Field Notes: July 15, 2022

When last I wrote I was off to balance and swing and double caper in Massachusetts over the early 4th weekend. The moment I landed in Boston, guess what happened. “Canceled due to Covid.” And so the pandemic persists. No matter, I caught up with friends I haven’t seen in years, and got to drink with “the young collector.” Came back and got to work. There’s so much to do with the coming book, and a few events were on my calendar as well. La Garagista’s Ms. Deirdre Heekin was in town and presided over a tutored tastings of her beautiful wines. Picked up a little info that I did not know: Vermont sits on the world’s oldest coral reef? Indeed. Hot tip: go out and buy this latest edition of Harlots & Ruffians.

Willa Deeley also debuted her Disciples! Man, her “Semiprecious” plum cider was delightful. Her “Lightning Bug,” 100% le crescent was so good. I tasted it when it was a baby, and here in its full adulthood, it was deep and electric. (Speaking of Vermont, the story I did for Food & Wine is now online, so take a look.) The Vermonters had come down to present at an event I sadly could not make, Jahdé Marley’s ABV—a daylong celebration of anything BUT vinifera.