Sia Blended Scotch: Finding Your Passion

The fascinating story behind Sia Blended Scotch Whisky touches on some universal and important themes, from following your passion to refusing to judge a category by one or two examples. Plus, the Sia is also delicious, a whiskey that could convert non-whiskey drinkers.

I received a bottle of the Sia as a birthday gift from good friends Rob & Laura Ciampa. Of course I needed to learn all that I could about the Sia, especially as I wasn't familiar with the brand. The founder of Sia is Carin Luna-Ostaseski, a native of Miami, Florida, who worked for about 17 years as a Marketing Creative Director for major news outlets and numerous California start-ups. There was a point in time where Carin disliked whiskey, though that was primarily based on a very limited sampling.

One night, while out with some friends and co-workers, one of those co-workers convinced Carin to try some whiskey, hoping to find one that would appeal to her preferences. Carin was willing to take a chance, tasting five different whiskies, and became an instant fan of the Oban 14 Year Old. This brought her the realization that you can't judge a category by only a few samples. There is so much diversity in whiskey and other spirits that there is almost always something for everyone. It is just a matter of finding a whiskey that will appeal to your own preferences. This is true for all alcohols, from Sake to Wine.

Carin began tasting more whiskies, and after a break-up, she began collecting whiskey, eventually accumulating about 300 different bottles. A passion for whiskey can taken hold and she continued to increase her knowledge and experience with whiskey. In time, this led Carin to the idea of creating a new blended Scotch, something to be accessible and affordable. This entailed lots of work in finding partners in Scotland who could source and blend the whisky. Carin decided on the name "Sia," which means the "number six," which is also the date of her birthday. In 2012, Carin eventually decided to run a Kickstarter to raise the funds needed to launch her new brand. With a goal of $39,000, she eventually raised over $45,000, making the campaign a success.

The Sia Blended Scotch Whisky ($49.99) is a blend of 60% grain and 40% malt, sourced 50% from Speyside, 40% Highland, and 10% Islay. It has an ABV of 43% and is imported into the U.S by Spirits Imports, Inc.  It is also important to know that 1% of sales are donated to charities that help women start and grow their businesses.

The nose of the Sia is intriguing, with touches of vanilla, spice, caramel and a tiny waft of smoke. On the palate, it is silky smooth, lacking the burn you find in some other Scotches. You'll find a melange of pleasing flavors, including caramel and vanilla, a strong spicy backbone, and more subtle hints of citrus, smoke, and toffee. It possesses a touch of sweetness and has a lengthy, satisfying finish. It certainly accomplishes its goal of being approachable and accessible. A family member, who generally dislikes whiskey, tasted it and was surprised at how much she liked it. The Sia earns a hearty recommendation.

Thanks to Rob & Laura for introducing me to this tasty whisky,

Laura Catena: Aiming High With Argentina's Wine Advocate

Argentina would be hard pressed to find a better advocate for their wines than Laura Catena. She is intelligent and passionate, personable and lively. In addition, she has one foot in the past, delving into the history of wine and Malbec, and one foot in the future, researching and studying a wide variety of wine-related matters. Her passion for the wines of Argentina is infectious.

I first met Laura five years ago, at Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina, and then saw her again at a recent, media wine tasting and luncheon at Bistro du Midi in Boston. After the passage of those five years, Laura's passion for the wines of Argentina hadn't dimmed even the slightest. If anything, it might have even grown some, possibly due to the results of the experiments and research that have been conducted during those past five years.

At the recent tasting, one of the most moving moments came during lunch, amidst more casual talk about children, colleges and video games. As a bit of background, Nicola Catena, Laura's great-grandfather, came to Argentina, from Italy, in 1898, and planted vineyards in 1902, with Malbec being one of his first vines. Nicola was a handsome man, enamored with having his picture taken, and Laura is especially fond of one of those family photos, showing Nicola with his six children. It was only recently that Laura learned something from her father, Nicolás, that has caused her to look at that family photo in a much different way.

When Nicola passed away, he left the winery to his sons but left nothing for his daughters, figuring a husband would provide for them. Those were certainly very different times, and if Laura had been born during that time, she probably never would have started working at the winery. This would have been a great loss to Bodega Catena Zapata, and the wine industry in general. She also might not have not become a physician.

This was an unsettling revelation to Laura, but also shows how far society has progressed during the last hundred years. There certainly is need for continued progress in this respect and Laura is a shining example of the benefits of such progress. Nowadays, there are numerous women involved in the wine industry, contributing significantly to its success, but more women still are needed. Women thinking about entering the wine industry can look to Laura Catena as a positive role model.

One of Nicola's sons was Domingo, born in 1910, and he eventually married Angelica Zapata in 1934. Domingo and Angelica were the parents of Nicolás Catena Zapata, Laura'a father. Angelica was the head mistress of a local school and was very much the intellectual mentor of Nicolás. When he was 18 years old, he was undecided whether he should get in the family winery business. He had an interest in physics and asked Angelica for advice on what he should do. She didn't like business and recommended he pursue physics, seeking to win a Nobel Prize. Quite a goal for such a young man.

The lesson is illustrative of the Catena legacy of aiming high. Though Nicolás ultimately didn't get into physics, ending up in the winery business, his goals always remained lofty, to make some of the best wine in the world. It wasn't enough to seek to make the best wine in Argentina. He had to make world-class wine, to be able to compete with the best from any other wine region. That legacy has clearly extended to Laura, who also is driven to produce some of the best wine in the world.

In addition, the story of Angelica and Nicolás is also illustrative of another point which Laura feels is very important, that women should mentor men and that men should mentor women. This mentoring probably helped her father be willing to place the future of the winery in Laura's hands.

When Laura was younger, she didn't have any intention of getting into the family winery. She wanted to become a doctor, eventually achieving that goal. While she was attending school, her father gave her a credit card to use to purchase wine and good glassware. She tasted many high-end wines, which were far more affordable at the time, so she acquired much wine experience and knowledge. As she spoke French fluently, her father asked her to accompany him on wine trips to France. As time passed, Laura's passion for wine grew and her decision to join the family winery might have been sealed in New York.

Laura attended the New York Wine Experience on behalf of Bodega Catena Zapata, which was the first South American winery ever to be invited to this event. She became frustrated as so many people just passed by her booth without stopping to taste the wines. She saw this as a personal challenge; how do you get people excited about the wine of Argentina? This led her to see a greater role at the winery, and Nicolás was more than happy to have her involved, letting her take over any aspect she so desired.

