July 6 2008
Our introduction to new things usually happens in threes. I am talking celebrity deaths, new words and phrases, and things that had not previously invaded our consciousness.
When the radar comes into tune, it seems like “new to you” items become quickly ubiquitous.
So it was with Zephyr Wine Adventures, a company I am now well in tune with.
Zephyr is an adventure travel company operating internationally from company headquarters in Montana and Founder and President Allan Wright’s outpost in Boulder, CO.
I became acquainted with Zephyr just a few short weeks ago when the Wine Blogger Conference in Sonoma was announced. As a co-organizer of the conference, Zephyr was a bit of a curiosity to me because I was not familiar with them and the wine blogging community is so much like a small town where everybody knows everyone (and everything). It was almost as if somebody new moved to town, the mysterious new interloper.
Then, while reading the May issue of Food & Wine magazine I saw another mention of Zephyr. Hmmm … finally, while reading Wine News this past week, I read a very lovingly rendered article on a Zephyr Wine Adventures.
Clearly, there was something here that I needed to know more about.
I contact Allan Wright to thank him for his coordination of the Wine Blogger conference (along with Joel Vincent) and to learn more about his business.
Zephyr Adventures, a well-regarded 11-year-old adventure travel company is now introducing wine hiking tours in Oregon and Sonoma.
Focused on delivering a superb customer experience, Zephyr focuses on just a few things and doing them very well:
• Access; wineries, vineyards, people, scenary
• Education
• Interactivity based on your needs
The idea of hiking in wine country is not a new one (homage to Russ Beebe from Winehiker Witiculture), but the notion of doing it on a scale and with the focus on “access” is a new one.
Imagine getting insider one-to-one access with winemakers and vineyard managers and walking the vineyards, not something that happens everyday in the Disney-fication of Napa and Sonoma, where so much of the process of what ends up in the bottle is edited for public consumption.
As a part of the Wine Blogger Conference participants will be going on an abbreviated hike with the good folks at Zephyr—as a preview to that bit of fun, I caught up with Allan to learn more about him and his business.
Herewith, 20 “Not So Penetrating Questions” with a Wine Pro:
Good Grape: Which of the Seven Deadly Sins are you most guilty of?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: I am not so proud that I need to deny I had to look up the Seven Deadly Sins to see which I am most guilty of. Nevertheless, my sin is Pride, which one website defines as “excessive belief in one’s own abilities” but which I prefer to view as the Horatio Alger storyline.
Good Grape: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures:My biggest pet peeve is when people put mental blocks in front of their own path in life. “I can’t do that because my body doesn’t work that way.” “I am no good at thinking clearly in the morning.” “I’m just not good at math.” Pick your poison, they are all self-imposed barriers.
Good Grape: What is on your nightstand?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures:Culture Shock Germany, Germany Grammar Drills, The Green Guide to Germany, and Der Kleine Hobbit (The Hobbit in German). I am leaving for the Mosel Valley in four days!
Good Grape: What is in your refrigerator or pantry that you would not openly admit?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: I live with a dietitian. There is nothing in our house that would not make anyone proud.
Good Grape:What do you drink when you are not drinking wine?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: It is a rare day when I veer from my standard four: beer, wine, water, and/or orange juice.
Good Grape: What type of music or radio station is played most often in your car?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures:NPR.
Good Grape: In what era would you live if you transport yourself?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: As a fan of historical fiction, that is a tough one. I can easily envision swinging a sword as a King’s Musketeer, tramping through the woods at the side of Davy Crockett, or exploring the West with Lewis & Clark. If I had to choose, I guess I would pick being in the 1770s during our Revolutionary War (sorry to your British readers).
Good Grape: What is the best wine-related book you have read?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: I found The Emperor of Wine by Elin McCoy an intriguing book, the more so because it was the first wine book I ever read and introduced me to the genre as well as the industry. Alice Feiring’s book The Battle for Wine and Love is on my list to complete the Parker circle.
Good Grape: What is your favorite movie genre?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Action and adventure. What I don’t like – most of the time – is reality movies since I get that in the newspaper.
Good Grape: Is your desk messy or organized?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Desk? What desk? I have a laptop and, as an adventure travel organizer, am at work as often on my couch or in a hotel room as any desk. Seriously, don’t send me any paper because if it doesn’t get in my computer, it doesn’t exist!
Good Grape: Are you always early or terminally late?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Always on time. J
Good Grape: Do you read the comics in the newspaper? If so, what’s your favorite comic?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Dilbert. I escaped the Dilbert world 11 years ago and still like imagining what I don’t go through!
Good Grape: Who would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: People say I look like Owen Wilson and I think I would be flattered to have him play me.
Good Grape: What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: I would love to have some super power that would allow me to knock together the heads of our world’s leaders, getting them to come to their senses. If that is too vague or Miss America-ish, I also would love to be able to fly!
Good Grape: You are moving and can only take three or four articles you want to take with you. What would you grab?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: My soccer shoes, my computer, and my baby book. It is amazing how many things my mom stuffed in my baby book oh so many years ago!
Good Grape: What do you do if you have a spare hour?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Do you mean a spare hour after working, working out, and having a beer or glass of wine at the local pub? I read every day and love to watch good movies.
Good Grape: What was the last great restaurant you ate at?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Boulder, Colorado has a ton of great restaurants. Just last night I had happy hour at The Med and for $20 had three drinks and five tapas platters for dinner – tip and tax included. Now that is a great restaurant.
Good Grape: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: Chocolate fudge.
Good Grape: What is the best compliment you have ever received?
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures: I can’t remember that far back ….
Good Grape: “2 Truths And a Lie” – Share 3 unique things about yourself and your life, 2 of them true, 1 false, readers will guess by leaving a comment
Allan/Zephyr Wine Adventures:
1. I am sitting here in a walking cast as I write this due to a broken leg.
2. My next project is to write a book about the wolves of Yellowstone.
3. I am part-owner in a small Washington winery where I grew up.
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