Wise & Otherwise

Wines & Vines, Jan, 2000 by Philip E. Hiaring

Predictions. We love 'em. Ron Loutherback of The Wine Club with retail outlets in Northern and Southern California, isn't afraid to stick his neck out. Here's what he thinks about the first decade of the 2000s and wine: (1) Expect a worldwide increase in quality; (2) California wineries' sales will continue to increase, but share of the U.S. market will drop from 70% to 40%. This will occur, he says, as California wineries ship more direct to consumers and limit sales via traditional outlets. So, major wine retailers will look to other winegrowing regions/counties; (3) Wine distribution will change radically, he says, due to increased e-commerce sales. He feels the current direct shipment problem will be over in five years--or less. E-commerce will not, however, kill off wine stores; (4) Expect red wine sales to continue dramatic growth. He looks for Syrah to surpass Pinot noir and Zinfandel in sales; (5) Look for Sauvignon blanc sales to continue to decline "because there aren't that many good ones." He says consumers would prefer a middle-road Chardonnay (yikes--Ed.) than a middle-road Sauvignon; (6) Chardonnay sales will continue to grow (Yikes #2); (7) Italian wine will continue to improve and grow dramatically; (8) Thanks to excellent quality and good value, Australian wine sales will "gain tremendously"; (9) Burgundy sales will continue to grow although weather always will be a problem; (10) "Bordeaux sales," he predicts, "will increase greatly because winemakers in Bordeaux have learned how to make good wines in less than perfect years." Ok, there you have it, one man's view. Come 2010, let's see how he did....

Belay My Last. Don't know what I was thinking when I wrote in November we'd been doing the Equipment & Suppliers Issue since 1989. Try 1979, 20 year's worth. I suppose it's flattering when other publications copy us with similar issues, but it's annoying, too. Plus, it's confusing to the suppliers. Anything wrong with originality?

Happy Birthday. That's for Enoteca Wine Shop, Calistoga. Didn't know they were around, but like the idea of a shop where you can buy rare wines from around the world. Anyway, it's their second birthday and was celebrated Nov. 10. The address is 1345 Lincoln Avenue, Ste. C in Calistoga. Likely, the shop is near one of that town's famous mud baths. You can check out the Web site at www.neteze.com/enoteca.> What Ho? On occasion, we wonder just why we receive certain stuff here at world headquarters. Case in point: the December issue of Consumer Reports. This issue had a segment headed "Alcohol: The whole truth." Well, the "whole truth" it ain't. Here's a sentence I had serious problems with: "However, pregnant women, teenagers, and children should avoid alcohol (sic) entirely." Well, for one thing they can't since the body produces a small amount of ethanol. And commercial orange juice has some, too. What irks is the quoted statement has no attribution, medical or otherwise. Propaganda? You bet. On the whole the segment was pretty fair, except for the headline. Moderate use of licensed beverages is the point, and, with wine, what if you taught "children" to use the beverage responsibly, in the home, as is done in certain European countries? As for pregnant women, wine can help the mother-to-be digest her food, given proper diet, to the benefit of the unborn. Spare the hysterics, puleeze.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Wines & Vines

COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning