[7:42 am] I am thrashing about on the fringes of the penumbra
of a spring cold now. Taking a curious
amalgamation of vitamins, minerals and herbs…both in tablet and tea form. Perhaps the Lonicera japonica (aka Japanese honeysuckle), hawthorn berry and
organic burdock root will crush the symptoms.
[11:58
am] Feeling much better.
We are six
weeks away from Howard County’s own Wine in the Woods festival – a celebration
of Maryland wine. Wine producers,
imbibers, artisans, food vendors, musicians and other makers-of-merry gather in
Columbia’s Symphony Woods for this annual event that occurs on a May weekend.
It is
rumored, among the more hedonistic elements of Howard County society, that
Governor Martin O’Malley, a potential long-shot 2016 presidential candidate, will
appear in one of the tents and pour for the attendees…between performing Foghat
covers with his band on the Purple Stage.
But such idle and irresponsible speculation has no place on this blog.
Having
attended this splendid fete for the past few years, I generally start looking
forward to Wine in the Woods shortly before St. Patrick’s Day. That said, the Anticipation, much like the
spring, is a late arrival. Perhaps the
delayed winter thaw is playing tricks with my internal calendar. I think of Wine in the Woods as a transition
point between spring and summer…and summer feels quite far away.
I am hoping
that more Maryland wineries come out with a Gruner Veltliner, an under-rated
grape most commonly associated with Austria.
I always thought it would work in Maryland’s climate. Right now, our wineries tend to focus on
“Bordeaux grapes” (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot), Italian varieties
(Sangiovese) and French-hybrids (Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc). Chardonnay, bien sur, is grown in Maryland as
well. Producing wines that are mostly quaffable
and sometimes quite complex, our winemakers have really stepped up their game
in recent years. Much like Washington
State and New York have elevated Riesling among American wine consumers, I
believe Gruner Veltliner (or “Gru-Ve” pronounced “groovy”) could help enhance
the Maryland wine brand.
An early
proponent of the Wine in the Woods concept was then-Howard County Council
member Paul Farragut who, recognizing the success of a similar event in a
near-by county, suggested “Why not here? Why not us?”
Such forward
thinking has helped create a genuine Happening.
Now celebrating its 22nd year, with thousands of attendees
and over 30 participating wineries, Wine in the Woods is an excellent example
of policymakers working with the private sector to promote Maryland - for our products and as a tourist destination.
This post
was intended to be about the County Executive race and a discussion of
Professor Stephen Skowronek’s concept of “political time.” I clearly went off the rails, so that will
have to wait. That said, here is a
question for the candidates:
“Given the
success of local festivals such as Wine in the Woods, what other events would
you like to see held in Howard County and why? And how? And when?”
Stay tuned,
as more will follow.
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