Cabernet Franc is an important grape variety for a variety of reasons: its progeny, its role as a ubiquitous blending grape, as insurance, and—finally—as a splendid lead grape in its own right. Continue reading “Cabernet Franc”
Month: October 2010
Commodity wines 6 of 6
Wine factories—producers of “commodity” wines—hit the jackpot with varietal wine naming. No French or Italian or Spanish or, shudder, German über-confusing wine words to learn. No arcane labels to decipher. No humiliation from snotty sommeliers. Continue reading “Commodity wines 6 of 6”
Commodity wines 5 of 6
Branding wine varietals—selling the name of the grape—is marketing breakthrough that elevated American, then world, wine consumption to levels enjoyed today. Continue reading “Commodity wines 5 of 6”
Commodity wines 4 of 6
The marketing masterstroke of naming wines by the grape from which they are made is a major reason for today’s wine boom. Continue reading “Commodity wines 4 of 6”