Max Koch Uncorked

A few weeks ago, a buddy of mine from the old days (who I actually hardly ever see) invited me to attend the wake of his deceased mother, who had passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. I had no idea WHY I was invited, but I knew somehow, mysteriously, that it was inevitable I would be attending. Our mutual friend picked […]

It was a whirlwind couple of days for me this past weekend. Went up to Los Olivos on Friday to check out the 10th anniversary celebration of “Sideways” at Kalyra winery (where we first meet sexy Sandra Oh’s character, Stephanie, in the film). We sat outside under the stars and watched the film as we ate […]

The wife and I are wine club members at Kalyra, and we’re all fired up to take in one of their Harvest Movie Night events this weekend. Can you guess which one? I’ll wait… You did it! Yes, that’s correct, we’re gonna sit outside and watch “Sideways” at the vineyard amphitheater while tasting Kalyra wines and mowing on […]

Skittles. Starburst. Nerds. Gummy Worms. Mike and Ikes. Jolly Ranchers. These are the main addictive treats I fight very hard to avoid these days. My success rate is about 78%. However…Beef Jerky? I can’t avoid. But here’s the thing! I usually ONLY consume a small bag or two of BF when I’m on a road trip. There’s just […]

The highlight of this past week for me, hands down, was attending the REEL TO REEL: HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION event at the Grammy Museum in Downtown Los Angeles with Cousin Lorenzo and The Counselor. Harry Dean is one of my all-time favorite actors, so to be able to sit in the front row, less […]

Shoreline Inn…on the beach is my most favorite place on Earth. There. I said it. RANDOM DOUCHE-ROCKET:  Where’s Shoreline Inn…on the beach, Max? Is it actually ON the beach? ME: Yes. It’s actually ON the beach. RD: Which beach, somewhere down in San Diego? ME: NO!! God no. RD: No? ME: No. RD: Oh. You got something against […]

Winemaker Gary Eberle, the “Pioneer of Paso Robles”, knows a little something about football. He went to Penn State on a football scholarship and graduated with a BS in biology. Me, I know NOTHING about football. But I do feel I know a few things about wine. And my tour of the Eberle Winery was one of […]

It’s Friday! And you know what that means. Two days of NO bitching. Unless, of course, you have to work on the weekends. Or live with truly horrible people you can’t stand. Listen, I bitch a LOT. This I know. I complain and rant and foam over RIDICULOUS things. Things so insignificant, that, if you knew me, […]

My wife is always calling me a “freak magnet”. And she’s too correct, as usual. But I subscribe to the word “Oddwin”, created for me by my buddy, Joe Dungan. It’s the Oddwins of the world I can hack. The outcasts, the have-nots, the cast-asides, the once-weres. I can easily talk to most anyone I randomly encounter on […]

Well, whaddya know! I’m back from my trip to the central coast!  Lemme tell you, NOTHING is more depressing than having to come back to L.A. after four days of wine tasting, ocean waves, (some) great food, and, of course, Shoreline Inn… on the beach. HOWEVER… I was fired-up to get back home to cut together all […]