Originally published on January 10, 2010.
Over the holidays we did a good business in grab-and-go gift box sets, especially our Old World/New World sets. For the Chardonnay pack, I paired a classic rich, buttery California version of the grape with a more minerally, subtle example from the Macon region of Burgundy. The Malbec set paired a juicy, fruity Argentine version with an earthy, structured version from Cahor, the grape’s original home in France.
Now there’s a certain part of the wine world that would say this is ridiculous – that it’s not about the grapes. It’s about the place. Chardonnay grown in Burgundy isn’t “Chardonnay” – it’s Burgundy. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.
But I’m not in the business of defending any particular philosophy of place or grape type or winemaking method. I’m in the business of selling people good wine that they’ll enjoy, helping them understand why they enjoy it (and why it’s good), and hopefully convincing them to explore a bit beyond what they already know.
And pointing out that California Chardonnay and a Macon are both made from the same grape (even if the bottle doesn’t say this) is a good way to start that process. Even better – getting them to taste both side by side, which is the main point of these packs.
So….if you’ve already burned through your first set of New Year’s Resolutions (like exercise every day. Or give up carbs….or Facebook and blogs) why not make a resolution to learn more about wine? I would be happy to help.