Summer has brought a brief break in the Circle’s Let’s talk about… online seminars, but they will be back again very soon, says Liz Sagues.
On 3rd September, Alder Yarrow launches the autumn-winter programme with session number 106 as he takes us behind the scenes at the Old Vine Registry, the world’s first and most authoritative database of old vine vineyards around the globe.
Alder, pioneer wine blogger (vinography.com), author and columnist for jancisrobinson.com, is volunteer product manager of the registry, which has just celebrated its first birthday. He’ll explain the story behind the database, describe how it is evolving, indicate how helpful it is to wine communicators and reveal some highlights among the information it contains. Watch out for the email invitation, and be ready to register in time to log in at 5pm UK time.
Next, on 17th September, Asa Johansson — like Alder, a Circle member — will reveal ‘the next big thing in Chianti Classico’. Her subject is Trebbiano Toscano, an underrated variety that is undergoing a renaissance as more and more wineries invest and make ambitious wines from the grape.
The October presenters (on the 1st and 15th) are Greg Lambrecht on ‘A decade of Coravin’, and Victoria Gonzalez discussing ‘Sherry: sustainability and more’. Before the Christmas/New Year break, there will be three further sessions, where attendees will be whisked off to Italy, Cyprus and Israel.
Looking back at last month, June’s topics spanned the Atlantic, from Burgundy to New York. In the first, Richard Bampfield MW — another Circle member — offered fascinating thoughts around the question ‘Can Burgundy be sustainable’ ? He had plenty to say on environmental issues, from frost and hail to drought, and the potential of regenerative agriculture to create a viable future. But he also covered the less often considered issue of economic sustainability.
Pricing featured strongly here, affected by low-quantity vintages and factors including higher interest rates, insurance against weather extremes and rises in cost of bottles, transport and more. Richard made the point, however, that the Burgundians had necessarily raised their prices proportionally less than their Bordeaux colleagues and were taking action to limit further increases in fear of losing sales and long-term market share.
The view from New York was a watery one, discussing the effects of the glacier-produced Finger Lakes and the Atlantic around Long Island on the region’s wines. Presenters Colleen and Seb Hardy from Living Roots winery told how air flow from the Finger Lakes protected their vines from icy winter temperatures and spring frosts, countered summer heat and reduced disease pressure.
On Long Island, explained Roman Roth of Wölffer Estate, the ocean effect led to no spring frost, long gentle summers, cool nights and mellow autumns. That, combined with latitude (the same as Madrid) and a huge mix of glacial-based soils, allowed production of world-class wines.
As always, both these sessions prompted lively debate and questions afterwards. They — and the preceding Let’s talk about… webinars — can be watched on the Circle YouTube channel and accessed through the members’ area of the website.