What You Read: Top 10 Posts of the Year

 

Observations:

1. Importance/impact of being retweeted or reposted: WineFuture 2021 post must have been reposted. (But maybe it was worth reposting).

2. Wineries getting new certifications: Donum getting organic certified was just one of many. Others this year included Hanzell, Opus One, and Crane vineyard at Salvestrin. In Argentina, Domaine Bousquet announced it is going biodynamic and seeking B-Corp certification. Plus Napa's expanding organic sector with Quintessa and Hoopes joining its ranks.

3. Women in Wine: Batonnage tasting and Mini Banks' acquisition of southern Oregon superstar Cowhorn. (She also just bought Johan Vineyards in the Willamette). 

4. Pesticides: Paraquat and Chlorpyrifos, some of the top "baddies" on the decline. Chlorpyrifos IS gone, finally, but paraquat still remains in a shocking 1 in 8 vineyard acres. Remember that when you buy those supermarket wines from the Central Valley. Is it time to change those habits?

5. Fetzer and Bonterra - is its behavior ethical? Fetzer is making brand claims that purposefully drive consumer confusion. 

6. Organic Wine - can it be profitable? A question no one should have to ask, but like many wine myths, people often believe it is not profitable. It clearly is profitable in California and Oregon (and Washington), where there is a Mediterranean climate (and it does not rain at harvest time), but it requires a certain skillset. Consumer demand for organic is still growing, according to Wine Intelligence and other market reporting sources. It is especially going strong in Europe. 

Wishing you a happy holiday and a fun filled new year. Let's drink some great wines!