I remember the first time we visited the Napa Valley wine country and toured some of the local vineyards. We really had no idea of what we were getting in to, other than some recommendations from friends who had been there before, such as “dress casual” and “sip gently and don’t gulp down the wine.” Our real concern was that attending a wine tasting would be a pretentious event designed to expose our naiveté of wine. This could not have been further from the truth.
The first thing to understand is that wineries come in all shapes and sizes, from huge conglomerates like Robert Mondavi down to single-family operations with very limited production. We have visited and toured hundreds of wineries over the years, and regardless of their size or purported quality, you can certainly learn something from everyone. I find that my most valuable experiences have come from visiting smaller, boutique wineries that tend to be owner-operated; however, the larger producers have the resources to deliver great educational experiences. It really comes down to who is giving the tour and the passion that they have for their respective grape, because at the end of the day, it is all about the grape.
It is also important to understand that technology and communication has leveled the playing field. No longer can any particular region lay claim to producing the best wines. If someone tells you that they best wines come from any one region, they obviously have a closed mind. As a friend of mine once said, “the best wines are the ones you enjoy”, and I have found amazing wines from almost every corner of the earth.
Finally, if you want to get the most out of a wine tour, it is important to understand the culture of winemaking. I believe the best winemakers and producers are really artisan farmers that create handcrafted wines using the highest quality ingredients. My mother was the oldest of nine children in a Kansas farm family, so I know a thing or two about the farming lifestyle and culture.
A good farmer understands how to leverage the characteristics of their soil, properly irrigate, and when to plant and harvest. A farmer´s best friend is also their most feared enemy – the weather. I have never met a farmer who said the weather was just right. Every growing season is a mixture of too much or too little moisture, and too much or not enough temperature. The one thing I have learned is that farmers love to complain about the weather. It is not because they are naturally complainers, it is because they have so much passion for their craft and weather is the one thing they cannot control.
Great winemakers, like great farmers, don´t just grow grapes. They carefully cultivate the grapes and craft them using a blend of science and art to produce a very special and unique product. Their vineyard is their garden from which they produce their most treasured art. To a winemaker, each new release is like the birth of a child – a unique and beautiful creature that only gets better with time and careful handling.
So when you visit a winery, try to visualize that you are visiting an old friend to take a tour of their garden and meet their most recent offspring. Respect their passion for their grape, and they will reward you with a lifetime of valuable lessons.
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