Make Your Own Wine...Virtually

    Well, it had to happen some time, and where else would it happen but here in the SF bay area.  If you're a wine lover that's ever dreamed of being a vintner (that's a winemaker to you and I) but don't have millions in the bank to start your own vineyard, no problem.  All you need is a relatively paltry $5-10K.
    San Francisco-based Crushpad specializes in "virtual winemaking."  Once you pay your dues you become a vintner via internet and make all the decisions about the wine you want to make.  From the style of the wine, which grapes to buy and from where, when and how to blend and bottle your wine, you decide it all.  You can even go hog-wild designing your own labels.  What's more, you see it all happen from your cush living room couch.  Webcams let you to see the crush happen when the grapes arrive, and live chat with the winery staff let you play boss.  If you care to make a non-virtual visit to the winery to see your alchemistic brew in person, by all means.  Now you have no excuse NOT to make wine, even if you live in Fargo.