The Doomed Quest For The MW

  I have completed yet another Master of Wine seminar week, this time in Santa Rosa CA.  I will freely admit that I went into the week with less enthusiasm than in prior seminar weeks.  My dampened enthusiasm is two pronged.  Certainly part of it is my familiarity with Santa Rosa in general as I have become so consistent a visitor to the area that I have an opinion on area coffee shops, breakfast spots, breweries, and alternate routes to the Napa Valley. I try to use the seminar as a jump off point to an interesting travel destination, and California wine regions have a "been there, done that" feel to them for me however unjustified that thinking might be. I can't tell you how many California wineries think they have invented some type of wheel when they proudly tell you they are "committed to sustainability, minimal intervention vineyard-first mentality that allows us to express our terroir with respect to our winemaking traditions in an authentic way".  I mean...