Adieu, Pineau

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
The tragedy here is that the AOC is pursuing salability of its wines (choosing only popular grapes and paying for their mono-culture) rather than a careful stewardship of its terroir (with a diverse population that includes both Marilyn Monroe and Elmira Gulch varieties).

The two are not mutually exclusive, and sometimes reinforce each other.

Successful AOCs often result in monoculture (Cote d'Or being the archetype).

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
My understanding is that AOC is, historically, a specific form of quality control basesd on terroir.

My understanding was that it was more intended to guarantee authenticity of origin and typicity. The idea being that (a) the Chateauneuf-du-Pape name can't be ripped off by someone capitalizing on its reputation but producing a different wine from somewhere else; (b) build consumer and trade confidence that if it says Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the bottle, it will have a certain flavor. But you could argue that standards such as minimum alcohol levels were also intended to guarantee a certain level of quality, with ripeness as a proxy. Any scholars of AOC origins out there, willing to chime in?

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I would synopsize differently, but accept that you are (over-) simplifying to make a point to Christian.

Apology. Busy morning.

Too many lawyers today. And more of them tomorrow.

No harm done.

 

[Sharon Bowman]

originally posted by MLipton:

originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
Story of my life.

TMI, winegrrrrrl.

Mark Lipton

Heh.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
My understanding is that AOC is, historically, a specific form of quality control basesd on terroir.

My understanding was that it was more intended to guarantee authenticity of origin and typicity. The idea being that (a) the Chateauneuf-du-Pape name can't be ripped off by someone capitalizing on its reputation but producing a different wine from somewhere else; (b) build consumer and trade confidence that if it says Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the bottle, it will have a certain flavor. But you could argue that standards such as minimum alcohol levels were also intended to guarantee a certain level of quality, with ripeness as a proxy. Any scholars of AOC origins out there, willing to chime in?

A distinction without a difference really. You don't protect a name from being ripped off or think you are building trade and confidence if you don't think the name stands for a certain quality. But even stipulating your formulation, regulations like limiting the yield one can have per hectare, disallowing irrigation, etc., are not just protecting a name. They are protecting the quality of the name.