As her father has said to her, "You got the rebel in you."

The centerpiece of the tasting event was an examination of the Adrianna Vineyard, a South american "Grand Cru" which is claimed to be the most studied vineyard in the world. Planted in 1992-1996, the vineyard is located at an elevation of close to 5000 feet. The area is of alluvial formation, the site of a former dried river bed and consists of stripes of different soils. The above map is the first time this map has been revealed, indicating 11 different marked lots, and showing where their Adrianna wines are sourced. This is a cool climate vineyard and in some respects, the choice of this location was due to luck, though tempered by their experience.

Bodega Catena Zapata is all about research and scientific experimentation, trying to better understand terroir and the reasons why some wines are greater than others. For example, there are currently no known studies about the reasons why limestone is good for vines, so they have undergone their own study, using Malbec vines, to try to resolve this issue. There are plenty of theories, but they all lack sufficient evidence. In addition, they are conducting studies on the nature of the microbes in soil. They are even collaborating with European scientists on wine studies.

Laura mentioned that "We use science to perceive nature not to change it." All of her research is directed to this objective, not to find a way to manipulate the grapes and wine, but to find out the best way to express the grapes in the wine. It is more about understanding not seeking ways to exploit the grape. A very worthy goal.

We tasted five different wines from the Adrianna Vineyard, including two Chardonnays and three Malbecs. All five of these high-quality wines are intended to reflect the different terroirs of this vineyard, and the Malbecs have never been available in the U.S. before. These wines are indicative of the potential of Argentina, presenting wines that can compete against the best wines from around the world. These are pricey, splurge wines, which will age well in your cellar or impress your friends when you share a glass with them.

As for the two Chardonnays, they produce under 400 cases and Laura noted that they are popular in Argentina. Both Chardonnays are fermented in 2nd and 3rd use French, though even a small amount of new oak wouldn't adversely affect these wines. Laura also stated that "high end Chardonnay is for thinking."

The 2013 Catena Zapata White Bones Chardonnay ($125) comes from a 2.6 hectare lot, at an elevation of 4757 feet, in the Adrianna Vineyard. The lot has a shallow topsoil with calcareous deposits of marine fossils and rocks covered with calcareous. The wine is called White Bones cause it looks like there are bones in the soil. It is produced from 100% Chardonnay, with about two-thirds undergoing malolactic fermentation, and is aged in French oak for about 12-16 months.

It is an impressive wine, likely to bring to mind a beautiful Chablis. It is bright and crisp, with a delicious and complex melange of citrus, pear, apple, mineral notes, and a hint of saltiness. It is medium-bodied with a long and pleasing finish. This is a wine that aches for seafood, from oysters to scallops, an elegant wine that you should slowly sip and enjoy. This was my personal favorite of the two Chardonnays.

The 2013 Catena Zapata White Stones Chardonnay ($95) comes from a 2.2 hectare lot, at an elevation of 4757 feet, in the Adrianna Vineyard. The lot has no topsoil and plenty of rocks covered with calcareous. The wine is called White Stones because of all the white rocks on the surface, which make the soil a bit warmer than other lots in the vineyard. It is produced from 100% Chardonnay, with about two-thirds undergoing malolactic fermentation, and is aged in French oak for about 12-16 months.

This is also an impressive wine though it might remind you more of a Montrachet. This is a more full-bodied wine, with a pleasing creaminess and ripe apple and pear flavors as well as hints of baking spice and vanilla. There is good acidity, less minerality and the finish lingers for a very long time, satisfying our palate.

The next three wines are all cool climate Malbec, which possess more acidity and will age well. On the other hand, warmer climate Malbec tends to be more jammy. Malbec is not a high yielding grape and it is susceptible to frost, which makes growing it at higher elevations a riskier endeavor. It is also a delicate grape so you cannot do a long maceration as you would with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Laura is fascinated about the unanswered questions behind the origin of Malbec. It is known Malbec extends back at least to the Middle Ages and eventually was reborn in Argentina. However, she wants to know its complete origins and history, and has been doing some historical research seeking those answers. She believes that "wine history is the future," and I agree with the importance of history in assisting the understanding of grapes and wine.

A common question that Laura receives, and which is probably asked of many Argentina producers, is "What comes after Malbec?" In some ways, it is an insulting question, implying the assumption that Malbec isn't a worthy grape, that it is merely a stepping stone to "better" grapes. Why should that be the case? As Laura put it, "you wouldn't ask a Burgundy producer what comes after Pinot Noir." Malbec can certainly produce world class wine and as Laura says, "stand by your grape." The three Malbecs from the Adrianna Vineyard are examples of the potential of Malbec, and should be able to silence those critics who don't see Malbec as a worthy grape.

In describing these three Malbecs, Laura stated that they "taste big but are still elegant and delicate." I would agree with her characterization, feeling that these wines possess much in common with fine Bordeaux, especially those Merlot based ones which have less tannins. Each possessed its own uniqueness though their commonalities united them in certain respects too. They are all still young and probably would benefit from being set aside for a time to age more.

The first Malbec was the 2012 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae ($136) which comes from a 5 hectare lot, at an elevation of 4482 feet, in the Adrianna Vineyard. The lot has two feet of topsoil, with 1/2 foot of limestone and rocks covered with calcareous. The wine is called Fortuna Terra which means "luck of the earth."

The second Malbec was the 2012 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River Stones ($160) which comes from a 1.4 hectare lot, at an elevation of 4560 feet, in the Adrianna Vineyard. The lot has one foot of topsoil and rocks covered with calcareous. The soil is similar to that in the lot for the White Stones, though this lot has poorer soil.

The last Malbec was the 2011 Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae ($350) which comes from a 1.4 hectare lot, at an elevation of 4560 feet, in the Adrianna Vineyard. The lot has two feet of topsoil, calcareous deposits of marine fossils, and rocks covered with calcareous. The name Mundus Bacillus Terrae means "elegant microbes of the earth."

In general, all three wines were complex and intriguing, elegant and muscular, the type of wines you sit and ponder. They shared flavors of black fruits and spice, with good acidity, some minerality, and lengthy finishes. My personal favorite of the three was the River Stones, as it appealed to my palate the most, though I enjoyed all three of them. 

With the holidays approaching, these are the type of wines worth the splurge. 

