WBW#43 Announced:….and breeeeeeath….

February 20th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under
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Wow, when I thought about this theme for WBW (which I signed up for about 18 months ago, btw) I had no idea how badly I was going to need this or how cathartic the topic would be for me.

I believe in balance in life. Truly. I think you must or you won’t survive. That doesn’t me you’ll never get ahead because you take too many breaks, but there must always be balance. I can work like a maniac for days at a time, but not without something to ground me, my kids, my wife, and of course wine!

So that’s where I derived this theme idea. Wine is part of my life. Even when I ran into health problems with my cholesterol some years back, the doctor said I’ll need medication and probably cut out wine…wrong on both points my drug-company influenced friend. See, wine is part of the Yang to my everyday Yin. I love it and its such a part of my life that I believe that when I have that glass, at the end of the day or sometimes at the end of an intense week, my mind and body just release and relax. I never get hammered on wine and no other spirit signals my body to transition to “relax” so its not the alcohol as some may argue. It is the act of drinking it and the memories and good times the wine brings to mind that just lets me drift away.

I think there are enough people out there who know what I’m talking about which is why I chose this theme. Comfort Wines - choose a wine, any wine, that you love to unwind to and tell us about not only the wine but what makes the experience special and relaxing for you!

For me, I’ve just finished a home improvement project (literally getting sign-off from the city in the next week), launched the OpenWine Consortium social network, got my car repaired after an accident, and my second daughter is due March 4th (with WBW#43 due March 5th!). So I’m pretty sure I’ll have a good experience that I can try to convey for that Wednesday.

Remember, I believe in enjoying the Wine Life so if wine is part of a relaxation routine for you lets hear how you unwind - whether is in front of the TV or on the roof of a villa in Spain in front of a grill. Lets paint some mental pictures of tranquility for everyone to read and enjoy. Maybe some of us will have a couple “oh man, I totally have to try that” moments!

Cheers!

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There Are 48 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Dave Chouiniere on 21 February 2008:

    What a cool theme! I think about wine so much as a learning experience that I forget to appreciate its social and “spiritual” aspect. I can’t wait to read other people’s posts. I’m going to have to do lots of “research” on this one. Thanks Joel!

  2. Comment by 1WineDude on 21 February 2008:

    Sweet idea.

    Best of luck with the baby girl! My 1st is due on March 30!

    Cheers.

  3. Pingback by WBW 43 Announced, Comfort Wines | Winecast on 21 February 2008:

    […] Joel from Vivi’s Wine Journal Wine Life Today has announced the theme for the 43rd monthly virtual tasting known as Wine Blogging Wednesday as Comfort Wines. […]

  4. Comment by chateaubrys on 21 February 2008:

    Thanks for this great theme! And thumbs up for the 4th of March!

  5. Comment by Gabriella Opaz on 21 February 2008:

    Fabulous way to approach WBW! There are many things in our life that give us balance, that allow us to come back to center, to self. Despite the fact that alcoholism has raged in my family for as far back as my ancestors can remember, wine has remained one of the most ethereal and grounding parts of my life. With every bottle comes a story and with every drink comes a new experience. Thanks Joel for giving us moment to reflect on how magical wine can be if we allow it!

  6. Comment by Crixenauf on 22 February 2008:

    Joel - So refreshing to see a wine blog take one of life’s true pleasures and relate it to our everyday “being”. Wine has certainly been a great enhancement to all the things that I celebrate on a daily basis…friendships, family and the love of my life, my fiance. Hope your wonderful community will stop by to chat soon:

    http://grapebeginnings.blogspot.com/

    I’ll raise a toast to your new arrival this weekend…congrats!

    Live Well,

    Crixenauf

  7. Comment by Sonadora on 22 February 2008:

    Thanks Joel! Congrats on your new addition! Where should we email our tasting notes?

  8. Comment by Amy Rootvik on 23 February 2008:

    Joel, I am so excited to see a WBW focused on how wine is an integral part of creating a balanced life. Truly inspired idea. I look forward to reading responses.

    Thanks for taking us in this direction.

  9. Pingback by Music & Wine » Link Roundup 02.22.08 on 23 February 2008:

    […] theme for next month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday has been posted. The Wine Life Today Blog is hosting WBW #43 with a theme of “Comfort Wines.” I think I have an inkling about what I’ll write about, but we shall see. Indeed, we shall […]

  10. Comment by Kirstin on 23 February 2008:

    I’m looking forward to this, it’s my first time on Wine blogging Wednesday. Could anyone refer me to a general “how to” link that will tell me to whom do I send my notes to or apply to me a member……

  11. Pingback by Wine Blogging Wednesday - #43 Announced « Anything Wine on 26 February 2008:

    […] - #43 Announced Posted on February 26, 2008 by vcuspoon The next Wine Blogging Wednesday, #43 in fact, was announced last week while I was away so I am a bit late in posting the new topic.  […]

  12. Comment by john witherspoon on 26 February 2008:

    Hey Joel
    Congrats on the recent accomplishments and the upcoming arrival of your second daughter.

