With 2001 almost out the door, it's time to finalize New Year's resolutions. Here's what I resolve for 2002.

        1. Enjoy the increased availability of California syrah. California wineries have been planting thousands of acres in syrah grapes for the past few years. Now it's payoff time, as many of these vineyards are beginning to produce. Whether it's called syrah or shiraz, I'll be sampling these new wines in 2002.

        2. Write about more $10 wines that match the quality of wines costing twice as much or more. 2001 featured some outstanding bargains, including California's Van Ruiten-Taylor chardonnay and Spain's Borja Borsao. Let's hope there are even more in 2002.

        3. Compliment Tristate restaurants for pouring more wines by the glass. This praiseworthy trend makes it possible to enjoy different wines with different dishes, and it's a boon for wine lovers who dine alone or with non-wine drinkers.

        4. Chide Tristate restaurants for overpricing wines poured by the glass. Recently, I discovered a wine I recommended was being sold by the glass in a restaurant for $5.75 — a couple of dollars more than the restaurant paid for the entire bottle! Of course, restaurants must mark up wine prices, but to this degree?

        5. Try more limited-production wines from Australia. I recently tasted several such wines from Henschke and Yalumba and was blown away by their quality. Other examples come from Pirrimimma, a winery I've been touting since its wines were introduced in Ohio just a few years ago. Bring it on, Aussies!

        6. Enjoy simple pleasures. Ever notice how vacationers returning from France and Italy always rave about the simple wines produced locally? I resolve to find something enjoyable in every wine I taste in 2002, regardless of how basic and inexpensive.

        7. Drink more zinfandels from Cline Cellars. Something's wrong when I want to write about Cline's new releases but find the local distributor still has stock of delicious older vintages. I'll drink as many of these as I can afford, but I'll need help. So pitch in, especially if you haven't already discovered Cline's monstrously big zins.

        8. Write about another emerging region producing quality wines. I had great fun tasting and writing about wines from the Lodi region of California in 2001. Is 2002 the year to explore the Sierra Foothills?

        9. Pursue more wine travel. I retired from my “real job" in 2001 and should have more time to travel. It didn't happen this year, but I'm hoping it will in 2002. Hmmm, maybe I'll explore the Sierra Foothills.

        10. Keep wine in perspective. Events of 2001 remind us to keep our lives in perspective. So for 2002, I resolve to focus less on wine for wine's sake and more on wine as a means for enhancing relationships with family and friends.

        I hope these resolutions inspire you to welcome 2002 with your own resolutions.

        Contact John Vankat by mail: c/o Cincinnati Enquirer; fax: 768-8330.

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