Archive for the ‘Culture and Wine’ Category

Mar 30, 2006

Biodynamicism: Rant Meets Reason

Yesterday’s post on Biodynamicism, faith, gambling and viticultural techniques appeared to some (see comments) as a bit of a rant…perhaps even over the top. First of all I’m shocked, shocked I tell you, that anything that appears on FERMENTATION would be considered a rant. I much prefer it be considered "unhinged verbosity." That said, There is a place where one can go to find a someone different, and perhaps more reasoned perspective on the state and nature of Biodynamic Viticulture….

Mar 29, 2006

Who Gives, Who Gets: Money, Politics & Wine

Over the past few months FERMENTATION has tried to cover a variety of political battes involving wine and wine distribution and sales in particular. We’ve been candid in our position that money usually sways the outcome of these battles. That is to say, campaign contributions tend to deliver not only access to office holders, but too often results in success in state houses across the country and in Washington. With the 2006 campaign cycle roaring into high gear, we thought…

Mar 29, 2006

Does Global Warming=Homegrown English Claret?

When considering the apparent rise in global temperatures, wine types tend to ask, what will be come of my Bordeaux or Napa Cab or German Riesling as the temperatures continue to rise? There is a worry that these wines, forced to be produced with grapes asked to thrive in warmer temperatures will just not be the same.Decanter Magazine has an article concerning just his issue and how it was addressed at the recent World Conference on Global Warming and Wine…

Mar 29, 2006

Faith, Gambling and Technique in the Vineyard

The Associated Press’ Michelle Locke has written a story about Biodynamic farming of wine grapes in the United States focusing on Benziger Winery in Sonoma Valley and Quivera in Dry Creek Valley. It’s very much like other Biodynamic-centered articles in which the personalities at the center of the story claim to have had great success with the system, yet prefer to either discount the somewhat loony alchemical aspects of the practice or speculate that these practices "must be doing something"…

Mar 28, 2006

Reading (wine blogs) Is Fundamental

Some Editorial Updates For Your Reading Pleasure: 1. Wine Sediments, the new wine blog on the WellFed Network is humming along. My most recent post, "What Next? Republican Wine"? is currently at the top of the list. 2. Taj at Cork & Demon continues her Western Wine Tour, a tour de force wine road trip that currently puts her in the Central Coast area of California. Her tour and chronicle of her adventures is well worth a read. 3. FERMENTATION…