TWS Blogs

Corkey Trivia: Trunks and the 19th Hole

Legend has it that in 1956 Henry Ford II complained that when he tried to put his golf clubs into the trunk of his personal Thunderbird, he found that they did not fit unless he took the spare tire out! I can see his point. After all, shouldn’t you be able to use your classic [...]

Corkey Trivia: Tudors and Hops

In 16th century England, people typically drank eight pints of beer a day. A gallon per day back then was not as overly intoxicating as you might think because it contained only about 2% alcohol. By adding hops they could brew the beer longer and at least double the alcohol. The addition of hops came [...]

John Doty of JMD Beverages

Driving deep into the commercial district of Halawa Valley, I scan buildings looking for the JMD warehouse.  I’m supposed to meet with John Doty.  Near the end of the road, I see the building I am looking for appear to the right. I drive a little past it and turn slowly into a cul-de-sac to [...]

Warren Shon of Southern Wine & Spirits

Warren Shon was born at Kapiolani Children’s hospital, grew up in Manoa, and graduated from Roosevelt and the University of Hawaii with a degree in marketing.  His start in the industry was through restaurants. He started as a busboy at Bobby McGees which was located where the Diamond Head Grill is now in the “W” [...]

Mark & Carolyn Blackburn of Mauna Kea Gallery

Walking into Mauna Kea Gallery, one is struck with a sense of wonder. It’s like stepping into a living room filled with cherished artifacts from a more genteel time of historic Hawaii. Softly lit by reflected sunlight, it is as though items of daily life from times past have surfaced once again to enjoy the [...]

Meeting Michel Rolland

Wow…to actually sit, sip, and learn with Michel Rolland in Hawaii. I am happy to know that after many years in the wine business that I can to get elated about meeting a world acclaimed winemaker. I sure do love this business. O.k. enough about me Michel and his wife Dany are as nice as [...]

Corkey Trivia: Lunch with Lincoln & Obama

At the inaugural Luncheon in January, after President Obama completed his “swearing-in” ceremony, Duckhorn wines were served with a three course meal inspired by President Lincoln. The first course was a seafood stew made with lobster, scallops, shrimp and black cod a.k.a. butterfish, supposedly one of Lincoln’s favorite dishes. The main course was a brace [...]

Corkey Trivia: Bread & Circuses for the Pontifex Maximus

Back in the day when Rome was a Republic, wine, bread and entertainment flowed free, and free of charge, to all the city’s voting citizens.  This was the traditional way the upper classes bought the votes they needed for elective office. This tradition was called “Bread and Circuses” In the waning days of the Republic, [...]

Corkey Trivia: The Codex Unfolded

Just this summer, Egyptian archaeologists announced the discovery of two wine presses carved with large crosses not far from St. Catherine’s monastery in the Sinai Peninsula. The monastery itself was built in 527-565 A.D. by the Roman emperor Justinian. Subsequently, one might suspect that the winery was a part of that nearby monastery. However, upon [...]

Corkey Trivia: Rothschild’s Opus

The waning weeks of October marks the return of Opus One to retail shelves. This wine was originally conceived as a collaboration between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philipe Rothschild. It happened that there was a wine distributors meeting here in Hawaii in 1972 which both men attended. After they met, the Baron invited Mondavi to [...]