How do Americans and Europeans see wine and winemakers differently?
How are wines named? In the new world we named the wines after the grape varietals. It makes it very simple. It is something that will prevail throughout the world of wine today. It's sort of like, if you're an airplane pilot, you have to speak English no matter where you land, that is a universal language that is understood. Originally, wines were named after places. So, that it was thought, in Europe, the most important thing about wine was, where it comes from. And so, there is really an area that is called, in the area of Burgundy, white burgundy being chardonnays, there's really a place called Pouilly Fousse, there is a town. There's a town called Puligny-Montrachet, there is a town called Chassange Montrachet. When it comes to red wines in Burgundy, it is named also-- and this goes throughout France, throughout Spain and Italy-- it was originally, the names for the wines were named after the place. So, when you're looking at a label, it usually, when it is a European wine, it is named after the area. The more specific the label says, indicates quality. And so, if you have something that comes from an area, we'll use burgundy, for example, in the town of Puligny-Montrachet, and it says Puligny-Montrachet -- that is the description where it comes from. Now, if it says it is says Puligny-Montrachet - Les Combettes, it means that is a particular vineyard name, sort of, like, I live in Beverly Hills, but now I live on Elm Street. So, now you know, more specifically, where it comes from and it means an indication of quality. In the new world, when we're talking about the United States, and Australia, and New Zealand, we're naming the wines after the grape varietal; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and then it would say the name of the producer because in the new world we thought the person that was making the wine was, quote: "This sort of winemaker genius." In Europe they thought a winemaker is nothing more than... he's a technician, he is sort of like, a doctor, or a dentist. This is a job he does. He either does the job very well and he's clean, and neat, and does what he's supposed to. But a winemaker is not a genius, he's nothing special. In the new world we put technology and said, well, here we have, like Robert Mondavi, and he's using all the special equipment, he's using centrifuges, he's doing things that they have done for a long time, so he is an artist. In Europe they did not think so. So, you have two different conflicting types of attitudes about wine, and the naming of wine. And I'm oversimplifying this, but this is basically what it's about. In the new world, America especially, we're talking about, that the winemaker is more important than where it's grown and in fact, it comes to that, who cares about; does a cabernet vine really know it's address. In Europe they think that where it comes from is more important than the winemaker.
