GrapeCrafter

Clark:

What can one stand to gain by making multivintage/nonvintage blends?
What are the pitfalls and drawbacks of multivintage/nonvintage blends?

Arthur Z. Przebinda
Founder and Publisher
redwinebuzz.com

Arthur:

The truth? Let me get on my hobbyhorse. Removing the constraint of vintage purity gives the winemaker more freedom to blend for consistency, complexity and balance. Thus non-vintage wines are without exception a superior product and a better deal for the consumer.

Here at last is a two minute video which captures the essence of wine's distribution network in the U.S. as it malfunctions in a down economy. Also the funniest video I ever saw.

The simple truth of this situation explains why the channels of access for the 150,000+ wines on the market need to go beyond the 2,000 shelf positions in even a very large store. The system is choked with crap.

No wonder pundits complain about sameness. But the enemy isn't technology -- it's the distribution system. These people simply aren't tasting what's out there. There are more great, distinctive American wines available to day than ever before in history; literally a hundred times as many as in 1975, But the internet is your only access to them. To provide guidance through that fascinating but daunting maze is why I started charting the AVA's at AppellationAmerica.com. Despite its problems, the Best-Of-Appellation process continues, now self-sustaining. Yours for a buck a week.

There is much discussion on the net concerning Appellation America's decision (really their only option) to go to a $50 per year subscription for the many services it has provided for free for the last six years -- free to the public but extremely costly to its long-suffering investors. This amazing site, which contains many hundreds of articles and videos exploring the 300+ AVA's in North America, the grapes they grow, and as complete a reference as one could wish to the continent's 5,000 wineries and the wines they offer. Failing to find an alternative method to stay alive (advertising rates are hopeless in such a specialized area), the site is gambling that 10% of its monthly traffic will think enough of the site to help support it.

I'd like to share below a correspondence which many readers may find reflects their own feelings on the subject.

Readers may discount today's blog as self-promoting filthy commerce. So shoot me. The point of posting it here is to illuminate the way the market for artisanal wines has become seriously screwed up at all price levels.

Dear Clark: I really enjoyed your CheapSkate 2003 Cabernet Franc, but I can’t get my local retailer to re-order it. I know I can buy it off your website, but doesn’t shipping cost defeat the whole idea of CheapSkate? – Tom from Santa Rosa

Dear Tom: You would think so. But in today’s crazy wine world, the net is actually hands down the best place to find rare wines and for bargains. Don’t get me wrong. You can’t beat the benefits of a personal relationship with a knowledgeable local retailer who can recommend products tailored to your personal taste and budget. But if you’re looking for a specific wine, your chance of finding it on the local shelves is less than 1%.