Simple Hedonisms

Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

An Interview With Nikki Lincoln

Last week Simple Hedonisms announced a new writer and focus in “Millennial Writer to Join Simple Hedonisms – Introducing Nikki Lincoln”

Today we kick that off sharing a little bit about Nikki, in an essay interview I asked her to fill out.

Why Do You Get So Excited About Wine?

I think for me, it’s really just about how big and complex wine is. Even though I’ve been tasting wine for several years now, I keep finding something new and surprising. There’s always something to discover and it’s been fun to see how my tastes have grown and changed over the years.

I suppose you could make a similar argument about beer but frankly, I like the taste of wine more. You could also say similar things about spirits – and I do enjoy a good whiskey or tequila tasting but I also know I can’t sit around a have a glass of tequila every night with dinner and expect to be a functioning member of society (props to anyone who can though).

It’s interesting to have a beverage that is common enough that it’s ok to have it every day but so complex that different varietals and vintages will pair so differently with meals and occasions. I love that wine can be something so normal and common but also something that can be prestigious and luxurious. I’m not sure there are a lot of things you can say that about.

Tell Me About Your Wine Epiphany Moment:

I would say my first wine epiphany moment would be the first time I went on a proper wine tasting trip. Up until then, my scope of wine experiences was pretty limited to family dinners and the occasional White Zin. I “knew” I didn’t like reds and that sweet wine was better.

However, the first time I went tasting, I got to explore different varietals, learn that not all reds taste the same, and hear about what notes to look for in the wine. It definitely opened to world of wine for me and really helped me transition into more complex wines. The more I went tasting, the more this grew and developed until I became a wine enthusiast.

When people tell me they don’t really know about wine and ask how they can get into it – my response is always the same: “Taste a lot of wine!” That’s the only way to really learn what you like and how big the spectrum of wine really is.

Why Do You Want To Write About Wine? What Are You Most Excited To Share With Readers?

I was never someone growing up who said “I love writing, I want to be a writer,” but I always found that I was great with creative writing classes where I had the freedom to write whatever I wanted. I never had a problem with crafting my experiences or musings into something interesting that flowed off my fingertips. As an adult who doesn’t have to write for homework assignments anymore, I find that I choose to write about things I’m passionate about and wine is one of those things.

I feel my contributions are two-fold.  First, my experience with wine is more exploratory and not as broad as William’s (yet),  so I feel my writing will appeal to people who are getting into wine and aren’t looking at it in as technical  a manner. Second, William said I could write about more than wine. I saw that the blog description mentioned food and lifestyle as well and I know I have a lot to contribute in those areas. I love wine but I have plenty to say about food and recreating as well.

What Do You Want to Learn the Most About Wine? What Do You Find The Biggest Challenges

I’d say my biggest challenges would also be what I want to learn the most – I have to work still to picking out notes and details. I’d love to be able to do that better as to appreciate more of the subtleties of the wine.

Share Your Plans: How Often Do You Hope to Write? Themes?  Events? Wine Reviews?

Anything and everything! Ideally, I’d like to get something up 1-2 times a week. I find that I do better when I just stumble upon ideas. Ever since William and I talked about me writing for the blog, I’ve been jotting down thoughts or ideas for posts for I have some things queuing up already. However, I know that I can’t always put fingers to keys and make words come out. When that happens, I know I can at least conjure up reviews or event summaries. I also am the kind of person who gets lost in thought over the most random of occurrences and that’s how a lot of my posts are born.

I think William got the idea about me writing for his blog because he liked my style (which he found at my last blogs www.cinnamongeek.com and http://myonenewthingaweek.blogspot.com/) so that’s really what I’m bringing here. I come up with a lot of crazy theories, I write about things that I’m passionate about, I’ll do reviews, and sometimes I just ponder over something in my life so much that my heart will pour out of me in the form of a thought provoking post.

