Top 10 Nutts Cup Wines
Last August, in the wee hours of the morning, the winner of Crossfit Vancouver’s charity wine raffle was announced to those of us still partying and celebrating the Nutt’s Cup. That winner was Yours Truely, Dan Fontaine. I picked up 101 bottles of wine, bought a lockable storage unit, and stashed the booty in my parking garage. Audrey gave me a list comprising all of the wines and their donors. I want to thank you all for your wonderful contributions to my now raging wine habit!
I’m sitting here tonight enjoying a wonderful bottle of wine donated
by Marco and Carly (Thanks and best wishes on your upcoming wedding!)
and reflecting on the last 7 months of wine fueled decadence. I am so
greatful to be part of such an awesome community of people!
Over a 100 people took the time out of their day and money out of their wallet to pick a nice bottle of wine and sign it, not knowing who would end up with it. I did too. Just that experience was a happy one. Then people donated again by buying into the raffle. I dropped $100 in the kity and took my raffle tickets, never expecting anything. I had that little ray of hope in my mind that maybe I’d be the lucky winner, but probably not.
I was!
Caroline and I have been steadily working our way through our vino. We’ve had dinner parties, brought wine to dinner parties, shared bottles with friends and family. Every time we uncork a bottle, we spend a few moments thinking about the amazing person who signed/donated the label.
The wine stash also helped me through the cold winter months that Caroline spent traveling for
work. I averaged a bottle of wine a night (sometimes two – not recommended).
Another amazing thing happened, I started telling people about it. Everyone I told who wasn’t from the community was stunned by how we organized such a cool raffle. I won about $3000 worth of wine.
What?
Who does that? I hope to hell we do it again this year. I’ll donate one of last year’s bottles to start it off.
We still have about two cases left. One is full of big BC reds (now cellared…it turns out I drank Alex’s Painted Rock Merlot about 4 years too early, ouch!). The other case is full of white wine and champagne.
I’ve always been hesitant about stepping out beyond the $20 bottle of
wine. It just seemed risky. What if it flops? The Nutt’s Cup Stash,
as I affectionately call it, launched me over that hump.
So without further adieu.. the top ten wines and their donors! I
would buy any one of these any day of the week. They are worth their
price.
1. Bramare – Malbec (Argentia) – Jenny Jupp
2. Elderton – Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (AUS) – Rebar
3. Wallace – Shiraz Grenache (AUS) – Jordy, Audrey
4. Liberty School – Cabernet Sauvignon (California) – Charlie Palmer, Lumber/B
5. J. Lohr – Cabernet Sauvignon (California) – Unknown
6. Pirramimma – Shiraz, Cab Sauv, or Petit Verdot (AUS) – Evan Guindon, The Colonel, Shep
7. Vila Antinori – Toscana (Italy) – Aida, Doreen
8. Edge – Cabernet Sauvignon (California) – Steph, Dash/Tbear
9. Ribera del Duero – Celeste Crianza (Spain) – Andy “Smokey” Brown
10. Ricossa Antica Casa – Barbaresco (Italy) – Marco and Carly
A big shout out goes to Jenny Jupp! I had the Bramare once before
years ago at a restaurant and loved it. I forgot what it was called
and had never been able to find it again. Now I know!
2nd shout out to Genie with the Painted Rock Red Icon. Most expensive donation, and one that I look forward to trying after a decent cellar period.
Drink and be merry,
Afghan
Friday’s Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Accumulate 25 2 for 1 Wallballs
then Box Jumps – work up to 6 sets of 3 box jumps (36-42inches)
( place height of box at 80% of max height)
Technique
Speed Squat Practice
(6 Sets of 3 Reps at 50 to 65% of your 1RM)
Workout
“Midget Revenge”
-400m Row + 40 burpees + 400m Row
Saturday’s Lesson Plan
Technique
- Deadlifts
- Pistols
Workout – Coaches to send 2 Heats.
Complete as many rounds as possible in eleven minutes of:
- 315 pound Deadlift, 7 reps*
- 50 meter Sprint**
- 14 One legged squats (alternating)
- 21 Double-unders
- 50 meter Sprint**
* or 65% of 1RM
**25m out each of the garage doors.
Sunday is make-up Day.
Enjoy the next couple weeks and be good to the limited coaches and Dashie. I’m off till April 13th, 2013.
TBear
There are no comments yet, but you can be the first
By Eunice 28 Mar 2013
Dan, that was a heart-warming write-up. We are DEFINITELY doing the wine raffle again this year. Launching it with a wine tasting this spring.
Huge props to Audrey for coming up with the idea!
PS Jenny Jupp is my client – just texted her to make sure she reads the website tonight
PPS I’m jealous of all your wine!
By Pinky 28 Mar 2013
Yay wine!!!!!!! And I can drink it now…with enuf pumpin;)
Dan! Thank you for the list! I seriously can’t choose wines, I’m always buying the same damn stuff…but I copied and pasted the list on my phone-seriously helpful thank you! And I’m so lookin forward to nutts cup again!!!!
Have a great trip in Nicaragua!!! Love ya
By Squad 28 Mar 2013
Wine Raffle 2013 is going to be EPIC.
This year, I think we’ll add a twist…..
Dan, the top 10 list is going to make gift giving this year VERY easy. Knowing which $30+ bottle is worth it really makes that buying decision make sense. Thank you.
By Hilly 29 Mar 2013
If anyone is looking for good value wine suggestions go to http://www.housewine.ca
These girls are wine experts and know their stuff. I’ve picked up many great bottles over the years from their picks.
By Wendy 29 Mar 2013
I’m not sure why the boxed wine I donated didn’t make the list. Elitist, much?
By Afghan 30 Mar 2013
I didn’t get a box of wine! I must have missed it when I picked it up!
By Wendy 30 Mar 2013
I must’ve finished it prior to donation. I don’t remember.
By Genie 29 Mar 2013
Thanks for the shout out Dan!
By Genie 29 Mar 2013
Forgot to add that the Red Icon would be good now or in a year or two, just decant it a bit.
Hmm..might have to start sampling to figure out this year’s donation!
By posh 29 Mar 2013
It’s so great that you and Caroline spent time keeping track of all this!
And that’s an amazingly cute photo of you two
Wendy – we should play Wine Bag some time (a complex, highly elitist game that is run like musical chairs…. but with a bag of wine).
By Jordy 30 Mar 2013
Really happy that you have been enjoying the wine Dan. Very nice write up!
By bus 30 Mar 2013
Dear Dan,
Please save a bottle for my return (approx. 1 month). I won’t be able to afford the price of wine in Canada, and I miss y’all!! (that is my new southern speak!)