WHAT STYLE IS BETTER?

My recent trip to Napa, although mainly business, did include a few trips to wineries.
Look, you could spend a week tasting wine and not see everything.

Start your tasting day with sparkling wine.  It sets up your palate and is a lite & refreshing quaff.

There is no better place to start then the strategically located @DomaineCarneros.  On a picture postcard day sitting out on the classic veranda...it doesn't get better then that!  Kelvin Pye gave fabulous customer service and the wines where stunning!  I was picking up the '05 Brut which is now out of stock, but the '07 was toasty and smooth.  The Rose' was ripe with hints of strawberry.  And the Reve was sublime, with pear and almond flavors.  Finally the Demi-Sec was rich and creamy with a dash of honey.

I had been wanting to visit @PlumpjackWinery for a long time.  Part of the Plumpjack Group who's founder was former SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, the tasting room has more of a rustic Sonoma feel.  Jared Clevenger was a consummate professional; friendly, informative and attentive.

And now for my question, Is there a fundamental change in what wines should taste like? 

There has been criticism of overripe huge Napa Cabs and Australian Reds driven by Robert Parker's taste buds.  Plumpjack has such a wine.  The '08 Estate Cab is jammy, rich, yummy, and filled with a couple of baskets of blackberries.  It is classic Napa Cab that was wonderful!

On the other side was Plunpjack's sister label Cade '07 Howell Mountain Cab,  This Cab was complex, with minerality, more cola and cocoa with strong herbal essence.  It was a fascinating and interesting wine!

After talking with some folks from Aurora, IL I asked another one of the staff, "Do you sense a perception difference from your customers when they taste these two wines?"  He looked at me with a mix of disbelief and contempt.  Trying to restate the question, I said, "You know the big Cab vs the earthy Cab"
He said, "It's not true!"  I said, "No difference??!!"  "None!!"  was his response.

The worst thing Napa can do is get too defensive about their ripe style.

If you want to sit by the fire and sip an exceptionally rich wine and thoroughly enjoy an iconic wine growing region grab the Estate and be ready to be wowed!

Now, if you are dining next spring on a leg of lamb, asparagus in lime butter and rosemary infused potatoes grab the Cade and let the wine open it's complex character before your very tongue.

In the end the question is mute.
Both wines were excellent; not better or worse, just different.

WASHINGTON WINE SEPTEMBER 2011

After listening to the @KUOW broadcast of WINE WARS hosted by Marcie Stillman a couple of thoughts came to mind.

First the stellar panel:

Sean Sullivan of the @wawinereport
"Mr Washington Wine"
Who has catapulted himself to the higher echelons of the Washington Wine scene with informed and prolific commentary on all things #wawine.  I've had the pleasure of working along side Sean on many occasions and he is a true professional.

Richard Kinssies of the @grlakewine
 "The Library of Wine"
Has been pushing wine cases for years and there are few people more knowledgeable about all facets of the wine industry.  I've known and admired Richard since his days at the University Village Safeway where he was one of this state's top movers of wine.

Mike Veseth author of "Wine Wars"
"The Globalist"
Brings an educated and rational analysis of international market forces not just on wine.
More importantly he sheds light on the psyche of the consumer and their buying decisions.

They gave us a glimpse of the current Washington Wine Market.  And although they have "forgotten" more about wine than I know, I wanted to add some insight.

My direction is a continuation of what I was sensing from Marcie's comments and also my limited perspective on the US wine scene.

Marcie seemed almost exasperated by the inherent conflict of a loyal northwest consumer who desperately wants to think and BUY local but is forced to act GLOBAL.  See, there are tons of extremely high quality NW wines in the $25 to $45 that we do purchase, but can't afford to drink everyday.  And to find the $10 and under "Bottle a Day" brands we are forced to go to Chile, Argentina, Australia and even parts of France.

Why can't we get more Washington Wines at this price category and/or more value priced NW wine????

The explanations of market history, economies of scale and a world glut were all wonderfully articulated by the panel.  I wanted to add the notion that NW wineries DON"T WANT TO!

They don't want to risk tarnishing their brand to the level of 2 1/2 Buck Chuck.

They are afraid they will never recover their present price points.  No one can absolutely predict the future.  Maybe the NW wineries are short sighted and haven't smelled the coffee.  Maybe those price points, at those volumes will NEVER return.  Many NW wineries have tons of "Old" wine to sell and are cutting back on new vintage production.  So they sit as long as they can with globally inflated prices, hoping that the market will turn just enough for them to sell off their inventory and then more accurately assess production levels.

And when things get tough enough they hide behind "Flash" sales sites or one day only sales to generate cashflow.  Or like Trey Busch at Sleight of Hand they produce 2nd labels like Renegade to move more juice.

Bottom line:

NW wineries are trying to weather a huge global financial storm, move old inventory while trying to maintain a very well deserved image of quality at price points that make their wineries sustainable.