After the tasting of the 5 Adrianna Vineyard wines, we enjoyed a pleasant lunch, accompanied by two additional wines. The first was the 2013 Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec ($60), an inky dark wine with plenty of complexity and a luxurious taste, a hedonistic pleasure of black fruits, ripe plum, low tannins, good acidity, and some subtle spice notes. An excellent wine which I would highly recommend. Will be a nice accompaniment to meat and game. The other wines was the 2010 Nicolas Catena Zapata ($135), a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Malbec. It was a bigger, more muscular wine, but still possessed of its own elegance.

My lunch began with the superb Lamb Carpaccio, with a cured egg yolk, castelvetrano olive, and rice crisps. The venison was silky smooth, with a rice, meaty flavor and went well with the Malbec. I easily could have devoured several dishes of this lamb.

My entree was a Flat Iron Steak Frites, with a truffle vinaigrette, and the beef was tender and flavorful, with nice crisp fries. It took went very well with the Malbec, as well as the Blend. Bistro du Midi never disappoints me when it comes to their cuisine.

Laura's story, and that of Bodega Catena Zapata, is compelling on many levels. It is an inspirational tale for all, although especially women, and the lesson of aiming high resonates for all of us. Other wine regions can also benefit from the example of this winery. Argentina is already well known with many consumers for inexpensive Malbec wines, as well as Torrontes and Bonarda. It is time that consumers also learn that Argentina can produce some amazing higher-end wines too, such as Malbec and Chardonnay. Its wines can compete with other high-end wines from all across the world.

Kudos to Laura Catena, who has the rebel in her.

Rant: Wine Is Losing Ground

Wine isn't as popular as it used to be, and beer is becoming a more favored choice. For several years, some have claimed that Millennials were the future of wine, that they would consume more wine than any previous generation. I voiced my doubts, worried that all of the new craft beers and spirits might capture the attention of Millennials. Based on a recent Gallup poll, craft beers might be replacing wine as the drink of choice.

For more than twenty years, beer has usually been the preferred drink of Americans, except for a brief moment in 2005 when wine surpassed beer. This year, beer has been on an upward surge, preferred by 41% of Americans while wine has been on the decline, preferred by only 31%. Those who prefer spirits was at 23%, which has slowly been climbing. It doesn't appear that the infusion of Millennials has been boosting the number of Americans who prefer wine. Instead, it seems beer and spirits may be capturing more of their attention.

When the results are broken down by demographics, the situation becomes even more interesting. 46% of women prefer wine while only 17% of men prefer it (and 57% of men prefer beer). A nearly 30% difference is astounding. Why do so few men prefer wine? Why does wine appeal more to women? Do wine marketers need to appeal more to men? How do they do that? With such a large discrepancy, then why are more wine blogs written by men? The number of female written wine blogs has been increasing each year, but men still author the majority.    

Age also plays its part in one's preferences. Generally, the younger the group, the more they prefer beer. For example, those 18-34 years old prefer beer 48% while those 35-54 prefer beer only 43%, and those older prefer wine over beer, 38% to 32%. Millennials, especially males, are opting more for beer than wine. That will likely change as they get older, but it seems as if it will fall into old patterns, and not create anything new.

Roughly 64% of American adults drink alcohol, with the rest identifying as "total abstainers." This is roughly the same as it has been since the end of Prohibition. That is also a fascinating fact, that despite the production over the years of higher quality wine, beer and spirits, the total amount of drinkers has remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations.

How can wine regain ground against craft beers and spirits? How can we get more men to prefer wine? Are women the future of wine? These are all important questions that wineries, marketers, PR people, and others should be considering. Writers should also be exploring these issues, as well as considering the demographics of their readers.

Rant: Wine Blog Awards, Sexism & More Questions

Last week's Rant created a stir of discussion, in the comments, on Twitter, Facebook and in emails. I questioned the reason why so few women have been named as finalists in the Wine Blog Award (WBA) category of Best Overall Wine Blog. I hoped to start a discussion and it happened, especially sparked by the hot button issue of sexism, despite the fact that was only one element of many in my post. That topic raised emotions as well as defensiveness, and it overwhelmed the rest of the discussion.

In my prior post, my only conclusion was that there was a disparity between the number of female wine bloggers and the number of women, on their own, who were finalists in the Best Overall Wine Blog. With female wine bloggers constituting roughly 38% of all wine bloggers, yet only 1 woman, on their own, being a finalist in that category, that raised a red flag to me.

As an example, let us consider that the widget field has an annual contest for the Best CEO. Women constitute 38% of the CEOs in this field yet in the last seven years, only 1 of those female CEOs has even been a finalist for this award. You can be sure that people are going to questions the reason for the disparity. And that is all I did, question the reasons for the disparity I noticed in the top WBA category.

Women tended to accept that sexism was involved in the disparity, as well as elsewhere in the wine industry. They mentioned some of the contributions of female wine bloggers and also noted that such sexism extends far beyond wine blogging. To them, it was more a given that required no further evidence. Sexism certainly still exists in many aspects of our society so it would not be surprising to find it in the wine industry. For example, I have been following the huge discussion in the science fiction publishing field over sexism. That doesn't necessarily mean sexism exists in the Wine Blog Awards, but it does mean it is a possibility.

That raises another important issue, even if sexism is not involved in this WBA category, or the awards in general, women still perceive sexism there. Perception is an important issue. Why do many women have this perception about the awards? Is it based on valid grounds? How do you change that perception if it is not accurate? Do you need more women involved in the operation and judging of the awards? Trying to combat that perception should be considered by the WBA organizers.

On the other hand, men were more apt to assume sexism was not involved in the disparity. In fact, a number of them got very defensive about the issue. They wanted concrete evidence before they would accept that sexism existed. Some even seemed disturbed that the question was asked without providing definitive proof. The issue of sexism also clouded the other questions and issues I posed. Many men got stuck on the issue of sexism and looked no further. That might have been partially due to the comments by the women that sexism did exist.

To many men, they saw no problems with the Best Overall Wine Blog category, seeing it as a meritocracy, that the best blogs were nominated. However, that raises another important issue, which underlies such assumptions yet which few men wanted to speak aloud. In essence, the assumption is that best male wine blogs generally have been of higher quality than the best female wine blogs. Maybe that is the case, and it is a question I asked in my original post, though no one wanted to directly address that question.

Some men also offered that the disparity was because there are more male bloggers but there still are 38% female bloggers, and only a tiny fraction of that percentage is represented in the finalists. If it was a meritocracy and the quality of the best female wine blogs was high, then they should be represented far more as finalists, even if there are overall less female wine bloggers than men. If people truly believe that the best male wine blogs generally have been of higher quality than the best female wine blogs, then just come forward and admit it.

