Great article (John Ingraham’s “Hanzell and ML34,” January 2010). Hundreds of wine writers and reviewers mention “fermented in,” “followed by malolactic,” and “aged on lees,” taking for granted the important role these bugs play in turning simple grape juice into a beverage celebrated by Greek philosophers, French emperors and American presidents.
Though drinking a Rhône, I do indeed raise my glass in honor of Brad Webb, ML 34 and (the author) John’s contribution to the world of wine.
Chris Simmons, CSW, CMS
Durham, N.C.
   
Bushwhacked
I subscribed to get information about the wine industry. (You blame) the current recession on the Bush Administration without including the Democratic Congress (Editor’s Letter, December 2009). I strongly suggest that before you make any more economic accusations, you get a subscription to The Economist.

Your solution to any problem the wine industry has is to have either the California government or the U.S. government throw millions of dollars at it. Whatever happened to the wineries’ research and development?

I do not expect to see improvement in wine sales this year. If you have a job, then you might believe that the recession is over. Things have stopped getting worse. Many pundits are saying that this will be a jobless recovery. If you don’t have a job, the recession is not over. Stick to wines and vines and leave the economic forecasting to others.
George Ackerman
Warwick Cheese Shoppe
Newport News, VA

Editor’s note: To be entirely fair, we also blamed “a debt-loving public” for the ongoing recession.