On the high end we are fine.  NW $50 to $150 wines are a steal compared to most other markets.  The local guys like Domanico can use all your help.  Spend a little more and drink LOCALLY!

WAWGG 2011 CONFERENCE "NEW AGE IN WINE MARKETING" PANEL

#WAWINE #WAWGG
First the thank yous:
Robyn Pollard and especially Chris Stone, Washington Wine Commission, for directing the panel
Tari Gordon, Elite Label, for the panel sponsorship
Kent Waliser, Sagemoor Vineyards, Panel Chair
Christian Miller, Wine Opinions, Speaker
Paul Mabray, vintank, Speaker
Sean Sullivan, Washington Wine Report, Speaker & Social Media Moderator
Trey Busch, Sleight of Hand Cellars, Speaker
And especially;
Ann Anderson of Walter Dacon Wines for your friendship, support and dedication, Speaker

The room was full and attentive.  The speakers were excellent. 
Christian's data was interesting and compelling; Washington is emerging, with work still to do. 
Paul was dynamic.  His energy and enthusiasm, stirred the crowd and spring boarded us into the Social Media winery examples.
Trey's detailed insight into his hands-on approach demonstrated exactly the techniques that make Social Media effective.
And Ann's passion and emotion reinforced the need that Social Media interactions be real and engaging, not a sales pitch.

Another beauty of the afternoon was that the panel interacted and supported each other's ideas.  The energy built up as we added more information and nuance to a topic that is new and ever changing.  What was not in dispute however, was the growing evidence that Social Media and the wine industry go hand-in-hand.  And that Social Media is one of the most cost effective and efficient tools Washington has to market wine, wineries and the entire destination experience.

The comments afterwards were extremely positive.  The audience was overwhelmingly motivated to dive deeper into the entire Social Media scene.

Thanks again to all those who participated and attended!

THANKS AND NO THANKS

As the holiday season rushes in, we are reminded of all we are thankful for:

Thanks for all our abundant riches.  We truely live like kings!

Thanks for family and friends many we only see once a year, but never lose touch.

Thanks for our faith in the goodness on earth.  Our spirits are renewed, hope is rekindled.

No thanks to the greed, the anger, the pettiness that can creep into our lives through the stress of the season.

Thanks for the food, the parties, the bubbles, the cookies, the gift's, the giving and the warmth we feel.

Thanks for those who work while we rest, travel, shop and dine.

Thanks for the wine, the women and song. for the time honored movies and festive events.

No thanks to the traffic, the lines and the wait.

Thanks for the time with  book, a spot by the fire and a glass of good port.

Thanks for the new trinkets, and gadgets galore.

Thanks for the sports, the specials, the music and the lights!

No thanks to being troubled, to war and strife.

Thanks for justice and peace and love!

"Be safe out there!"

WHY IS IT STILL DARK IN HERE????!!!

OUCH!

I feel like the Chicago Tribune...NOV 3rd 1948...(scratch that 2010) "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN!"...
(scratch that "DAWN OF A NEW AGE, 1100 WILL PASS")

Hey, dont look at me like that! 
I predicted the Jets over the Colts in Super Bowl III!

Unfortunately, my last great revelation.

NOW WHAT? 

As many of you are saying, we all hope the State of Washington and the WSLCB realize they dodged a howitzer barrage and get the message.

GET OUT OF THE LIQUOR SALES BUSINESS!!!

Sell franchises, promote WASHINGTON products and adjust taxation so we don't lose revenue.

Until the lights come on, the caravan to California and then back with cheap booze, continues!

GET OUT THE VOTE!

Well today's the day! 

A dawn of a new age in Washington!

By all accounts 1100 appears headed for passage and 1105 will be close. 

If they both pass???  I haven't read anyone who knows the future that clearly.

Kudo's are shouted out to Sean Sullivan and his tireless efforts to shed light on the whole issue.

I voted against 1100 and for 1105.  That contridicts my somewhat Libertarian nature.  Maybe it was being here in Boston and having them go back and forth on liquor taxes that spooked me.  I was worried about the smaller wine producers and the burgeoning WA batch liquor trade getting pummeled by big business. 

We'll see!

Anyways, the regulatory doors will fly open and the free market will reign..

And in the end that has worked best.

AND SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT HR 5034

FOX NEWS Why Is Congress So Afraid of Mail Order Wine?

WINE BUSINESS.COM  HR 5034 Hearing: Underage Access Cries Fall Short on Deaf Ears

PRNEWSWIRE  NetChoice Warns that CARE Act Will Harm Internet Commerce

WINE INSTITUTE Wine Institute Makes a Strong Case to Reject H.R. 5034

NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION CARE Act Takes a Big Step Forward

FERMENTATION Rep (MA) Bill Delahunt's letter to Congress

WINEPOLICY.COM  Wholesale Political Manipulation on H.R. 5034

FERMENTATION Hearings Set for Wednesday on H.R. 5034: Wholesaler Protection Act