    I couldn’t agree more on balance as a key to life, both for furthering enjoying of each day but for survival as well.

    Cheers.
    John

  13. Comment by Joel on 26 February 2008:

    I’m glad everyone likes the topic. It turns out the little one will be here in the morning (2.27.08) so will have a BUSY week. I’m glad WBW will remind me to take a moment, sit down, and breath!

    Cheers everyone!

    You can e-mail responses to “joel@winelifetoday.com” or you can go to the “Wine Blogger” group on OWC and put it in a forum I’ll open up there…

  14. Comment by Marta Strickland on 3 March 2008:

    Yeah! I’m so excited this is happening this week. I’m going to have my husband pick out a wine that reminds us of relaxing evenings together. Then I’ll cook something up to match it. I’m usually the wine buyer, so it’ll be fun to see what he brings home.

  15. Pingback by Wine Blog Wednesday #43 - Comfort Wines on 5 March 2008:

    […] with a bottle of wine can seem exhausting to us at times. So when Joel stated that the theme of WBW #43 would be Comfort Wines and to “choose a wine, any wine, that you love to unwind to and tell us about not only the […]

  16. Pingback by Wine Blogging Wednesday #43: Comfort Wines at StrumErika.com on 5 March 2008:

    […] so glad to be returning for Joel Vincent of Wine Life Today and Open Wine Consortium’s theme. His theme is simple: which wine do you relax with? Ironically Joel picked this theme without knowing that it […]

  17. Comment by Hank on 5 March 2008:

    Congrats on your new arrival! Here is my post for WBW #43. Hope you get some sleep soon!

    h.

  18. Comment by Jeff on 5 March 2008:

    Joel,

    Kudos for a great theme and all of the fantastic things you have going on for the family and the world of wine.

    Here is my WBW entry:

    http://www.goodgrape.com/index.php/articles/comments/wine_blogging_wednesday_comfort_wines/

    Jeff

  19. Comment by Sean on 5 March 2008:

    Hi Joel,

    I have to agree with Jeff from Good Grape this is a fantastic theme. InterWined had a lot of fun with it.

    Here’s our entry:

    http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/05/wine-blogging-wednesday-comfort-wine/

  20. Comment by Dave Chouiniere on 5 March 2008:

    I’ll try to post this in the WineConsortium too:

    http://winections.blogspot.com/2008/03/comfort-wine.html

  21. Comment by Sean on 5 March 2008:

    Hi Joel,

    Thanks for hosting. Jacob and I had a lot of fun with this theme. Now if I could just stop editing our video submissions like a drunk…

    Sean

    Here’s our entry:

    http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/05/wine-blogging-wednesday-comfort-wine/

  22. Pingback by WBW #43: Comfort Wines on 5 March 2008:

    […] Wine Life Today, is responsible for choosing this month’s topic for Wine Blogging Wednesday: Comfort Wines: Choose a wine, any wine, that you love to unwind to and tell us about not only the wine but what […]

  23. Comment by winenegress on 6 March 2008:

    You can view my post at the Web site above. Great idea and a toast to all the pending software releases!
    http://chronicnegress.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/

  24. Pingback by Music & Wine » WBW #43: Comfort Wines on 6 March 2008:

    […] It was a snowy, rainy, miserable morning in Cleveland, and after today’s commute, I could use some comfort wine. Fortunately, that happens to be the theme of the 43rd edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday, hosted this time over at the Wine Life Today Blog. […]

  25. Comment by Jim Eastman on 6 March 2008:

    My entry for the month:

    http://www.jimeastman.com/?p=709

    Thanks for hosting!

  26. Comment by Sonadora on 6 March 2008:

    http://wannabewino.blogspot.com/2008/03/wbw-43-comfort-wines.html

    Here’s my post!

  27. Pingback by WBW 43 - Comfort Wine | Winecast on 6 March 2008:

    […] but it did, and remains today one of my sentimental favorites. So when Joel from Wine Life Today announced the theme of Comfort Wines for this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday, I knew there was only one wine to fill the bill: […]

  28. Comment by David McDuff on 6 March 2008:

    Thanks for hosting, Joel. Here’s my post:

    http://mcduffwine.blogspot.com/2008/03/accidental-adventures-in-cellaring.html

  29. Comment by Joe on 6 March 2008:

    Here’s mine:

    http://joeswine.blogspot.com/2008/03/wbw-43-2000-penfolds-bin-389.html

    Cheers!

