I decided the better part of valor was to self-quarantine at home and we did — to the point that when I decided to take up writing about our local wines again it was with the sense that I had no idea where to begin. I decided to start by taking a walk.”
Community adults who would like to pass on knowledge and skills to others for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s spring term are invited to submit course proposals by Friday, Dec. 15.
Reader photos: Friday evening, on the second night of Hanukkah, some 70 people gathered on Ashland Plaza to hold a vigil for a permanent Gaza cease-fire in the light of newly lit menorah candles.
Ashland Parks & Recreation Commissioners listened to a litany of mostly good news at their regular business meeting Wednesday, including a new PVC liner for the Daniel Meyer Pool at a cost of $61,000 and opening a new mountain bike trail.
Obituary: Margaret McCartney died Dec. 4 at 83. Memorial services are planned for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 44 N. 2nd St., Ashland.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has announced plans to offer free opioid overdose reversal kits to middle and high schools throughout the state. Ashland Superintendent Samuel Bogdanove shared his support for the increase in availability of Narcan, the brand name for a device that delivers naloxone, to Oregon schools, including in Ashland.
With local rescue groups still overflowing with cats and kittens, those wishing to bring home a new family member for the holidays will have opportunities to do so on two upcoming December weekends. On Saturday, Dec. 9, Ashland-based Friends of the Animals (formerly Friends of the Animal Shelter) will partner with Feral Cat Advocacy (FCA), Melly Cat Rescue, and Hero Tails Animal Sanctuary for a Feline Fair at the Rogue Valley Mall.
(It’s free)