The Wine Curmudgeon

Winebits 193: Successful wineries, wine prices, cheap wine

• What makes a winery successful? It's not the quality of the wine, says a survey of winery owners. Instead, it's five factors that have more to do with controlling costs than anything else, according to a study done by two professors at Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute. Winery owners are more concerned with things like selling wine directly to consumers and developing a strong business strategy. The first is especially interesting, since direct shipment is such a small part of the wine business -- as little as one percent. And the lack of concern about quality? And the industry wonders why it's in such trouble.

• State stores mean higher prices: A Michigan think tank has found that liquor prices are higher in Michigan and in the 17 other states where government acts as a statewide liquor wholesaler -- the so-called control states. The Mackinac Center report estimates that residents of those 18 states pay 6.3 percent more for booze than the rest of us. The language in the news release gets a little hysterical, and I'm not sure the methodology is as good as it could be, but the point is well taken. When there is no competition, prices are higher -- and you get wine kiosks.

• Does cheap wine cause recessions? Australian newspaper columnist John Birmingham asks "whether the problem with the economy isn’t structural or political but simply attitudinal. We’ve talked ourselves into a funk. We’re buying cheap wine, holding our dollars tight, because we’ve convinced ourselves that’s what we need to do." A couple of caveats: Birmingham is talking about the Aussie economy, which doesn't compare exactly to our faux-recession in the U.S., and lot of this is written with tongue firmly in cheek (and in Australian, which makes it difficult to decipher in several places). But his approach made me smile. Who knew that those of us who like quality and value had such a significant impact on the economy?

Labor Day 2010

The blog is mostly off today for the holiday, and the Wine Curmudgeon is returing from his annual expedition to the Kerrvile Wine & Music Festival. So enjoy this, courtesy of haroldsplanet on YouTube -- yoga for wine lovers (and a tip 'o the Curmudgeon's fedora to Tom Johnson at Louisville Juice, who sent this my way).

Wine review: Falesco Vitiano Rosato 2010

When the Wine Curmudgeon tastes this wine, he is not only enjoying one of the best $10 wines in the world, but remembering the day when he embarrassed himself in front of the legendary Riccardo Cotarella -- not just once or twice, but three times.

The first instance has been documented, and the second I'll save for another day. The third came while tasting the rose, when I asked Cotarelli if the wine shouldn't be colder. It was at red wine temperature, and I had always been taught that roses, like whites, should be chilled 10 or 12 degrees more. No, no, no, he said. Don't drink it chilled. You'll never taste all of the flavors.

This was an amazing thing to say. First, how many $10 wines have more than one flavor? Second, it's not unusual for winemakers to want critics to taste their wines chilled, since that covers up most flaws. Third, Cotarella was correcting a critic, and while many, many winemakers would like to do that, most of them figure discretion is the better part of valor. Too many wine writers, secure in the knowledge that we already know everything, don't react well to criticism.

But Cotarella, secure in his talent and the quality of his wine, said what needed to be said. And I will always be grateful for that. This vintage ($10, purchased) is as well done as always, with some bone dry strawberry fruit and the nooks and crannies of quality that define the Cotarella style. Drink it over the Labor Day weekend on its own or with burgers or barbecued chicken, and you'll know  why there is a special Falesco wing in the $10 Hall of Fame.

Labor Day wine 2011

It's OK to drink wine over the Labor Day weekend. Really. The beer police won't come and arrest you. Holiday picnics and back porch barbecues usually mean lighter wines, and I've offered several suggestions below. But, assuming this summer's heat wave is ending where you are, Labor day also marks the return of bigger red wines, like cabernet sauvignon or merlot -- not bad with ribs or burgers.

The Wine Curmudgeon will spend this weekend at the Kerrvile Wine & Music Festival, where I'll participate in a couple of panel discussions about Texas wine. It's one of my favorite wine events, and the music isn't bad, either. Stop by and say hello:

• Cortijo III Rose 2010 ($10, purchased): A solid and dependable Spanish rose, with more fruit (strawberry and watermelon) than most of its brethren but a bit of heft to remind you that it's still Spanish.

• Paul Cheneau Blanc de Blanc Brut NV ($15, purchased): This, along with a cava from Bodegas Sumarroca, were much better than the food at a Sunday lunch at a Dallas tapas restaurant. Very, very well done Spanish bubbly, with lots of tight bubbles. Highly recommended.

• Tormaresca Roycello Salento 2010 ($22, sample): This Italian white has lots of stone fruit (peaches) and a very floral aroma, similar to viognier (though it's made with fiano, a little known grape, even in its native Italy). It makes for a soft, relaxing wine that is very different from the usual sort of Italian low-fruit, acid-driven labels.

For more on Labor Day wine:
• Labor Day wine 2010
• Fourth of July wine 2011
• Wine of the week: La Fiera Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009
• Wine of the week: Marietta Old Vine Red Lot Number 53