I was asked to present the names of female bloggers who were "snubbed." I presented four names of female wine bloggers who I felt were deserving of being finalists in the category. I am sure there are others as well, but I only provided four. These were generally women who also had been nominated in other WBA categories, but not for Best Overall Wine Blog. Though some agreed that a couple of my choices were deserving of being a finalist, they still would not accept that those women had been intentionally "snubbed." I never claimed they were intentionally snubbed, merely that they were deserving of being a finalist yet had not garnered that honor. It could be due to more subconscious biases. No one provided a valid reason why these women were omitted.

A few other possibilities were raised. It was alleged that the WBA are merely a popularity contest, and have little to do with who is actually the best. If true, that would tend to show that male blogs are more popular than female blogs. Why is that the case? Is it a matter of quality or sexism/bias? Do the Wine Blog Awards actually present the "best" wine blogs, or is there something else involved?

Paul Mabray, who has been a judge every year of the WBA, stated that only 30% of the judges this year were women, and "which I am sure can be improved." It is interesting though that in 2012, 9 of the judges were women and 8 were men. Even when women were the majority, a female wine blogger was not chosen as a finalist. Definitely a complicated issue.

We all know sexism still exists in our society. We also know that there is a large disparity in the number of women who have been finalists in the Best Overall Wine Blog category. In addition, there are some women worthy of being finalists who have not been awarded that honor. Finally, there are numerous women who believe sexism is involved in these awards. Each of these elements is a building brick in a wall of evidence. Combined, these elements are still insufficient to prove anything, but they provide enough to warrant a further examination.

Such an examination should start with a deeper investigation of the statistics of nominations, finalist selections and voting for the 7 years of the Awards. Though that of course depends on whether such records were kept and still exist by the WBA organizers. If those records do not exist, it will be far harder to examine this situation. However, at the very least, if nothing is done, if no examination is conducted, the perception of sexism will continue to taint the WBA.

It must be remembered too that the examination I think is warranted should not concentrate solely on sexism. The goal should be to determine the reason for the disparity, whatever that reason may be. It is a topic which garnered much passion and discussion, from both men and women. Let us hope that passion and discussion does not die off.

Rant: Best Overall Wine Blog? It's A Man's World

Yes, plenty of women blog and write about wine. 

Back in March 2008, I began to compile a list of women wine bloggers, and have continually updated it, constantly adding new women to the list. There are now over 100 women on that list. In the 2013 State of Wine Blogging Report, the survey found that about 38% of bloggers are female. It seems likely that the number of female wine bloggers will continue to grow.   

This past weekend, the Wine Bloggers' Conference was held in Penticton, British Colombia, and the winners of the 7th Annual Wine Blog Awards were announced. Out of the nine different categories, most people would probably agree that the most prestigious is the Best Overall Wine Blog, won this year by David White of Terroirist. You can read the Criteria for the selection of the Best Overall Wine Blog.

It has struck me as curious that in the last seven years, no female blogger has won the award for Best Overall Wine Blog. Yes, they have won in some of the other categories, but the most prestigious award has so far been elusive. It goes beyond the fact that they have not won this award. During these past seven years, there have been 31 finalists in this category and only a single woman, for her own blog, has ever been a finalist. The sole female finalist, back in 2008, was Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20. A few collaborative blogs, with male and female contributors, have been finalists too. However, during the last three years, all of the fifteen finalists have been male bloggers.    

Why is this so? Why are almost no women becoming finalists in this category, especially despite the fact that they have won awards in some of the other categories? I don't have any answers to these questions. I don't know the reason for these omissions. However, I believe it is an area that needs exploration and analysis. With the large number of female bloggers out there, why is it so hard for them to become a finalist in this category? 

Some people will speculate that sexism is involved, but is that the case? Of the judges for 2013, 8 were men and 4 were women. They were the ones who selected the finalists.  One might speculate that with more women on the judges panel, then female bloggers might have a better chance of becoming a finalist. But in 2012, 9 of the judges were women and 8 were men. Even when women were the majority, no female blogger ended up as a finalist in this category. 

Are female wine bloggers just not as talented as male wine bloggers? I am positive most people would fervently dispute that point. And I would agree. So if there are these highly talented female wine bloggers out there, why haven't they been recognized in the Best Overall Wine Blog category?

So many unanswered questions and lots of speculation. What are your thoughts on these matters? Why is the Best Overall Wine Blog category a "man's world?"

Addendum (6/10/13): It has been pointed out to me that though David White is listed on the Wine Blog Awards as the "Author" of Terroirist, it is actually a collaborative effort of eight individuals, two of which are women. 

Rant: Are Women's Palates Different?

Does gender factor into which type of alcohol you prefer? Do women tend to prefer sweeter alcohols?

There are over 350 different flavored vodkas on the market, including flavors like smoked salmon, whipped cream and bubble gum. Though some people will cringe at the more extreme flavors, there is also a growing segment of consumers, often female, who want such creations, especially the sweeter varieties. Other flavored spirits are starting to follow vodka's lead, with a goal of reaching more women. Whiskey is one such category.

In the first quarter of 2012, the fastest-growing spirit category, having risen nearly 155%, is flavored whiskey. The primary targeted market for these flavored whiskies is women. Though recipes for flavored whiskey has actually been around for hundreds of years, it is only recently that it has had any significant impact. Launched in June 2009, one of the first modern flavored whiskys was Jim Beam's Red Stag, a bourbon infused with black cherry. It did very well from the start, selling 85,000 cases its first year. In 2011, it saw a growth over 2010 of about 58%, selling 300,000 cases. Its amazing growth helped to spur on other whiskey makers to produce their own flavored whiskey.

Last year, Jack Daniel's launched its Tennessee Honey and it sold 320,000 cases, a staggering amount for its initial year on the market. Wild Turkey American Honey has seen a growth of 28%, selling 230,000 cases last year. Other companies with flavored whiskies have also seen significant growth this past year. Of the various flavored whiskys, honey has been the most popular flavor, followed by cherry in second place.

In general, women constitute only about 20-30% of whiskey consumers, but that percentage seems to at least double for most of the flavored whiskey brands. So why do women seem to prefer the flavored, and sweet tasting, whiskys over the regular styles of whiskey? It is merely because whiskey has traditionally been seen as a manly beverage? Or do women, in general, have a different palate from men, one which prefers sweeter tastes? Do women prefer sweeter alcohols in all respects, including wine, beer, and other spirits?

