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Author Archives: damewine
French-style regulation of yield, site, grape variety and other factors do more harm than good.
Viticultural devastations during the second half of the 1800s in France, such as phylloxera, made fine wines scarce and adulteration and fraud more prevalent. This spurred the creation of french-style regulation of yield, site and grape variety to bring these … Continue reading
Posted in Dame Wine
Tagged AOP, Burgundy, Comte Georges de Vogue, Dourthe, France, French Regulation, Oliver Cousin
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What factors are required for grape varieties to become international brands?
Here’s another Masters of Wine question I have decided to take on for my blog. I will define “international brand” as a singular idea or concept that creates name recognition, perceived quality, and a strong mental and emotional connection with … Continue reading
How important is it for countries and wine producing regions to have ‘signature wines’?
A few weeks ago, on September 28th, I went with a group of my co-workers to a couple of wineries on Long Island, New York. I had my first Long Island Malbec at Bedell Cellars and I have to say … Continue reading
Bordeaux’s history does not automatically earn it a place in the future.
On September 17th, we had a staff tasting of Brane-Cantenac with Marie-Hélène Dussech, Commercial Director, and then a week later we were lucky enough to have another great staff tasting with Vin & Vignobles Dourthe, led by President Patrick Jestin, … Continue reading
Posted in Dame Wine
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Does the color of a Provencal rosé wine influence its sales? Part II And what do Whispering Angel (Chateau d’Esclans ) and I have in common?
This is a continuation of a blog I posted in July of this year. I was thinking about how much the color of a Provencal rosé wine influences its sales. If you have an interest in reading it, here is … Continue reading
Who serves the wine consumer best? Families or corporations?
Four years ago, during the Masters of Wine Symposium in Bordeaux, there was a seminar which was based on the above questions. It had Sylvie Cazes of Château Lynch Bages and Eduardo Chadwick from the prestigious Chilean company Errazuriz, representing … Continue reading
Merlot: Better to market fine wines by variety or place?
I have been thinking over and over again about the above question since I tasted the Falesco Merlot “Montinao” 2009 a couple of weeks ago. Merlot had its height of popularity in the US during the late 1980s and 1990s. … Continue reading
Posted in Dame Wine
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Etna’s sense of place. Marketing tool for wine nerds? Or a truly unique experience?
First of all, I am a wine nerd. This blog is certainly not an attack on wine nerds, as I will defend them with my dying breath. But it is an examination of why I am attracted to certain wines … Continue reading
Can Bordeaux make a comeback?
We had a staff tasting on July 14th (Bastille Day!) with Hervé Berland, who was the managing director of Mouton Rothschild since 2006, and with the Rothschild family since 1977, and after his retirement from Mouton, he became the managing … Continue reading
Imperfection is beautiful: How a wine glass is like my face.
Last Wednesday, July 9th, the great Chef Sommelier of Le Bernardin in New York City, Aldo Sohm, came to our store to give us a staff training on some of his products that we will be carrying. Don’t worry, I’m … Continue reading

