Burgundy "GMs"?

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
Having worked for NASA and IBM where such usages were often rampant, I developed a tendency to dislike abbreviations, acronyms, shorthand, etc.

I have seen somewhere a discussion about Burgundies with or without GMs. I think I know but just to be sure, what are GMs?

Thanks!

. . . . . Pete
 
GM = Genetically Modified grapes.

They're being introduced all over the world as kinds of supergrapes resistant to pests and mold.
 
originally posted by Andy Beaton:
GM = Genetically Modified grapes.
They're being introduced all over the world as kinds of supergrapes resistant to pests and mold.
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Andy, So, I am a bit surprised that I was right.

Thanks!

. . . . . . Pete
 
Opinions seem to be varied.

Is there a general consensus among knowledgeable folks as to the pros or cons of wine(s) with genetically modified fruit?

What about with Burgundies specifically?

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

Opinions seem to be varied.

Is there a general consensus among knowledgeable folks as to the pros or cons of wine(s) with genetically modified fruit?

What about with Burgundies specifically?

. . . . . . Pete
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First of all, for an organism like v. vinifera 'Pinot Noir,' genetic modification is pretty much SOP. PN is genetically unstable, giving rise to Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc as sports. So, genetically modified PN should hardly surprise us. There is the question of what might arise from swapping in lizard or bacillus genes into a grape, and we should always be mindful of the Law of Unintended Consequences, but I tend to be rather unsympathetic with the alarmists while at the same time questioning why we need to monkey around with their genome in the first place, since wild type PN seems to produce pretty nice wine all on its own.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
. . . questioning why we need to monkey around with their genome in the first place, since wild type PN seems to produce pretty nice wine all on its own.
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"They're being introduced all over the world as kinds of supergrapes resistant to pests and mold."

I believe Andy's comment applies.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
originally posted by MLipton:
. . . questioning why we need to monkey around with their genome in the first place, since wild type PN seems to produce pretty nice wine all on its own.
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"They're being introduced all over the world as kinds of supergrapes resistant to pests and mold."
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Oh, I understand the rationale, Jim, but wouldn't you agree that careful vineyard management goes a long way to combatting pests and mold, too, without the need to change an organism's genome?

Mark Lipton
 
That is a very heirloom view, of course. If you could take a pill and be thin and fit, would you eschew the pill and opt in for rigorous and tiring exercise? Yes, you might if you like the smell of fresh grass along country roads, or the thrill of hitting an ace serve, or the intense pleasures of many many screens shouting their flickering, colorful messages at a herd of treadmills and elliptical machines. But you might not, if you prefer sitting around with a glass of wine and talking or typing with friends.

Unless the pill made your teeth fall out, or something.

Of course, I am only playing. But it's fairly clear why some might want to tinker that way. Castrate rapists. Screen prenatally for birth defects. All that.
 
There's a good segment in either Food,Inc., or Supersize Me (sorry, can't remember which) illustrating how a corporation (Monsanto, in the case shown) can use genetically-modified seeds and gene ownership to essentially control a whole regional crop. This approach wouldn't work with grafted grapes, of course, but it's an interesting angle on the GM subject.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
There's a good segment in either Food,Inc., or Supersize Me (sorry, can't remember which) illustrating how a corporation (Monsanto, in the case shown) can use genetically-modified seeds and gene ownership to essentially control a whole regional crop. This approach wouldn't work with grafted grapes, of course, but it's an interesting angle on the GM subject.
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Yeah, that was in Food, Inc.
 
Where I've seen reference to Burgundy GM, it stands for "green meanies," i.e., the vegetal aspect of many 2004s that many people find objectionable.

I believe Bruce is correct that there is a moratorium on GMO vines in Eurpe.
 
wouldn't you agree that careful vineyard management goes a long way to combatting pests and mold, too, without the need to change an organism's genome?
Click to expand...
Or to put Sharon's excellent response into the realm of wine geekery, why waste effort carefully siting and managing a vineyard for balance at harvest when you can add/subtract balancing and flavoring elements later? Especially if just one of the qualities of the current site/management is so desirable...let's say, just to invent one out of the thinnest air, concentrated fruit flavors? I bet that a vine that would accomplish the desired result without bags of this and centrifuges of that would be at least interesting to one kind of winemaker.
 
Well, it's a question some will ask. After all, we're (not us, specifically, though I'm suspicious of that Lipton guy) trying to make artificial chicken at the moment. Um, go us?
 
originally posted by Thor:
wouldn't you agree that careful vineyard management goes a long way to combatting pests and mold, too, without the need to change an organism's genome?
Click to expand...
Or to put Sharon's excellent response into the realm of wine geekery, why waste effort carefully siting and managing a vineyard for balance at harvest when you can add/subtract balancing and flavoring elements later? Especially if just one of the qualities of the current site/management is so desirable...let's say, just to invent one out of the thinnest air, concentrated fruit flavors? I bet that a vine that would accomplish the desired result without bags of this and centrifuges of that would be at least interesting to one kind of winemaker.
Click to expand...

Have you been talking to Clark Smith again, O Wielder of Thunders?

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
Where I've seen reference to Burgundy GM, it stands for "green meanies," i.e., the vegetal aspect of many 2004s that many people find objectionable.

I believe Bruce is correct that there is a moratorium on GMO vines in Eurpe.
Click to expand...

That was my immediately assumption for the acronym as well.
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
Where I've seen reference to Burgundy GM, it stands for "green meanies," i.e., the vegetal aspect of many 2004s that many people find objectionable.

I believe Bruce is correct that there is a moratorium on GMO vines in Eurpe.
Click to expand...

That was my immediately assumption for the acronym as well.
Click to expand...

Jay (and Claude), Yes, once you mentioned this interpretation, I figured yours was the correct one.

However, the conversation here about genetically modified fruit has been worthwhile and interesting.

. . . . . Pete
 
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