From my time working in a wine store, it tends to be the women who seek out sweeter wines. When I visit bars and lounges, it tends to be the women who seek out sweeter cocktails and drinks. There are certainly exceptions and I know some of them, women who enjoy regular bourbon, scotch and other spirits, who prefer to avoid the sweeter variations. But they seem to be the exceptions, not the norm. So I discern a gender difference in alcohol preferences, but I am still curious as to the reason?

Is it biological or cultural? I tend to believe it may be cultural but don't have much evidence to support that theory as of yet. Ladies, care to weigh in on why you prefer sweeter alcohols? Or why you don't prefer them?  

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly mention some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.
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1) To continue honoring National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fleming’s will raise a toast by hosting the “Women & Wine” Dinner. Fleming’s is proud to showcase the work of three leading women winemakers with this four-course dinner during their ongoing celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This wine dinner will feature a trio of handcrafted premium wines, each personally selected by Fleming’s Director of Wine Marian Jansen op de Haar, paired with a four-course menu created by Fleming’s Executive Chef Russell Skall:

Passed Hors d'oeuvres
Swiss Cheese Puffs
House Cured Salmon, Citrus Crème Fraîche, Crispy Wonton
2000 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Winemaker: Cathy Corison

Appetizer
Butternut Squash Bisque with Danish Blue Cheese Fondue
Bacon Herb Bruschetta
2006/2007 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Winemaker: Kristin Belair

Entrée
Rosemary-Scented Lamb Chops, Parmesan Risotto, Maple Roasted Parsnips, Red Wine Demi-Glace
2005/2006 Franciscan Magnificat Napa Valley
Winemaker: Janet Myers

Dessert
Caramel Pudding with English Toffee, Shortbread Cookies
Coffee and Tea

WHEN: Tuesday, October 19th at 6:30pm

COST: $95 per person

2) The Sherry Council of America has announced that The Broadmoor is the winner of the 4th U.S. Finals of the Copa Jerez food and Sherry pairing competition. Executive Chef Bertrand Bouquin and Wine Director Timothy Baldwin will travel to Jerez, Spain next month to compete against renowned international chef and sommelier teams for the Copa Jerez title.

"Our winning US team showed skill, pairing a Fino, an Amontillado and an Oloroso Sherry with extraordinary and delicate flavors in their dishes," said Sonia Smith of the Sherry Council of America. "We are thrilled by the strong showing of the restaurants in this competition, showcasing how well Sherry pairs with so many cuisines."

The Broadmoor won the U.S. title while competing in New York on October 6 against three other nationally recognized restaurants and chef/sommelier teams: The Bazaar, Casa Mono, and La Boca. Next month, the acclaimed duo will compete against teams from all over the world including the home favorite, Spain. They will present their three-course entry to a panel of expert international judges who will evaluate the food, the pairing and overall presentation.


3) For several years running, local chefs such as Jody Adams (Rialto), Steven Brand (Upstairs on the Square), Raymond Ost (Sandrine's), Will Gilson (Garden at the Cellar), Mary Dumont (Harvest), Jorge Lopes (The Blue Room), and Barry Maiden (Hungry Mother) have been using the rich palette of autumn flavors to create intriguing dishes for Flavors of Fall, an event organized by BostonChefs.com every November to support a local community-based organization. This year, Keith Pooler (Bergamot), Peter McCarthy (EVOO), and Michael Scelfo (Russell House Tavern) will also be joining them on November 8 from 5:30 until 8:30PM at Regattabar in the Charles Hotel for the seventh edition of this popular annual event.

The beneficiary organization this year is Community Art Center, which has been providing economically-disadvantaged youth in Cambridge opportunities to develop themselves artistically, academically, and socially since 1932.

The $65 per person ticket price-which goes entirely to support the good work of the Community Art Center-covers all food and beverages, not to mention the hearty helping of jazz from the Rollo Tomasi Quartet. New this year will be a single malt scotch tasting from renowned spirit maker The Macallan. As in the past, Brooklyn Brewery will be offering a selection of its seasonal brews, San Pelligrino will pour sparkling water, and J.P. Licks will offer its locally-roasted coffee. Wine offerings will include Mumm Napa sparkling and Brancott from New Zealand. Also new this year: Tickets are available for purchase online by going to http://Shop.BostonChefs.com.

4) Woodchuck Cider has released their first Private Reserve Label, a pumpkin hard cider. The Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin is "a special edition high end cider" which a 6.9% alcohol content, the highest of any of their products. Production is limited to only two and a half hours on the production line. Crisp pumpkin, from local Vermont farms, is added to the apple juice at the finish.

I bought some at the Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose, and now have tried it on a couple occasions. I was unsure what to expect, wondering if it would remind me of their Fall Release, which was very spicy. But it was very different from the Fall Reserve, being more subtle and lacking the heavy spice. The pumpkin flavor was restrained and most evident on the finish. It was more on the dry side, with a touch of earthiness to it, reminding me more of their Dark & Dry style. I enjoyed the Pumpkin cider and could easily sit and drink a few bottles on a crisp autumn day.

As it is a very limited release, I strongly suggest you get some now before it is gone. You might also want to keep an eye out for more potential Reserve ciders in the future.


5) Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors, in Waltham, will be holding "The Grand Wine Tasting Event" on October 30, from 1pm-5pm. Taste wines from all over the worlds including: Portugal, Spain, Argentina, New Zealand, Chile, France and Italy. Wine and champagne distributors will be on hand at 15 tasting stations, throughout the store, pouring wine and educating guests on the various grapes and varietals. Guests will also be treated to complimentary culinary tastings throughout the afternoon.

You can also take advantage of an exclusive (once a year) discount of 21% on over 4,000 wines throughout the store (net items are excluded).

I have been to their Grand Tasting events before and they usually offer an excellent selection of wines, at all price points. Just get there early as it tends to get crowded later in the day.

Free admission with RSVP to press@gordonswine.com

Rant: White Males Only?

Last week, I attended the Skinner Wine Auction in Boston with my friend Dale. There were about 500 lots up for bidding, though I only stayed for the inital 1/3 of the auction. It is a fun event, though I have yet to actually win anything but then again I also bid very rarely.

The lots included plenty of Bordeaux plus some Burgundy and high-end wines from Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and the U.S. Two of the lots sold for over $30,000 each. Guess the rough economy is not affecting everyone in the same way. Almost nothing sold for under $200, though you could get some good values if you had the money. But what most struck me was the make-up of the attendees.

