New resource: Wine grape database

Some initial stats on worldwide production:
Nerello Mascalese production dropped 31 percent from 2000 to 2012. Pinot Gris production increased 131 percent.
Mencia production dropped 19 percent, while sauvignon blanc increased 70 percent.
Syrah production increased 83 percent. That must include shiraz, since syrah is supposed to be a tough sell in the U.S.
Monastrell, which much include mourvedre, dropped 8.5 percent.
Gamay production dropped 14 percent.
Chenin blanc production dropped 23 percent, although I'm not sure many people care about chenin blanc outside the Loire Valley.
Muller Thurgau down 32 percent.
 
originally posted by SteveTimko: I'm not sure many people care about chenin blanc outside the Loire Valley.
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Steve, this is unfortunate in my view. Chenin Blancs can be delicious and quite versatile, including when blended with other grape varieties.

. . . . . . Pete
 
There continues to be some terrific CB coming out of S Africa... and the prices are pretty good. Have to admit a slow mover up here but some very nice choices.
 
Any of these seem like a stand out?

2012 A.A. Badenhorst "Secateurs" Chenin Blanc Swartland
2012 Alheit Vineyards "Cartology" Chenin Blanc Western
2010 Botanica Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2011 The Winery of Good Hope "Vinum" Bush Vine Chenin Blanc
2011 Ken Forrester Reserve Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
2012 Vins d'Orrance "Kama" Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2012 Sadie Family "Old Vine Series- Skurfberg" Chenin Blanc Swartland
2011 Waterkloof "Circumstance" Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
2011 Botanica Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2012 Radford Dale "Renaissance" Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Any of these seem like a stand out?

2012 A.A. Badenhorst "Secateurs" Chenin Blanc Swartland
2012 Alheit Vineyards "Cartology" Chenin Blanc Western
2010 Botanica Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2011 The Winery of Good Hope "Vinum" Bush Vine Chenin Blanc
2011 Ken Forrester Reserve Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
2012 Vins d'Orrance "Kama" Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2012 Sadie Family "Old Vine Series- Skurfberg" Chenin Blanc Swartland
2011 Waterkloof "Circumstance" Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
2011 Botanica Chenin Blanc Western Cape
2012 Radford Dale "Renaissance" Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
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I like Ken Forrester's wines. I'd love to try these others, but we see very little SA Chenin out west. By the way, you don't need to speculate about where the syrah and chenin are, the Adelaide database has breakdowns by country, somewhere in all those spreadsheets.

CM
 
Surprising to see nerello masacalese going away.

My consumption of nerello m. is way, way up since 2000, and I bet I'm not alone.
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Christian:
If I had time to break it down, I would. Those were quick comparisons.
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Just as a cautionary note, I've heard from at least one authority on Spain that the Airen and Tempranillo hectares were not accurate. However, it's not clear whether this was an issue of nomenclature (i.e. they are elsewhere under other names) or omission. I noticed that all the Albarino seemed to be listed under the Portuguese name.
 
originally posted by Yixin:
I'd take a punt on the Sadie; he gets pretty good access to fruit and he's not a bad winemaker.
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That is a decent list from Steve but I would like to see a mention for Lammershoek and Mullineux.

Best Bob.
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by SteveTimko: I'm not sure many people care about chenin blanc outside the Loire Valley.
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Steve, this is unfortunate in my view. Chenin Blancs can be delicious and quite versatile, including when blended with other grape varieties.

. . . . . . Pete
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One more reason to cherish Loire vignerons. But South Africa would be the exception to Steve's rule.

In the US, Dry Creek, I think, used to make a perfectly good, under-$10 quaffing Chenin - but I haven't tasted one in a long time, and might take a different view now.
 
If so then perhaps there would be some nice chenins in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, if only people there were allowed to drink.
 
Speaking of the Sahara, there used to be a lot of chenin in California's Central Valley--may still be.

It keeps more acidity than other whites in the extremely hot climate, apparently.

Even when picked in July.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Speaking of the Sahara, there used to be a lot of chenin in California's Central Valley--may still be.

It keeps more acidity than other whites in the extremely hot climate, apparently.

Even when picked in July.
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Yup. There is still Chenin planted in the Central Valley. According to the USDA 2012 Grape Acreage Report for California there are currently 5,936 bearing acres, of which 3,026 are in Fresno and Madera counties. Interestingly only 48 acres were planted in 2012; 43 of those were in Yolo County. But the acreage has been steadily dropping for a decade.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Speaking of the Sahara, there used to be a lot of chenin in California's Central Valley--may still be.

It keeps more acidity than other whites in the extremely hot climate, apparently.

Even when picked in July.
Click to expand...
It does, but that's a relative term in the San Joaquin. What you want is Ballentine's Old Vine Chenin from the Pocai vineyard near St. Helena. Good stuff.
 
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