Saturday, January 28th
4:30 - 7:00
We revisit this theme every so often, as it has proven to be one of the more educational and
enjoyable topics for a tasting. I am sure that most of you have used, or at least heard bandied about,
terms such as 'Old World' or 'New World' when talking about wines. Many of you may have wondered
'what do these terms really mean'? The term 'New World' wine is used quite literally to describe wines
coming from New World wine producing countries, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand,
Chile, South Africa or Argentina; essentially all wine producing countries outside of Europe. The rationale
being that these New World countries only started producing wine in the fifteenth, sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, following European exploration or colonization. In contrast, wine has been made in Europe
and along the Mediterranean for several millennia. Figuratively the terms 'New World' and 'Old World'
are widely used as descriptive terms to describe or infer a style of wine or winemaking practices.
Old World wines are traditionally more 'terroir' and structure driven. Old World winemaking philosophies emanated from a sense of place, and the primordial role ascribed to 'terroir' as well as 'mother-nature' in determining wine quality. In contrast, the New World philosophy generally placed less sanctity on the preeminence of 'terroir', and more on the preservation of varietal fruit character, believing that the appropriate harnessing of scientific and technological best practices in the vineyard and in the winery could iron out any 'terroir' imperfections. That is the theory, and while retaining certain truisms, today the dividing line is more blurred, as New World wine producers discover 'terroir' and Old World producers discover 'fruit', adopting many of the technological advances developed in the New World. Join us Saturday where we will sample six wines, with three Old World Examples, and three New World examples of the same grape or similar blends. Come see if you have a preference for one style or the other, or whether (like me) you think both can be delicious!
Bidoli Pinot Grigio
Friuli Grave, Italy, 2015
Guild Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2015
Terrazze Pinot Nero
Provincia di Pavia IGT, Italy, 2015
Grochau Cellars 'Commuter Cuvée' Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2015
La Tour du Cayrou
Cahors, France, 2012
Lomas del Valle Malbec
Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2013
enjoyable topics for a tasting. I am sure that most of you have used, or at least heard bandied about,
terms such as 'Old World' or 'New World' when talking about wines. Many of you may have wondered
'what do these terms really mean'? The term 'New World' wine is used quite literally to describe wines
coming from New World wine producing countries, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand,
Chile, South Africa or Argentina; essentially all wine producing countries outside of Europe. The rationale
being that these New World countries only started producing wine in the fifteenth, sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, following European exploration or colonization. In contrast, wine has been made in Europe
and along the Mediterranean for several millennia. Figuratively the terms 'New World' and 'Old World'
are widely used as descriptive terms to describe or infer a style of wine or winemaking practices.
Old World wines are traditionally more 'terroir' and structure driven. Old World winemaking philosophies emanated from a sense of place, and the primordial role ascribed to 'terroir' as well as 'mother-nature' in determining wine quality. In contrast, the New World philosophy generally placed less sanctity on the preeminence of 'terroir', and more on the preservation of varietal fruit character, believing that the appropriate harnessing of scientific and technological best practices in the vineyard and in the winery could iron out any 'terroir' imperfections. That is the theory, and while retaining certain truisms, today the dividing line is more blurred, as New World wine producers discover 'terroir' and Old World producers discover 'fruit', adopting many of the technological advances developed in the New World. Join us Saturday where we will sample six wines, with three Old World Examples, and three New World examples of the same grape or similar blends. Come see if you have a preference for one style or the other, or whether (like me) you think both can be delicious!
Bidoli Pinot Grigio
Friuli Grave, Italy, 2015
Guild Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2015
Terrazze Pinot Nero
Provincia di Pavia IGT, Italy, 2015
Grochau Cellars 'Commuter Cuvée' Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2015
La Tour du Cayrou
Cahors, France, 2012
Lomas del Valle Malbec
Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2013