About 95% of the attendees were white males so there was very little diversity. That is essentially the same as the prior Skinner auctions I have attended. But why is that the case? Where is everyone else and why don't they attend such auctions? Is wine collecting primarily a hobby of wealthy white men?

Back in May 2008, there was an article in Decanter magazine called "Collecting: It's A Man's World" by Rosi Hanson. The basic premise was that men are the wine collectors in the world and that few women take on that role. The article begins: "Men collect, women appreciate--discuss." Though there are exceptions, it seems that wine collecting is primarily a male hobby. There is even a psychologist quoted who states that collecting in general is a male thing. There are then quotes from several other people, all giving support to Rosi's premise.

But is that changing? Are more women getting into collecting wine? There are certainly plenty of women now writing about wine, but do they also collect wine? Or are they mainly buying wine to drink, not to save or invest?

And what about non-whites? Are they too buying wine primarily to drink rather than to collect? Is it a financial matter, where wealthier people, white or non-white, collect wine? Boston certainly has a diverse enough population so that there easily could have been more diversity at the wine auction, though there was not.

Is Skinner primarily marketing to white males? How many people even know they have wine auctions twice a year? Do others, besides white males, feel intimidated by wine auctions?

I would like to see more diversity at such events, but I think we need to understand some of the reasons for the lack of it before we can effectuate proper change. What are your thoughts?

Stoneham Sun: Where The Women Dine

My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the November 25 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it also sometimes touches on other food and wine topics.

The new column has been published today and will be available online soon. The new article discusses an interesting statistic, how 85% of the clientele of Myers + Chang, an Asian restaurant in Bostons South End, is female. The article speculates as to some of the reasons for this intriguing fact.

If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.

Dine with passion

Where Are The Women? Myers+Chang!

If I were single, I know which restaurant I would frequent, Myers+Chang. Why? Because that is where so many women are dining. Almost 85% of the restaurant's customers are female. A staggering statistic which shocked me when I first heard it.

In the current Stuff Magazine (11/17-11/30/09), there is an interview (p.58) with Christopher Myers, co-owner of Myers+Chang. Christopher stated that their clientele is almost 85% women. He believes that might be due to the restaurant serving many small plates. He assumes that many men in Boston don't want to share plates with others, or eat off a plate that is sitting in front of another.

I also spoke with Chef Joanne Chang, Christopher's wife and co-owner of the restaurant. She confirmed the statistic about their clientele and further supported the potential reasons for such. Though the restaurant often sees groups of women dining together, they rarely see groups of men there. Usually, the men that do dine there are accompanied by women. It does not seem the type of place that businessmen choose for business meetings.

So, is there such a gender difference over sharing small plates? Do men have problems sharing small plates with other men? If so, why do they feel that way? Are women just more social and willing to share?

Until I learned the statistic about Myers+Chang, I would not have imagined it was a place frequented far more by women. To me, it was a restaurant that should appeal to both men and women. I saw nothing inherently feminine about the restaurant. Plus, I am not bothered by sharing small plates with a group of my male friends, and have done so at other small plate restaurants.

But now that I have pondered about it, I can understand how some men might feel. Sharing plates can be seen as an intimate act, and probably not appropriate for most business meetings. And some men probably don't want to do something that intimate, even with their male friends. It may seem more an act they would only do with a wife or girlfriend. A brief poll of several men on Twitter showed a division, that some men felt like me while others did have issues with sharing plates.

It might be just a cultural matter particular to American men, or men from similar cultures. For example, in numerous Asian cultures, sharing plates is very common. So maybe they would not have the same issue as American men.

But why doesn't a group of men go to Myers+Chang and each order their own group of small plates? Nothing says they have to share the dishes they order. They are missing out on some great food. And all of the women that are there! Maybe these men should reconsider their position.

Women & Wine Preferences

Women buy more wine than men. Besides that fact, there are numerous other differences between women and men as it relates to wine. The new issue of Wine Spectator (7/31/09) discusses an intriguing online survey, that the magazine conducted in conjunction with Vinexpo, concerning women and wine.

The survey involved only 431 women (aged 21 to over 60 years old) in the U.S. So, though this is only a small sample, some of its findings reflect results from prior studies and surveys. The results are also still interesting.

93% of the respondents drank wine at least once a week and 80% of the time it is with food. It is good to see so many women drinking wine with their meals. I think that helps promote more of a wine culture, that wine can be an integral accompaniement to food. 79% of women prefer red wine to white or rose. That goes against the stereotype of women usually being white wine lovers.

It was also good to see that 65% of the time women would try a new wine rather than buy a wine they have had before and enjoyed. Nice to see how adventurous they are with wine and I only hope men are similarly as adventurous.

What was really interesting, was to see where women and men seek out advice on buying wine. Respondents could choose two answers. For women, they most often (46.2%) would turn to a wine merchant. They would consult newspapers and magazines about 35.7% of the time. Only 26% consulted Internet resources, such as blogs. For men, there were some differences. Men consulted newspapers and magazines about 44% of the time and consulted Internet resources about 46% of the time.

So it appears men are more likely than women to consult blogs for wine advice and recommendations. Magazines and newspapers still remain a significant factor for both men and women. All very interesting.

Women Wine Bloggers

Back in March, I started compiling a list of women wine bloggers. That list has grown and grown. There are over 70 women wine bloggers and writers and I am sure there are others out there that are not listed yet. It is great to see so many women contributing to the world of wine.

As old blog posts can sometimes be forgotten, I felt it was important to bring my list forward again, especially as the list is continually being updated. I started a discussion on the OpenWine Consortium and that has helped locate additional women wine bloggers and writers.

I am still looking for more women to add to the list. There is no end date for the list. It will continue to always been updated with new information. Check it out and maybe you will find a new favorite wine blog.

Who Collects Wine?

I am a collector by nature. Books, magazines, DVDs, and wine. Though I am an amateur collector when it comes to wines. I only have around 250 wines and very few of them are worth more than $100. I generally buy wines I intend to drink. I don't buy wine as an investment or simply to show off the rarities I possess. But my wife is not a collector. I guess our house would not be big enough if she was a collector as well.

It was the May 2008 issue of Decanter that got me thinking in this vein. I read an article, "Collecting: It's A Man's World" by Rosi Hanson. The basic premise is that men are the wine collectors in the world and that few women take on that role. The article begins: "Men collect, women appreciate--discuss."

Though there are exceptions, it seems that wine collecting is primarily a male hobby. There is even a psychologist quoted who states that collecting in general is a male thing. There are then quotes from several other people, all giving support to Rosi's premise.

