Many Roads Lead to Winemaking Knowledge

I have been working on a presentation that looks at the many roads that lead to wine knowledge. This presentation is geared to wine writers who, whether they want to face it or not, must to some degree be accountable for their credibility. Yesterday, Kathy and I met with Lisa Baker and her brother Drew Baker. Lisa is the winemaker for Old Westminister Winery. With a recent degree in chemistry, Lisa is crafting some good wines with 2011 fruit. Lisa loves the chemistry part of winemaking. After yesterday’s meeting, I started thinking about the many roads that lead to winemaking knowledge.

We have met hundreds of winemakers and just as with wine knowledge there are many roads that lead to winemaking knowledge. We met a winemaker that, out of nowhere, decided to make wine. He bought a paperback book and read it cover to cover. Then started making wine. We’ve met winemakers who were taught to make wine by their grandfather, father or uncle. We’ve met winemakers who have enology degrees or attended winemaking programs at colleges and universities. We’ve met winemakers who attend seminars at conferences. We’ve met winemakers who work with a mentor. Often, winemakers will use a combination of the above.

There isn’t a particular road to winemaking knowledge that is better than another. Like wine itself, winemaking is interdisciplinary. Winemaking involves science, math, art, culture, history and many other disciplines. Just as wine can be approached from different disciplines, so too can winemaking. I recall what Eric Fry  from The Lenz Winery on Long Island stated about the art and science of winemaking, “If the data says there is something wrong with the wine, but your taste says it’s fine what would you do? Similarly, if your taste says there is something wrong with the wine but the data says it is OK, what will you do?” In Erik’s case, taste trumps data.

Reading a paperback book or receiving a college degree as well as many other roads can lead to winemaking knowledge. The best approach is an individual decision. The bottom line is that if people like your wine and buy it, your road to winemaking was successful.

Cheers,
Terry