February Wine Focus: What's next?

[Robin Garr]

Before we know it another month will be here. Any nominations for a Focus topic?

I was thinking yesterday that a month on organic and biodynamic wines might be interesting. The organic sector seems to be commanding greater market share, so a monthlong analysis of random wines might be interesting, with some attention as to whether "organic" on the label has any connection with flavor, complexity or the other good things we like to find in wine.

This is just a thought, though. Feel free to shoot it down, but if you do, please propose an alternative.

[David M. Bueker]

So organic/biodynamic vineyard practices and/or "natural" wine?

There's plenty of organic, biodynamic and natural wine here. What is more difficult is to judge whether there is a quality advantage from these practices without being able to compare wines from the same terroirs grown by conventional as well as organic methods.

[Robin Garr]

So organic/biodynamic vineyard practices and/or "natural" wine?

I went to considerable lengths to leave "natural" out of the equation.

[Robin Garr]

There's plenty of organic, biodynamic and natural wine here. What is more difficult is to judge whether there is a quality advantage from these practices without being able to compare wines from the same terroirs grown by conventional as well as organic methods.

I never said it was going to be easy, Tim, but when did that stop us? More seriously, it just seemed like an approach we haven't taken before in a structured way: Does "organic" or "biodynamic" on the bottle tend to predict an enjoyable (or, perhaps, a not-so-enjoyable) experience? Even lacking the resources for rigorous analysis, it could be fun, perhaps.

I left out "natural" partly just to avoid the Alice vs the Human Shields wars, and partly because the term "natural" is unregulated, at least in the US, and has little meaning except for commercial hype.

Alice vs the Human Shields wars..not sure what this is, like Scrabble?

[Robin Garr]

Alice vs the Human Shields wars..not sure what this is, like Scrabble?

Bob, it's sort of like what JP Morgan told people who asked how much his yacht cost. "If you have to ask ... "

So, moving on, is this plan doable? Or would someone like to nominate something you think would be more likely to catch on? I like this idea, but I'm certainly not wedded to it if most of you hate it. Pipe up if that's the case, though, as we'll turn this one loose over the weekend if nobody objects.

Another idea would be lesser know whites; i.e. other that Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc/Gris, Gruner Veltliner. Wines could be from anywhere.

[Robin Garr]

Another idea would be lesser know whites;

Why, yes, that would be another idea. Is it a preferable idea to organic and biodynamic, though? I'm seeing a little less scope for conversation that goes beyond TNs.

Good idea, Robin. Just a note though in case you never took a chemistry class in college or even in high school. ALL wines are organic. So yes, I like the proposal because it would be inclusive of every wine all of us currently own or could purchase.

[Robin Garr]

Good idea, Robin. Just a note though in case you never took a chemistry class in college or even in high school. ALL wines are organic. So yes, I like the proposal because it would be inclusive of every wine all of us currently own or could purchase.

Folk, Dave is on involuntary Time Out status because of persistent twittishness, this being just one of many examples thereof. In case anyone is confused, however, here is Jancis on organic wine in the EU:
http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/ ... ne-defined

Here's a brief explainer from the US Organic Vineyard Alliance on US practice:
http://organicvineyardalliance.com/2013 ... the-label/

I left out "natural" partly just to avoid the Alice vs the Human Shields wars, and partly because the term "natural" is unregulated, at least in the US, and has little meaning except for commercial hype.

When I think of "natural wine", I'm thinking more of the non-interventionist style of making wine commonly found in portfolios like Dressner, etc. No added chemicals, yeasts, very little messing with in general, rather than the way "natural" has been abused when regards to labeling food.

I think a month on organic, biodynamic and natural wines could be fun. There is a lot of cool stuff out there.

[Robin Garr]

When I think of "natural wine", I'm thinking more of the non-interventionist style of making wine commonly found in portfolios like Dressner, etc. No added chemicals, yeasts, very little messing with in general, rather than the way "natural" has been abused when regards to labeling food.

I think a month on organic, biodynamic and natural wines could be fun. There is a lot of cool stuff out there.

I like that, Joy, and I love that kind of wine, however you describe it. I was slightly concerned that the wars over "natural" wine in some dark alleys of the wine highways had poisoned the term, but if that's not the case here in these civilized quarters, then I'm all for it.

And hey! It's Feb 1 already, so I guess we'd better do it!