Though women may not be collecting wine, they are definitely spending more time learning about wine. And such learning may be more important to them than the idea of collecting wine. Though I am sure that in time, more women will start collecting wine.

So, are you a collector? If so, why are you one? If not, why not? Do you know any female wine collectors?

Women of Wine

Did you know the ancient Romans once had a law making it illegal for women to drink, upon pain of death? Women have certainly come a long way from those days.

March: A Month of Women & Wine ends today. For the final March post on this theme, I am providing a review of an informative and fascinating book about women in the wine industry. It is in that book I found the intriguing tidbit about Rome.

Women of Wine: The Rise of Women in the Global Wine Industry by Ann B. Matasar (University of California Press 2006) is a hardcover book ($24.95) containing about 252 pages. It includes an Introduction, ten Chapters, three Appendices and a Glossary.

The book begins with a historical background, showing reasons why women were excluded from the wine industry for a long time. There is then a brief analysis of the changes that have occurred in the modern wine industry and how that has led to greater involvement by women. This all leads to the heart of the book, descriptions about the many women who have been or currently are involved in the wine industry.

A number of the chapters are then divided into regions, showcasing women wine makers and winery owners in such places as France, Italy, California, Australia and elsewhere. There is also a chapter devoted to women wine educators, Masters of Wine, writers, and publishers. The book moves onto a section about women auctioneers, trade representatives, and sommeliers. Women are involved in all aspects of the wine industry.

The final chapter looks at the future of women in the wine industry, asking whether the positive changes that have occurred will continue. And the author provides some suggestions on such can continue, as well as trying to identify some of the potential obstacles.

Overall, this was a very educational book. I learned about many women in the wine industry who I did not know before, as well as garnering more details about some of the women I did know. It is an easy read and will not bore you. It does an excellent job of showcasing women in the wine industry, in almost all of its aspects. Though it does not deal with women wine bloggers at all. I definitely recommend this book.

If anyone else has read it, feel free to post your own thoughts about the book in the comments.

Women, Wine and the Internet

There are a significant number of women who have their own wine blogs, contribute to a wine blog or otherwise produce wine websites. In honor of March being Women's History Month and my own declaration of March being A Month of Women & Wine, I wanted to highlight a list of women involved in wine and the Internet. This is by no means a comprehensive list but does provide a good foundation to see all of the positive contributions of women to the online wine community.

I must first give kudos to Darby Higgs who had a page on Women Wine Writers on the Web and who later gave me that site. That site has a nice list that includes such big names as Andrea Immer and Jancis Robinson but it was not complete. I composed this supplemental list of female wine bloggers and writers and periodically update it.

Adrienne of Real. Good. Wine.

Alana of Girl With a Glass

Alice of Veritas in Vino

Alina of One Girl, One Glass, One World

Alissa of SAHMmelier

Allie of My Wine Words

Amy of Another Wine Blog

Amy of La Gramiere

Amy of Vinesleuth Uncorked

Amy of Winebookgirl

Anna of Anna Uncorked

Anne of Random Oenophile

Annette of Cima Collina

Barbara of WineBizNews

Becca of The Academic Wino

Bella of Wine & Good Food

Beverly of The Birmingham News

Catherine of Pursuing Pinot

Catie of Through the Walla Walla Grape Vine

Chantal, Huiqin, Judy and Yvonne of Grape Wall of China

Claudia of Chronic Negress

Courtney of Hip Tastes Blog

Cynthia of The Vintage Port Site

Cynthia of Wine, Woman, Travel

Dana at Wine Indulgence

Debbie of Hudson Valley Wine Goddess

Denise of Wine Sleuth

Diane of Wine Lover's Journal

Donna of Wisequeen & Wine Social Club

Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20

Eileen of Cellarette

Elaine of Vino Las Vegas LLC

Emily of Winemonger Talk

Evelyne of Wine Brands

Frances of Sonoma Country Life

Gabriella of Catavino

Grace of Cellarmistress' Cellar Talk

Grapefriend

Gwendolyn of Wine Predator

Ilona of The Terroiriste

Jackie of The Leather District Gourmet

Jayne of Champagne Jayne

Julia and Tracy of New York Cork Report 

Jill of Domaine547

Jo of Juicy Tales

Joanne of Fork & Bottle

Judith of Aroma Cucina

Katarina of SommeChick

Kathleen of Wine & Food Pairing Tips

Katie of Gonzo Gastronomy

Kay of A to Zinfandel's Blog

Kelly of Kelly Magyarics

Kim of Winey Women

Kori of Wine Peeps

Leah of Millennier

Leilani of Wine Deviant

Lily-Elaine of Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews

Lisa of Wine Matters

Lisa of VinoDuo

Liza and Xandria of BrixChicks

Lizzy of Vino Pigro

Lori of Just Add Wine

Lorie of Wining Ways

Lorrie of Lorrie's Wine & Food World

Madeline of Wine Folly

Marcia of Good Libations

Marcy of Come For The Wine

Margot of Write for Wine

Maria of Keep Wine Simple

Marie of The Life of Vines

Mary of Vindulge

Meg of Maker's Table

Melanie of Dallas Wine Chick

Melanie of Kiss My Glass Boston

Mimi of Mimi Goes London

Monique of Wine Oh TV

Nannette of Wine Harlots

Monica of My Fabulous World In Wine

Nancy of At First Glass

Pamela of Enobytes

Rebecca of Pour Favor

Robin of The Amateur Gastronomer

Robin of Vitis Poema

Ronellee of Sex And The Wines

Sarah of The Epicurean Scribe

Sarah of Italian Wine Blog-Wine90

Sharon of Sharon's Wine Blog

Sonadora of the Wannabe Wino

STL Wine Lush of Wine Lush

Tamara of Sip With Me

Tammy of Miss WineOH

Taylor of Taylor Eason

Thea of Luscious Lushes

Tracy of Its a Winderful Life

Veronique and Melissa of Vinously Speaking

Wendy at Sassysipnyc

Wilma of Wilma's Wine World

The Wine Witch

Wink of Wink's Wine & Travel World

Women & Wine

Check out any of these wine blogs/websites and I am sure you will like what you find. If you know of any other female wine blogs/wesbites that are not on this list, please add them to the comments and I will add them to the list.

(Note: This list has been revised and expanded as of 6/12/13)

Woman Wine Maker in Tunisia

While reading the latest issue of Decanter (March 2008), I found an article on wine growing in some rather unusual places. And one story in particular stood out, especially for my Women & Wine month in March.

