March 2, 2005
Dumbing Down of Pinot Noir“Sideways” has been very good for Santa Barbara County tourism and the economy of our local wine region. Reports I’ve read in the national media have indicated pinot noir sales are up over 20 percent from last year.
It’s possible, I suppose, that pinot noir could become the new favorite wine variety of the American wine consumer, replacing merlot! “Dumbing down” pinot noir to the lowest common denominator-like producers have done with merlot-is scary.
It’s frightening to think what the winemaker would have to do to the wine to void out those often elegant and sensual flavors so intrinsic in great pinot noir, especially the in pinots produced in the Santa Rita Hills!
Prior to the recent Oscars,with "Sideways" winningone for best screenplay, there has been a higher pitch fervor in the media frenzy.
I was just interviewed by a reporter from a well-known east coast newspaper. Its kind of fun to be on the “other side.” I sensed the interviewer was losing interest and not listening when we spoke. Twice I said to the reporter, “I’m not telling you what you want to hear, am I?”
It became evident the story was clearly agenda-driven. The reporter wanted me to “confirm” or “corroborate” the fact that Miles, played by Paul Giamatti, had a drinking problem. I didn’t see a drinking problem in the character. I saw a geek who was impassioned about wine! As I said in my review of the film in this column, I have many friends who are impassioned geeks like Miles.
During the course of the interview I asked the reporter if she had ever seen the 1962 film classic, “The Days of Wine and Roses”? The characters in this epic film, played by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, showed definite signs of alcoholism, signs that were nonexistent in the characters of “Sideways.”
Interestingly, the reporter had not seen this film. “The Days of Wine and Roses” is one of those films I never cease to enjoy watching.
I think ”Sideways” is destined to become one of those timeless celluloid classics along with films like “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “My Dinner with Andre.”
Latest Santa Barbara County Grape Acreage Survey Reveals Some Surprises
Allan Hancock College viticulture and enology students are putting the finishing touches on the soon-to-be-published "2004-2005 Santa Barbara County Grape Acreage Survey." According to program coordinator Merilark Padgett-Johnson, Ph.D., the new data reveals some surprises.
Total reported vineyard acreage for 2004 is 18,780 acres, a decrease from the 2001 survey figure of 19,299 acres. That's a net loss of 519 acres of wine grapes in the county. Survey results also reveal that there were 977 acres of vines pulled since 2001 and not replanted. Another 367 acres were changed to a different cultivar since 2001, either by grafting over, or pulling out the old vines and replanting new vines.
Times wine columnist, Bob Senn, lives in the Los Alamos Valley and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
