I'd like to think the best advise I never took was when Tom Burgess, owner of Burgess Cellars, told me,
"If you love wine... don't get into the industry."
Now, maybe I caught him on one of those bad days - where your destemmer breaks, or your grapes came in too hot, or any other of the many headaches that a winery owner endures during harvest. The reason why I say this is that Tom has been very successful over the years and his wines have always demonstrated a structure and complexity that exceeded the $30 price tag they listed for. This was certainly out of character, but the message stuck with me just the same.
Some talk about entering the Wine Industry stemming from an epiphany, like "oh, it just hit me with that '82 Petrus." Others have centuries of wine in their blood, like the Domaine Daniel Rion family in Burgundy dating back to the 12th century. For me, working for a winery in high school seemed to have planted the seed, and through thousands of bottles and tens-of-thousands of tastings, it grew into something larger than I would have imagined.
During this growth, Pinot Noir became a huge fascination of mine - and I'll get into it a little more in future blogs. However, my fondness probably grew from the fact that it was never the same - even region to region, let alone, producer to producer. It became that little magic in a glass that would transport you to this place which was defined more Earth and Sun, than by the clumsy, jammy, alcohol bombs that seem to be everywhere in the market. It is there that find that harmony of taste - a perfect balance of fruit, acid, alcohol and tannin. And when you find a great one... you know it.
One thing I learned very early in this industry, is that there is always more you can learn. You'll never be the expert, no matter how specific you focus. Fortunately, most people in the industry share their experiences with you so you can pick up a great deal from others. If your reading this and want to get started, these books may be able to help you get an idea of what it may take:
"If you love wine... don't get into the industry."
Now, maybe I caught him on one of those bad days - where your destemmer breaks, or your grapes came in too hot, or any other of the many headaches that a winery owner endures during harvest. The reason why I say this is that Tom has been very successful over the years and his wines have always demonstrated a structure and complexity that exceeded the $30 price tag they listed for. This was certainly out of character, but the message stuck with me just the same.
Some talk about entering the Wine Industry stemming from an epiphany, like "oh, it just hit me with that '82 Petrus." Others have centuries of wine in their blood, like the Domaine Daniel Rion family in Burgundy dating back to the 12th century. For me, working for a winery in high school seemed to have planted the seed, and through thousands of bottles and tens-of-thousands of tastings, it grew into something larger than I would have imagined.
During this growth, Pinot Noir became a huge fascination of mine - and I'll get into it a little more in future blogs. However, my fondness probably grew from the fact that it was never the same - even region to region, let alone, producer to producer. It became that little magic in a glass that would transport you to this place which was defined more Earth and Sun, than by the clumsy, jammy, alcohol bombs that seem to be everywhere in the market. It is there that find that harmony of taste - a perfect balance of fruit, acid, alcohol and tannin. And when you find a great one... you know it.
One thing I learned very early in this industry, is that there is always more you can learn. You'll never be the expert, no matter how specific you focus. Fortunately, most people in the industry share their experiences with you so you can pick up a great deal from others. If your reading this and want to get started, these books may be able to help you get an idea of what it may take:
- The Heartbreak Grape, A Journey in Search of the Perfect Pinot Noir
- This is a great story of the trials and tribulations that one may face in making wine from Pinot Noir. Trained in France, Josh Jensen takes you on his journey of a passion which fueled his quest for Limestone soil in California.
- From Vines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine
- The Grail: ... in Pursuit of the Best Pinot Noir Wine ...
Until next time - Cheers!
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