May 18, 2012
On the eve of two simultaneously scheduled wine fairs dedicated to the proposition that everything old is new again, it’s hard not to admire the enthusiasm of those taken by “natural” wine. It’s hard not to notice the excitement its admirers exhibit. It’s hard not to notice that many of the proponents and champions of these wines revel in the idea that they are part of a revolution that defies a stale status quo. The kind of excitement that is…
May 14, 2012
Some truths are uncomfortable. The Experts Are the Best Sources of Wine Info and RecommendationsThe tendancy to disparage "wine experts" or "wine elite" grows as the role of social media and peer reviews grow. Yet the fact remains that the experts are the best and most reliable source of information on wine. Folks like Eric Asimov, Robert Parker, Jim Laube, Jancis Robinson, Steve Heimoff, Charles Olken, Dan Berger, Lettie Teague, Jon Bonne and other well known experts are the one's…
Apr 30, 2012
I am always excited when I see an article or blog post on-line that was written in response to something on this blog. At the very least it means someone is reading me. Even better, it could mean that what I've written inspires someone. More Better: It could mean they took my thoughts seriously. So, I was pleased to see that Janice Cable over at "Inside IWM" (IWM = Italian Wine Merchant—a GREAT wine merchant) had a long and thoughtful…
Apr 16, 2012
I experienced "pot wine" some years ago and as Crane Carter, Napa's pot evangelist tells the Daily Beast, it does produce "an interesting little buzz.” However, as trends go and as stories about trends go, the recent story about pot-laced wine growing in popularity comes without a sniff or whiff of confirmation. Who knows if more folks are making pot wine, let alone drinking it. The author of this story and its sources don't know, despite the headline claim. This…
Mar 20, 2012
At the risk of beating on a horse that is live and well, I'm compelled to remake a few points about the Natural Wine Movement that very much need to be driven home. The movement, which some will say does not exist, continues to see its most ardent champions display a most insidious form of promotion that is both disingenuous and dangerous. I want to draw your attention to one of two "Natural Wine Fairs" that will be occurring in…