Tell Us a Little About Your History and Life to This Point

I am originally from Los Angeles. I moved to the Bay Area when I went to college at UC Berkeley. I majored in Economics with a minor in Cal Football. I have not missed a home game since my freshman year of college (and it turned out to be a riveting defeat of Oregon, the experience of missing it was scarring).

After graduating, I started working in finance and that’s where I am now. In my free time I attend a lot of Cal and Giants games, drink a lot of wine, travel, hike, and generally love to explore new places and events. I’m an avid reader, movie watcher, and purveyor of the arts. It might sound like I do a lot – I prefer to refer to it as being very well rounded.

Some Curious Facts About Me:

• When I was at Cal, I fired the Victory Cannon for a year.
• I have very few dislikes but the ones I do have are usually things that everyone else loves: watermelon, baked beans, chocolate cake, pepperonis… you get the point.
• I’m a huge nerd and love geeking out. My favorite superheroes are Batman and Iron Man but I actually tend to prefer villains. My last blogwas an attempt at a geek blog with my friends (www.cinnamongeek.com).
• I love video games and am quite good at them. People never expect/believe this and I get a lot of satisfaction in proving them wrong.
• My mother’s family is Brazilian and thus I can speak Portuguese.
• I am a big Broadway fan and listen to the Showtunes Pandora station all the time. I know most of the words to my favorite musicals and it’s almost impossible to stop me from singing along even though I’m not gifted vocally.
• I love rock climbing which I started 4 years ago, I climb mostly hard 10′s.
• I am great at remembering facts, movie lines, and useless trivia. I wanted to go on VH1’s World Series of Pop Culture as a way to monetize this skill. However, the series got cancelled after two seasons.
• I have a creative side that doesn’t get exercised as much as I’d like. I have taken classes in painting, sculpture, web design, and computer graphics.

What Are Your Favorite Wine categories, and varieties? Which Do You Want to Learn the Most About ?

I think William will really like my answer to this one… my favorite wine is Grenache. I had it for the first time at the Vinter’s Market a few years ago and bought my first bottle – the rest was history. I tend to gravitate towards Grenache on any menu and I feel like it consistently delivers.

On the flip side… I want to learn more about Grenache Blanc. I never knew it existed until I did a wine paired tasting menu at Jardiniere. When the Sommelier brought it out I was said as much and I could tell she was excited to introduce it to me. The funny thing about this answer is that William is known for his Grenache Blanc so I know that I’m going to have a lot of opportunity to familiarize myself with the varietal in the near future.

Simple Hedonisms Is Excited to Announce a New Contributing Partner

My ability to write about wine, share my thoughts and insights has become diminished over the last year, as my role as a small Vintner and strong advocate for Rhone wines, along with a day job, consumes many long days and nights.  My passion for wine and helping others learn explore, however, has not diminished, nor my ability to influence what people consume, as activity on my Delectable and Instagram accounts show regularly, in some cases more than my Cellartracker 1100+ detailed notes.

Simple Hedonisms was one of the widest read bogs in the Bay area during its heyday, hitting 5,000+ readers and 250k hits a month. People still write me regularly they miss the posts and education.  In fact, the following is still very large, when articles are published. I don’t intend to give it up, after 5 years. (Wow!) My goal for quite some time was to bring on multiple writers, to leverage the brand and the following, and help others get a start. It’s worked with some success, but nothing lasting or persistent.

A few months ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Nikki. She helped at an event, and  I was immediately impressed. Nikki is young, passionate about wine (and life) and not afraid to dive into anything. She is keen to learn, and more importantly, open to it.  I meet a lot of people who love wine, and want to be a part, and have become an good judge of potential and value. Many have stars in their eyes about the wine industry, but not the long term drive and passion to take it to new levels. As I looked at Nikki’s personal blog, I was struck by her energy, positive outlook, and a writing style that was clear, easy to read, and engaging.

I was struck by the insight of this newer consumer in her article, a year ago “The Economics of Wine.” Clearly, good instincts and energy to be tapped into. (The fact that she also wrote about the Batman movie was duly impressive.)

