Archive for the ‘Terroir’ Category
James Conaway is wrong about Napa Valley: While at the California Preservation Foundation Conference in Napa Valley, Conaway said about Napa Valley (Quoting from the Napa Valley Register): "Conaway said the undoing of the Napa Valley may be the sprawl of boutique wineries by rich newcomers who would sacrifice our natural and architectural heritage in the name of “showing off.” First, would it be different if the sprawl of boutique wineries were being built by middle class, old-timers? Second, the…
Arthur, of redwinebuzz, commenting on today’s earlier post about what should be the standard for quality in wine, makes the case that a high high quality wine is that which best displays their classic traits and characteristics of the variety or combination of variety and terroir. (Correct me if I mischaracterize you Arthur. Using dog breeding as an example, he writes: “What makes a Doberman a classic example of the breed? The way it best displays the traits and characteristics…
I’m constantly watching for the emergence of new wine-related media. In particular I’m partial to publications that don’t cater to the average wine drinker, but rather try to fill that smaller niche of sophisticated wine folks. Basically I’m greedy. Such a publication has emerged and based on the first issue I recommend it highly. The Sommelier Journal is new and focuses most of its attention of publishing for sommeliers and wine professionals. Yet, any one with a higher level of…
And your mission is, if you choose to accept it: Create a criteria for choosing the top ten (the "Grand Cru") Pinot Noir vineyards in California. Not Top Ten Producers, but Top Ten Pinot Noir vineyards. This topic of building such a criteria came up today when I was speaking first with a pretty well known Pinot producer and it arose again when I was speaking with a very knowledgeable wine writer who has a real passion for Pinot. All…
Anyone who has spent anytime attempting to wrap their mind around the concept of "Terroir" is eventually forced to consider the concept of "Dry Farming": growing grapes without resort to irrigation. I’ve heard it said that the less irrigation a vineyard receives, the more likely the wine made from its grapes will reflect the vineyard’s terroir. This is not a controversial idea. I doubt many grape growers would have much to say in response other than "Duh!" But how about…