  30. Comment by Catie on 6 March 2008:

    Hi Joe,
    Thanks for choosing such a terrific theme.
    http://wildwallawallawinewoman.blogspot.com/2008/03/wine-blogging-wednesday-43.html
    C~

  31. Comment by Sharon on 6 March 2008:

    Hello Joel - Here is my post. Thanks!

    http://bloviatrix.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/wine-blogging-wednesday-43-comfort-wine/

  32. Pingback by Marta Strickland's blog - recentlyconsumed.com - digesting technology and vinology on 6 March 2008:

    […] it on Monday, but the theme was so fun that I decided to go for it. This month it is all about “Comfort Wines”. The Wine Life Today blog challenges: “Comfort Wines - choose a wine, any wine, that you love […]

  33. Comment by Marta Strickland on 6 March 2008:

    Looks like my trackback already came through, but here is the permalink:
    http://recentlyconsumed.com/2008/03/05/wbw-comfort-wines/

  34. Comment by Jill on 6 March 2008:

    my link:

    http://domaine547.com/2008/03/05/wine-blogging-wednesday-43-comfort-wines-hosted-by-joel-vincent/

  35. Comment by The Corkdork on 6 March 2008:

    Hi Joel, Congrats on new fatherhood!

    Best of luck to your family.

    Here’s my entry for WBW#43:

    http://corkdork.typepad.com/corkdork/2008/03/wbw43-comfort-w.html

    John

  36. Pingback by Wine Blogging Wednesday: Comfort Wine - Drinks Are On Me - the wine blog on 6 March 2008:

    […] month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday is […]

  37. Comment by Dale Cruse on 6 March 2008:

    Congratulations! I salute you and yours with the Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc at: http://drinksareonme.net/?p=221

  38. Comment by Andrew on 6 March 2008:

    Joel,
    Congratulations to everything.
    My post for WBW is here:
    http://rougeandblanc.blogspot.com/2008/03/wbw-43-comfort-wines.html
    Thanks.

  39. Comment by Marcus on 6 March 2008:

    Hi Joel,

    I sent an email to you regarding my participation in your WBW event but it seems like posting a comment with the entry URL here is the way to go…

    http://tinyurl.com/2mq8xt

    Congrats on the strong turnout and vocal support!

  40. Comment by Catherine on 6 March 2008:

    Joel,

    here is my contribution:
    http://manageyourcellar.blogspot.com/2008/03/wbw-43-2004-chinon-domaine-de-la.html
    Sorry I am late!

    And congrats on your new baby girl!

    Catherine.

  41. Comment by swirlingnotions on 11 March 2008:

    I love your approach to balance! I, too, believe that wine is more than just what’s in the glass. It’s a medium to help us get grounded with ourselves and those we share it with. So sorry I missed WBW . . . I could’ve filled three posts with the theme!

    BIG congrats (and a toast, of course) on your new baby girl!

  42. Pingback by Swirling Notions » Wine Blogging Wednesday #43: Comfort Wines on 11 March 2008:

    […] admit it up front, I’m late with this entry (sorry Joel!). But I just couldn’t resist the topic: “choose a wine, any wine, that you love to […]

  43. Comment by swirlingnotions on 11 March 2008:

    OK . . . I couldn’t resist tossing in a late entry on Swirling Notions. I’m sure just what you want to hear with all your free time and restful nights as new papa! ;-)

    Cheers,
    Lia

  44. Comment by madwino on 12 March 2008:

    hey joel, here is my entry for wine blogging wednesday.

    http://mywineinfo.blogspot.com/2008/03/wbw43-comfort-wine.html

    Cheers,

    Rob.

  45. Pingback by WBW #43: Rioja Reserva on 13 March 2008:

    […] Wine Blogging Wednesday again, and this time the topic is…comfort wines. “Comfort” wines. Curious, because […]

  46. Comment by Lennardbb on 20 March 2008:

    nice work, guy

  47. Comment by Blader4Life on 11 April 2008:

    I love commenting different articles and information. To be honest with you, it’s my hobby. And, by the way commenting different stuff on this web site is one of my favorite things to do in free time. I like to express my mind, and when I realize that I’m wrong, I correct my mistakes. Thank you for a possibility to express myself! I really enjoy it!

  48. Pingback by Virtually comfortable « Chronic Negress on 27 April 2008:

    […] around the Web as we celebrate our comfort wines with the likes of  Alder at Vinography and Joel at Wine Life Today. This post will be linked from a few other places, but let’s get on with the subject.The wine […]

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