ACME FINE WINES

                              

The increase in the popularity of wine over the last 10 years is staggering. Now people not only drink wine, they discuss and read about it, collect it, even play the one up game with it. With all this interest, guess where prices have gone. UP UP UP!

Take California cabernets. A few years ago at your local wine shop, only a few California Cabs were priced over $60. Now check out the same shelf. Lots of wines, many that may not be that good, are $100 or more. What's the deal? How do you know what to buy?

A few years ago on a trip to Napa, I was introduced to Karen Williams and David Stevens,  who own Acme Fine Wines in St Helena. Acme specializes in finding and selling small production wines that rarely leave the Napa area. They know all the local wine makers and have an amazing ability to choose very high quality and delicious wine. 

Now the good part: Many of these really good wines are in the $40-$70 range. I have found that most of their selections are better value than what you have been buying wherever you live. Also (the really good part), when you serve their wine, nobody will have ever tasted it before. Thus, your wine status will be on the rise. My suggestion is to check them out. You will not be disappointed.    

BILL WEEKS 1914-2008

                              

I just came back from the service for Bill Weeks in Premont, Texas. For those of you who knew "MR BILL" or hunted with him,  you know that we have lost an icon of quail hunting in South Texas. For those of you that didn't know him, you have missed a legend.

Well before all bird dogs were outfitted with shock collars, and GPS positioning devices and guides were expected to show up in $60,000 hunting rigs with 25 dogs aboard, Bill took many lucky people on quail hunts they will never forget. He did it the old fashion way: an old truck, one or two old dogs and a lot of colorful stories.

 He trained dogs in his own way  (Ouch!), and he had some great ones over the years. Just ask Suzanne Nelms about Annie. She still claims Annie was the best dog she ever hunted over. Could run all day..... and usually had too.

Was Bill the first man to take an axe to the side of a pick up and create the prototype of the South Texas hunting wagon in 1955? Maybe. 

Did he try to instill his love of the outdoors, dogs and quail hunting in everyone he came in contact with? Definitely.

Did that old shotgun of his really kill more ***s than birds? Let's not get into that now.

We will miss you, Mr. Bill.