The Plot Thickens, The Wheels Turn, I Gain a “Padawan”

I had somewhat of an affinity to Nikki right away as she is a geek-ette.  You might never guess this as cute as a button millennial is an avid gamer, comic fan, and more. But, she also is very grounded, outgoing, playful yet mature old soul. She lacks nothing for confidence, but is not arrogant.

The wheels started turning. It was clear she was passionate about wine, and impressionable.  Years past I was a bit of a skeptic on Millenials being the ‘great white hope’ for the wine industry. Now I embrace them as part of the force that is enabling the upheaval going on beneath our noses, that in ten years will completely change the landscape of wines made and consumed.

I also regularly talk about the journey of wine exploration, the similar path many of us follow as wine enthusiasts, and as a ‘palate shepherd’ my goal has always been to help others on their path of never ending knowledge and palate expansion.  I would have loved to been guided and progress faster than I did, my first decade.

Nikki has a palate consistent with many new enthusiasts, she will try most wines, but right now gravitates towards reds, sometimes bigger ones.  She is falling in love with Pinot and Rhone whites (sounds familiar!) She is also open, interested, curious by nature. For most wine enthusiasts, exposure is the key to palate progression.

I humbly suggested to Nikki, if she was willing, I would love to help her with exploration and suggestions. The end goal of what she likes is ultimately hers to discover, but I would try and accelerate her path, open synapses.  I was a bit wary of the reaction, as you hear constantly that Millennials don’t want to be told what to drink, or just do what their parents did.

Nikki showed her  true form, (and love of Star Wars), by enthusiastically  responding “I am your Padawan.“  If my son wasn’t engaged to a beautiful Italian girl, I’d be introducing him to Nikki.

Follow In The Footsteps of an Avid Wine Millennial Exploration

Shortly thereafter, it all came together in my head. I liked Nikki’s writing. She wanted to learn and share with the world. I wanted more content for Simple Hedonisms. She represents the advent of a new generation of wine consumer. I get more offer for samples and events than I can attend……Why not ask Nikki to join the team.

So voila. It starts this week. Nikki has free reign to write about whatever she wants.  The focus will be wine, but she is also interested in microbrew, spirits, restaurants & food, events. Nikki lives in the city, where Simple Hedonisms has a strong following, so she is now also able to better represent the publication there with the myriad of events and tastings there.

Please Give Nikki a Warm Wine Country Welcome

I am excited about this new development for Nikki, our readers, and myself. (How best to learn then to also teach.)

Tomorrow I will publish an interview about her. She will be diving headlong into tastings and events, with me when she can, on her own many times as well.

Today, by the way, is also her birthday, so a big cheers to you my friend! (Now, get writing!)

I am an obsessed wine geek, there is no doubt. Our house & farm is covered in wine books, wine making or tasting materials, wine samples, glasses and more. I’d furnish the entire house in wine barrel furniture if I was allowed.

As a result, I read

a lot of weekly material, blogs, wine writers etc. Simple Hedonisms was supposed to be more about educational wine writing than it has evolved into, although in my defense I do try and incorporate some small nugget or three into many of my reviews.

Some weeks I may feature 4-5 articles, some I may only have one, or even forget, but I will try to do my best. If you find this weekly article useful as it evolves, share your thoughts.

Top Picks:

(1) Richard Jennings: Rhone Rangers Tasting “Summary”

I have long admired Richard’s detailed Cellartracker notes, there was never any doubt how dedicated this man is to capturing and sharing information about wine. His latest, almost breath taking record from the Rhone Rangers San Francisco event is an incredible resource:

California Rhônes: Thoughts on 2012 Rhône Rangers Tasting

(2) Jon Bonné: Sonoma Coast is a sweet spot for Syrah

John Alban on the First Hospice du Rhone and the State of American Rhone Variety Wine in 1993

Cheers and have a

great week!

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