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Go Sideways With Author Rex Pickett In Santa Ynez

Filed under: Wine, Books

Novelist Rex Pickett just might have the best book tour ever. The author who brought us Sideways, leading to a popular movie and an epic Merlot kerfuffle, is back with a new novel, Vertical. Vertical brings us the same characters, schlubby and charmingly wine-obsessed Miles and vain but endearing Jack on a new adventure. The fortunes of both the author and his characters have changed quite a bit in the intervening years and the book is a rollicking read.

Of course there's plenty of wine involved and so Pickett has been making the rounds of both book stores and wineries. This coming weekend he's up in Oregon and future events take him to Los Angeles, New York and even London. But for the real Sideways style experience you might want to join Pickett in Santa Ynez, California at Gainey Vineyard on Friday, April 15. The event takes place between 5:30 – 8:30 pm and there is no charge. Wine will be available for sale by the glass and books will be available for purchase.

As long as you are there, why not make a weekend of it. The Sideways wine trail page has great suggestions for places to visit that are connected to the book and movie.

Tags: gainey vineyard, rex pickett, sideways, vertical, wine, wine country

Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical Watch & Upcoming New Release

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Last week I had some one on one time with every one's favorite winch wound tourbillon watch, the Cabestan. The mechanics of the Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch are as impressive as its finishing. In Cabestan's employ is a truly remarkable watch maker who ensure that the entire system looks and works beautifully. Plus, the Cabestan was designed by the heralded watch designer Jean-Francois Ruchonnet.

The most recent Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch has some differences from the original that came out a few years ago. Notable is the removal of the winch. Instead, to stream line the look and feel of the watch, the winch is including as a separate part - and is very complex and interesting in its own right. You attach the winch device to the watch to wind it. One of the most notable things about the Cabestan is just how small it is. Not that it is little, but you'd imagine it was massive in size when it is actually very wearable. This is also a testament to the ingenuity of the watch maker. And of course the watch is very cool.

Looking inside the watch you have two sapphire crystals through which you can see the vertically mounted tourbillon (lower right hand corner) that doubles as the seconds indicator, the hours and minutes, and a power reserve indicator on the mainspring barrel. As a means of power transfer, the watch relies on a fusee and chain complication that uses a tiny hand-make chain. The watch is truly a remarkable horological machine.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Cabestan Nostromo watch

Tags: Cabestan, Nostromo, tourbillon, vertical, watch, Winch

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The Patrick Blanc Vertical Garden

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Garden

In some places gardens and live plants are a luxury that just isn't realistic because they need soil, water, and most of all they need lots of room. In cities especially, where the green would be most prized amidst the concrete and tile, is where plants and flowers are the hardest to grow, right? Maybe not.

Using a system that allows plants to grow without any soil, The Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc allows for natural living beauty in the otherwise most uninhabitable of places: the very walls of buildings, indoors or out. Watering and fertilization are automatic, so it's almost completely hassle free. Patrick Blanc has created customized living walls all over the world.

I wonder how my landlord would feel if I had something like this installed in my apartment?

Via CribCandy

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Tags: blanc, garden, gardening, green, grow, growing, live, living, patrick blanc, PatrickBlanc, plant, plants, vegetal, vertical

Cuv�e Julia Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I've sung the praises of the Cuvée Julia from Delectus vineyard before. The pricey Cabernet-heavy, Bordeaux-like blend sells out each year since only 200 cases are made each year. Each year's vintage also has a distinctively adorable label that relates to Julia, winemaker Gerhard Reisacher's beloved daughter. Now you can pick up a vertical of the vintages 1999 through 2004. The winery is selling 40 wooden six-packs. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The collection sells for $1200 retail or $960 for their wine club members.

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Tags: cabernet, california wine, cuvee julia, delectus, napa valley, red wine, vertical