Samia Ben Ali is a female wine maker in Tunisia, an Islamic country. Besides the largely desert terrain, there are political issues at hand as well. The name of the estate is Domaine Neferis, located between Tunis and Hammamet. The estate has about 200 hectares of vineyards and they grow Carignan, Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, Syrah and Chardonnay. The estate also possesses a cellar and bottling plant.

Interestingly enough, fermentation of the grapes does not take place in Tunisia because it is illegal to produce alcohol in the country. Thus the grapes are shipped to the Calatrasi Winery in Sicily for fermentation. One of the wines they produce is Selian Carignan, Selian being an ancient North African word for the Sahara desert.

Kudos to Samia Ben Ali who obviously must have overcome much to be a women in an Islamic country producing wine.

CORRECTION (3/26/08): Samia Ben Ali, the wine maker, emailed me to tell me that in fact it is not illegal in Tunisia to produce wine. The Selian Carignan is fermented and produced in Tunisia. They are also able to sell it in Tunisia at restaurants, supermakets and hotels. Thanks to her for the correction.

365 Days of Wine Honoring Women in Wine

I am glad to see that I am not the only wine blogger who is honoring women in the wine community this month as part of Women's History Month.

Cathy of the relatively new wine blog, 365 Days of Wine, will also be honoring the role of women in the wine industry. Each day March, she will spotlight a different female winemaker. So check out Cathy's blog each day to read about the many female winemakers in the industry.

And don't just read her blog in March. Keep reading it throughout the year. Her blog is very well written and discusses much about the local wine scene in and around Boston. I have had the good fortune and pleasure to meet Cathy a couple times at local wine events and she is very personable and knowledgeable about wine.

March: A Month of Women & Wine

March is National Women’s History Month. This year''s theme is Women’s Art: Women’s Vision and it is intended to "honor the originality, beauty, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women’s lives." This theme also "provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women’s visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums that help expand our perceptions of ourselves and each other."

During March, in honor of National Women's History Month, I will discuss some of the contributions made by women in the wine world. One can look at wine production as an art so female wine makers would fall under this year's theme. Literary creations can also be considered an art form so they could also fall under the theme. And even those women involved in the wine world who would not fall under the theme should still be recognized this month for their beneficial contributions.

Women's involvement in the wine industry continues to grow. Even in Japan, where Sake production has long been a man's only profession, we are seeing more and more female brew masters. We see women in France controlling important Champagne houses. We see female wine makers in California making highly acclaimed wines.

In the world of wine writing, there are some very prominent women. Even in the world of wine blogging, there are many excellent female writers, with more blogging every day. One of my goals this month will be to try to create a fairly comprehensive list of all the female bloggers out there. I would like to post it near the end of the month, to provide a resource for the wine community. So, if you are a female blogger and would like to be added to the list, please send me a link to your blog. I certainly know many female bloggers but I am sure there are some out there that I don't.

I also hope that other wine bloggers, male and female, consider discussing the role of women in the wine world this month. If you have a favorite female wine maker, why not post about her. If a particular female wine writer appeals to you, tell us about her.

Let us honor those women who have made the wine community a better place.

Saké & Women

The realm of Saké has long and traditionally been a man's domain. In some respects, this is similar to the world of wine. And as the world of wine has been changing, as women have begun to be more prominent, so it has been with Saké as well.

Coincidentally, during Saké month on this blog, one of my local newspapers, The Boston Globe, published an article yesterday on Saké and women entitled "Saké sisters."

The article states that only about 30 years ago , women were not even permitted entrance into kura, Saké breweries. Once, a Toji, a Saké brew master, would pass on his knowledge and skills to his sons. But in modern times, some sons now no longer want to follow in the family business. Thus, to survive, family kura have started to rely on their daughters or other women to carry on the traditions. But it was not until 1976 that the first female Saké brewer was licensed.

Besides in the kura, women are also now seen managing Saké lists at restaurants and bars. Three local examples are provided in the article, including Nancy Cushman at O Ya, Leah Ikeda at Pho Republique, and Jenny Chow at Douzo. All three women are passionate about Saké and have been sharing that passion with their customers, trying to spread the word about Saké.

Check out the Boston Globe article for more information and keep reading my blog all month for more Saké posts.

U.S. Drank More Wine in 2007

Wine consumption in the U.S. in 2007 rose again for the fifteenth consecutive year.

Walter Nicholls of the Washington Post has written a fascinating article, "The U.S. is turned on to wine," that was published today in the Houston Chronicle. The article discusses how wine consumption has increased, and why.

Estimates for 2007 could place the U.S. ahead of Italy in per-capita consumption, second only to France. One of the reasons for the increase is a growing number of working women with high incomes. Women continue to buy more wine than men, as I have posted about previously.

Another factor for the increase is how wine is marketed. It is said that wine is becoming more approachable, less pretentious. Yellow Tail is given as an example.

This is a topic that tangentially arose the other day in a discussion on Twitter. We were discussing why wine blogs seem to get much less comments than food blogs. One possible reason was that wine was too intimidating, that people felt less comfortable commenting about it as they did not want to seem ignorant. As wine bloggers, we are trying to make wine more approachable as well. We want to give our readers information they can understand and from which they can learn. We are trying to get our readers to try more wines, different wines. we want them to explore all the possibilities of the wine world.

The article then mentions more interesting statistics. 90% of all wine, by volume, is sold in a grocery store for under $10. The average price of wine that people are willing to purchase though has risen from $6-8 to $10-15.

This coincides with something I read the other day in a wine book. It stated that 95% of all wine purchased is drank within 48 hours of purchase. Most consumers are seeking inexpensive, ready to drink wine. I am concerned though that grocery stores are the primary place where people are buying wine. I don't feel that most grocery stores have the best variety. Grocery stores generally stock the large, mass produced wines, the most common brands. Small producers have difficulty getting stocked in most grocery stores. I think consumers need to realize that specialty wine stores can deliver quality wines at reasonable prices. And that they can find more variety at these wine stores.

Chardonnay is still the most popular varietal, accounting for about 20% of all wine sales, though older consumers tend to be the greatest purchasers.

It appears that younger consumers are more adventurous than older consumers. They are more willing to try different varietals. They are not as beholden to traditional varietals. It is possible that wine blogs are having an impact on younger consumers, who are more apt to be Internet savvy. Most of the wine blogs I know talk about a wide range of wines, far more than just the traditional varietals. They try to get people to try new wines and varietals. Hopefully, they are having an impact.