Letters

Wines & Vines, Sept, 2001

"Congratulations..."

Editor:

Congratulations on the Web site upgrade--sensational.

/s/ Craig Gummer

Direct Sales Manager

Kendall-Jackson

(We cheerfully accept all kudos, but do not accept criticisms. Just kidding--Ed.)

Editor:

We would like to respond to, and correct for the record, a comment in the April 2001 issue of Wines & Vines on page 35 which stated that Amorin was "the first major cork company to replace chlorine with hydrogen peroxide (BWC) washing." Sabate SA, the world's second largest cork company, created and adopted the process of washing corks in hydrogen peroxide, and we patented this process on December 19, 1984.

As a result of your article, we conducted global research of media and scientific journals in May which confirmed that in fact no other cork company used this process before Sabate. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this important fact.

/s/ Francois Sabate

President

Sabate USA

(Thanks for pointing this out--Ed.)

"I can only applaud you and your staff..."

Editor:

Enclosed is the subscription renewal that arrived in the mail a few days ago. Please find enclosed a check. I'm paying it from the New Dimensions in Wine account just to get it in the mail today. New Dimensions in Wine is the consultancy that Ed Everett founded even before New World Wines, and which I am continuing.

It's two years since Ed's death. Anna and her attorney are just now completing the sale of several New World Wines' trademarks to a new company belonging to Barbara Medwadowski called Draper and Esquin LLC. They have hired me as general manager, and we will, at least for the next year, continue operating out of the offices New World Wines has had for so many years.

The suite number changes to M62, but I'll be here, and you can bet I want to keep reading Wines & Vines. It's more than an industry classic; it's in a class by itself, and I can only applaud you and your staff for its high standard.

/s/ John Anderson

(We appreciate John's kind remarks, and are glad to have him as a subscriber. Ed's been gone for two years? It seems we've missed him longer than that--Ed.)

"I agree with your comment..."

Editor:

I agree with your comment regarding BATF and its endorsement of clearly fraudulent labeling with respect to the so-called Napa Valley Appellation in the June issue. I have tried to bring this issue to key players in Napa (valley and county), including offspring of the originators of the current appellation definition with no luck. With well-known and highly vocal folks in Chiles and Pope valleys (geographical Napa County), and offspring of those who initiated the fraud a generation past, it is an uphill battle. Though I do believe there is a silent majority in Napa County which believes it is past time to rectify the wrongs of the current appellation. Why not create separate but equal sub-appellations within a Napa County umbrella? You and Jim Laube are the only press members who have implied there is fraud at the very foundation of the California Appellation system. If the movers and shakers in Napa County would address this problem directly, they could take credit for "repairing" the problem. If, on the oth er hand, they continue to wait much longer, it will certainly blow up in all our faces.

Both the growers in these excellent areas, as well as the consumers are the losers. If this fraud was not perpetrated upon them for the sake of cheap Cabernet and Sauvignon blanc they would have been growing world-class Syrah and Zinfandel a generation earlier.

/s/ Paul G. Smith

OnThEdge Winery

"I thank you very much for your support..."

Editor:

I have been travelling and just now have seen the July issue of Wines & Vines. You have written an excellent article (Santa Barbara on the Rise) and I have to say that as an interviewee I am most happy with how you interpreted my words and thoughts. I thank you very much for your support and fair reporting.

By all means on your next trip down here you must stop by to see us. Remember there are big large mouth bass to be caught in our lake and of course a glass of Z Gris goes well with it while fishing!

/s/ Jeff Maiken,

President, General Manager

Zaca Mesa Winery

(It was my pleasure. And I will most definitely take you up on that offer! Many thanks--Jennifer Rofe)