Sonoma Wineries With Sculpture Gardens

Sometimes you might want something a little different from just a standard wine tasting. Maybe a little art. A couple wineries known for there sculpture gardens on their sprawling estates are Donum and Paradise Ridge.

Why the Lack of Low-Alcohol Wines?

There's a segment of the consumer base that wants low-sugar, low-carb, low- or non-alcohol adult beverages. You know, like hard seltzer. There are plenty of lite beers and a few zero alcohol ones. There is even low- and no-alcohol booze. I won't vouch for the taste of any of these when compared to their full strength offerings, but generally you can expect less flavor. But no- or low-alcohol wines? Few and far between.

Number of Wineries in the U.S.

  In the last ten years the U.S. has gone from about 7,400 wineries to over 11,000. That's about a 50% increase.

  California has 4,800 wineries followed by Oregon and Washington each with about 850. Texas and New York follow each with over 400. Sonoma and Napa Counties each have over 400. 

  For Sonoma, Napa, and really for California, wine growth started in the 1970s. In the early part of that decade Sonoma and Napa each had a couple dozen wineries. Later in the '70s the region returned to the same acreage of grapes as there was before Prohibition (Prohibition, the Depression, and the war years really set America back in wine production). Since the 1980s the growth in American wineries has been exponential. 

  It's been quite a ride! 

Growth in the number of American wineries
since the Great Recession.  Source: statistica.com
Click on image to enlarge

 

 

The Coming California Wine Shortage

The 2020 crush was down 14% in tonnage compared to 2019; red wine is down more than white. It's the lowest of the past decade. Why? Part of the reason is the warm growing season, but mostly it's the wildfires and resulting smoke.

Click on the graph to enlarge

Science Says No Two People Taste Wine the Same

  No wonder some people are put off by wine recommendations, gold medals, and tasting notes. It turns out everyone's brain reads tastes and smells differently. When you add that to different interpretations based on the tasting environment to your health to social pressure it's not surprising buying based on someone else's favorites often fails.

Who's Buying the Expensive Wine?

Wine sales by age group. Boomers are still the biggest buyers especially of the luxury stuff.

Click on graph to enlarge.

 

From Crljenak to Zinfandel

 The origins of zinfandel were a mystery until about 30 years ago. Through genetic research the grape has been traced to its home where there's now a resurgence in the original zin. Zinfandel is California's best wine (my opinion). Being summer, all I can say is, "zinfandel and barbecue!"

 The story from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

What's Booming in the Booze Biz

What alcohol is hot and what's not? Some interesting trends.

2020 Wine Varietal Winners/Losers

2020 was a weird year for consumer products -- that's not news. People turned to buying online, cooking at home, and stocking up on toilet paper (raise your hand if you still have 50 rolls of Charmin in the house). Some wine varietals went up in sales, some down for no apparent reason other than it was 2020.  

The 2020 California Harvest -- The Good News

 So you've read all about the fires and smoke and tainted grapes that were thrown away or left to rot on the vines. My God, you're thinking, their 2020 wines aren't gonna be any good! Well, now that things have settled, wines are in the barrels, and some even bottled, we see a different story.

Sustainable Wine Production in California

At the end of 2020 the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance reported 80% of the state's wine production and 32% of the wine grape acreage are certified sustainable. Sustainability in agriculture means you can fulfill current needs while still allowing future generations to meet their needs. This is based on knowledge of the ecosystems. 

What Was Hot During the Pandemic?

With the lock downs and otherwise not much traveling or even dinners out what were people buying for that new pandemic lifestyle?