Comments on: Returning To Wine http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cherries and Clay » Blog Archive » Sunday School #23 - The Southern Crus http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1910 Cherries and Clay » Blog Archive » Sunday School #23 - The Southern Crus Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:04:15 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1910 [...] cru of Morgon and recently have loved the few bottles I’ve had from Moulin-à-Vent (Rottiers and Janin ‘Clos du Tremblay’ specifically), but I feel there’s plenty of [...] [...] cru of Morgon and recently have loved the few bottles I’ve had from Moulin-à-Vent (Rottiers and Janin ‘Clos du Tremblay’ specifically), but I feel there’s plenty of [...]

]]> By: Jake http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Jake Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:55:26 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1749 Cheers Miguel. The contrast between wine buying habits in Vancouver and San Francisco completely shocks me. I'm sure you've seen it in New York too. Yes, the shops have much more obscure selections down there, and for every great wine shop (Arlequin, Terroir, K&L, Biondivino, Kermit Lynch, etc.), there are 20 corner stores and Safeways with abysmal selections, but people seem a lot more confident walking into the shop and buying a bottle of JP Thevenet Morgon or Clos Roche Blanche Touraine. Bigger populations to buy the stock? A bigger community of people pushing and talking about cool wines, including mainstream mag/newspaper wine writers = a more interested public? National importers like Joe Dressner and Kermit Lynch who have built a reputation and branding that people trust to buy? I'm not sure, but you're right that flooding the BC market with obscure bottles and expecting people to buy them isn't the way to go. -Jake Cheers Miguel.

The contrast between wine buying habits in Vancouver and San Francisco completely shocks me. I’m sure you’ve seen it in New York too. Yes, the shops have much more obscure selections down there, and for every great wine shop (Arlequin, Terroir, K&L, Biondivino, Kermit Lynch, etc.), there are 20 corner stores and Safeways with abysmal selections, but people seem a lot more confident walking into the shop and buying a bottle of JP Thevenet Morgon or Clos Roche Blanche Touraine. Bigger populations to buy the stock? A bigger community of people pushing and talking about cool wines, including mainstream mag/newspaper wine writers = a more interested public? National importers like Joe Dressner and Kermit Lynch who have built a reputation and branding that people trust to buy? I’m not sure, but you’re right that flooding the BC market with obscure bottles and expecting people to buy them isn’t the way to go.

-Jake

]]> By: Miguel http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1745 Miguel Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:13:20 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1745 I've expressed my discontent to you about the abysmal selection here in B.C. but I am starting to see why after a talk with a wine salesman at Marquis (I was looking for some Gropello to blind somene) told me about their big buy of small region Italian wines that sat in the store unsold for 2 years. It seems the problem in B.C. is equal parts government hinderance on importing small amounts of cool juice, and a lack of interest on the consumers behalf. The ladder I take it is what you and Kurtis are helping motivate with your blog. To be sure Vancouver's selection is shit but bravo for the people who will make it better. I tip my hat to you both. I’ve expressed my discontent to you about the abysmal selection here in B.C. but I am starting to see why after a talk with a wine salesman at Marquis (I was looking for some Gropello to blind somene) told me about their big buy of small region Italian wines that sat in the store unsold for 2 years. It seems the problem in B.C. is equal parts government hinderance on importing small amounts of cool juice, and a lack of interest on the consumers behalf. The ladder I take it is what you and Kurtis are helping motivate with your blog. To be sure Vancouver’s selection is shit but bravo for the people who will make it better. I tip my hat to you both.

]]> By: Shea http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1732 Shea Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:31:08 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1732 Yes, interesting. I didn't explore much international wine down there, instead trying to search out all the unique small Californian producers. Yes, interesting. I didn’t explore much international wine down there, instead trying to search out all the unique small Californian producers.

]]> By: Jake http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 Jake Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:38:14 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1720 A lot of the places I've frequented in San Francisco weren't dominated by California selections. Sommeliers there seem to struggle with wanting to offer the good local stuff, but also are exposed to tons of great value (and often better value) wines from Europe. It's not uncommon to find a decent and interesting wine from Burgundy on a list for $50-$100. Something that's unheard of in BC. It's often an easy decision between that and local wine for the same price. That being said, there are plenty of great California producers doing great things, whose wines definitely don't make it up to Canada in any quantities and the best restaurants highlight these. Nopa is a great example, although not more than 50%, a good chunk of Chris' list in the Chard, Pinot, Rhone varietal, and Bord. varietal categories are local. http://nopasf.com/menu/wine_list/ From what I've witnessed, consumer demand for California wines is still significant. A lot of the places I’ve frequented in San Francisco weren’t dominated by California selections. Sommeliers there seem to struggle with wanting to offer the good local stuff, but also are exposed to tons of great value (and often better value) wines from Europe. It’s not uncommon to find a decent and interesting wine from Burgundy on a list for $50-$100. Something that’s unheard of in BC. It’s often an easy decision between that and local wine for the same price. That being said, there are plenty of great California producers doing great things, whose wines definitely don’t make it up to Canada in any quantities and the best restaurants highlight these. Nopa is a great example, although not more than 50%, a good chunk of Chris’ list in the Chard, Pinot, Rhone varietal, and Bord. varietal categories are local. http://nopasf.com/menu/wine_list/

From what I’ve witnessed, consumer demand for California wines is still significant.

]]> By: Shea http://www.cherriesandclay.com/2010/02/26/returning-to-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Shea Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:58:58 +0000 http://www.cherriesandclay.com/?p=2682#comment-1717 I can relate to Marie's exasperation, but probably not quite as much as someone who has lived with access to a plethora of great small producers. I shall try to Rottiers, but the Rosso del Soprano sounds wonderful. I wish I could get something of that ilk here. So, how do you find California's selection - is it dominated by local wines? I found the CA wine industry was a pretty massive influence on retaurant wine lists (which is understandable) - but I did spend most of my time seeking out the gems in CA while down there (not an easy task to be honest). I can relate to Marie’s exasperation, but probably not quite as much as someone who has lived with access to a plethora of great small producers. I shall try to Rottiers, but the Rosso del Soprano sounds wonderful. I wish I could get something of that ilk here.

So, how do you find California’s selection – is it dominated by local wines? I found the CA wine industry was a pretty massive influence on retaurant wine lists (which is understandable) – but I did spend most of my time seeking out the gems in CA while down there (not an easy task to be honest).

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