Will There Be a Cool AI Tool to Help You Choose a Wine?

Artificial Intelligence/AI is the current buzzword in the tech field. It can be used for good, it can be used for bad, according to the people writing about AI. How might this fit in with the wine consumer's biggest problem -- finding a bottle of wine on the retail store shelf.

The Beer Biz is Having the Same Problems as the Wine Biz

Wine consumption is down, as is winery visitation here in California. Lots of people are trying to figure out why and what to do about it. People are drinking less craft beer, too, and the Brewers Association thinks they know why. What they say closely mirrors what the wine industry is saying.

Lodi's Zinfandel Problem

 Zinfandel has its ancestral home in southern Italy as Primitivo and before than in Croatia as Crljenak Kaštelanski (good luck pronouncing that one). Still, Zinfandel is called California's grape. It doesn't have the cachet of Cabernet, Pinot, or Chardonnay, but it's a favorite for many of us.

Lodi's fame for Zinfandel and its dependence on the grape is causing problems.

The Early 1970s and California Wine

The current state of the American wine industry has its roots in the early 1970s in Napa and Sonoma Counties. At this time, the first modern era boom time for the wine business has its roots. The first growth spurt was in the mid-to late 19th Century before phylloxera, Prohibition, the Great Depression and WWII stifled growth.

Buying 2020 California Wines

Oh no, fires, smoke! Some people say they won't buy a 2020 California wine because of wildfires and smoke damage to wine grapes that year. 

Yes, grapes can get smoke taint that you can actually taste in the wine. No, not all of California caught on fire in 2020, or any other wildfire season. Not even all of Sonoma and Napa County grapes got smoke taint that year!  I know, many think differently.

Article from Wine Enthusiast on the 2020 vintage in Sonoma and Napa.

There's More to the Russian River Valley Than Pinot Noir

Many Pinot Noir fans consider the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County to be one of the best for the grape. I suspect a lot of people only think of Pinot when they reflect on the Russian River region. It's a vast growing area and there are many other grape varieties as the microclimates and soils vary widely.

Why Small Family Wineries Don't Survive

It seems that there's a small, family-owned winery getting gobbled up by a corporation every month. Some even just close their doors. Current economic issues, the loss of income during the pandemic, and a slowdown in the number of visitors is likely to close more operations.

Current State of the Tasting Room

  Silicon Valley Bank surveys wineries throughout the country. They send requests out to many, some respond, some don't. You might recall SVB crashed and burned a few months ago and is now part of First Citizens Bank. 

Sonoma County Harvest Fair Results 2023

The annual Big Wine Event for Sonoma County wineries has been judged and results released. All wines entered must be from Sonoma County grapes. About 960 wines were entered from 126 labels (a winery can have more than one label).  Almost one-fourth of the wines entered receive a good medal, much higher than the average for wine judgings.

The public tasting of gold medal winners will be Saturday, October 14th, at the county fair grounds. I'll be there pouring wine; maybe sneaking in a taste or three.