| August/September 2001 | Online Publication |
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If you are in Southern California, try the Zaca Mesa 1998 Santa Barbara County Syrah for a treat your palate will not soon forget. |
Vine Lines ... I must admit to a bit of apprehension after the late freeze and the more recent heat wave in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino wine growing regions. There are still, however, many Spring and Summer releases that are just outstanding. I will get to these. But, for a reality check, I want to start by commenting briefly on the economy and what appears to be a nationwide trend. To begin, the wine industry is not exempt from the economic slowdown. As a result, vintners are facing increased competition from a flood of high quality foreign wines (Chile, Australia, South Africa, France) and another huge increase in grape production. In addition to creating storage headaches, this softens prices and reduces profit margins. This is especially true for overplanted varietals, such as Chardonnay and other grapes that may not be of superior quality. That said, there continues to be a pretty good demand for premium vintages, such as the upscale varieties of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and some "killer" Zinfandel, both domestic and international. There are two other issues of which you are aware, and that is the energy crisis, which has wine producers extremely concerned, especially in the event of a blackout during the harvest, crush, and fermentation periods. The other issue concerns the price of vineyard property. The price of buying a vineyard in both Sonoma and Napa has doubled over the last four years, and there is no indication that the pace is slowing. In Sonoma County for example, you can purchase vineyard property starting at $77,000 an acre and up. Compare this to $38,000 an acre in 1997. In the prestigious Napa Valley, one could purchase vineyard property from $47,000 an acre in 1997 to $125,000 an acre this year. All of this said and done, let me assure you that even the worst years, of which this is not, still allow for some great wines. To the point, and I apologize if you are bored with the previous update, there is some great stuff out there and you should be ready to choose your selections carefully and not be afraid to taste and purchase what you like. The prices are good and the wines are excellent! Some Tips: Those of you living in Oregon should continue to sample and purchase the outstanding pinots that are available. If you are in Washington, enjoy the releases from the Columbia Valley. Some are superb! And, if you get a chance to visit Long Island, check out the Galluccio Estate Vineyards in Patchogue and the new Raphael Winery. Further, there are some outstanding Cabernets and Merlots available from Chile that are very reasonably priced. If you find a bottle of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, don't hesitate to try these, you will be surprised at the taste and the quality. I could go on and on about my experience with Shiraz, or as we call it, Syrah. This "New World" wine is literally stealing the hearts of both Merlot and Zinfandel lovers. The flavor of Syrah, a red wine, is robust and ripe, with hints of cherry and plum, seasoned with black pepper and soft tannins - to die for! Look for these in the Australian, French and U.S. wine sections of your favorite merchant or broker. If you are in Southern California, try the Zaca Mesa 1998 Santa Barbara County Syrah for a treat your palate will not soon forget. Those of us in Northern California are just loving the Syrah from Montpellier in Napa. If you are interested, a good resource for more information on Syrah is the July 31st edition of the Wine Spectator. If you have a question or need a tip, e-mail me at george.urdzik@sonoma.edu. I will respond to you on my own time when I get a break from PeopleSoft implementation. Until next time, happy tasting! |
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