Editor's Letter

 

Insights From a Packaging Maverick, and Looking for Others Who Changed the Industry

October 2018
 
by Andrew Adams
 
 

THIS IS WINES & VINES’ ANNUAL “BOTTLES AND LABELS” ISSUE and this year it features the words and wisdom of someone who has regularly used wine packaging as a canvas on which to express his winemaking artistry and wit.

Randall Grahm, the founder and winemaker of Bonny Doon Vineyard, details his approach to packaging over his long career in an article that is a shortened version of the keynote address he delivered at our Aug. 9 packaging conference. I’ll let Grahm speak for himself in what I trust you’ll find to be a thorough examination of wine packaging that is as insightful as it is entertaining.

Grahm has, without a doubt, left a lasting impact on this industry for his many achievements the least of which may be helping to raise the profile of Rhône variety grapes here in the United States. But at our conference, I was struck by the less obvious impact Grahm and others like him have had in the wine industry. Two other speakers, Nicolas Quillé, who is the head of winemaking and operations for Crimson Wine Group and recently became a Master of Wine, and Alison Crowe, director of winemaking for Plata Wine Partners, both worked for Grahm at Bonny Doon.

There are many people like Grahm who, in addition to their winemaking expertise, have left a lasting, personal impact on the people who work in this industry. André Tchelistcheff and Robert Mondavi are other such names that spring to mind, but the same could be said for wineries like Beaulieu Vineyard where dozens of winemakers worked in the early years of their careers and vineyards such as Bien Nacido and To Kalon that have produced hundreds of classic wines.

As we announced in last month’s magazine, Wines & Vines will evolve into a digital publication focused on industry analytics powered by our proprietary databases at the end of the year. To celebrate Wines & Vines’ history as a publication we’re planning a special edition and we want to commemorate the people, wineries, vineyards, events and technology that have left an impact on this industry.

While myself, the magazine staff and our contributors are kicking around who and what makes the list of the top 100 people, technology and events that changed our industry, I also want to hear from you who should be on the list. Feel free to email me suggestions at edit@winesandvines.com about individuals, wineries, vineyards and specific events or cultural phenomena such as the 60 Minutes’ report “The French Paradox” or the movie Sideways that had a lasting effect.

We’re also considering key innovations or advancements such as the discovery of malolactic bacteria, inert gas barrel racking wands, agglomerated cork closures guaranteed free of TCA or vertical shoot positioning.

The past century has witnessed the remarkable growth and development of North America’s wine industry and Wines & Vines has been there to cover each and every major change. While the future will bring some changes to how we do things, our commitment to the wine business will remain the same.

—Andrew Adams

 
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