This new year starts dark, but improves as the vaccines are rolled out. It's just that no one knew at the time how the new mRNA formulation would change everyone's sense of taste and smell. Suddenly chardonnay tasted like soap, cabernet like candy corn.
Then one day the whole world wanted tannat. What the hell is tannat, many in the wine business asked? Well, originally grown along the French - Spanish border most of it is now planted in Uruguay. Where the hell is Uruguay, many in the wine business asked?
In the town of Canelones, Uruguay the phones were ringing off the hook (remember when phones were hung on hooks?). Wineries wanted to give them $10,000 a ton for their fruit (that's dollars, not pesos). Sheraton and Hilton were planning resorts, Michelin Guide inspectors were showing up at the local restaurants, shoppers came looking for $30 wine-scented candles.
By the end of the year Napa Valley was ripping up cabernet (what hadn't already been burned by the wildfires) and planting tannat. The thinking was, "If Uruguay (wherever that is) can now get fifty bucks for a bottle of tannat that cost fifteen a year ago then Napa can charge a hundred!"
Alas, the changes to the human senses were temporary and would last less than a year. Not only was Napa in trouble for planting a bunch of $15/bottle wines, but brussels sprouts were no longer the hot item either.
Read more at: https://southamericawineguide.com/uruguay-wine-regions-guide/
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