White

As beach season draws to a close (today, September 23rd, is the Fall Equinox, not Labor Day), I want to address a global wine-related epidemic that hits its zenith in summer. Throughout July and August, I visited several white wine producing regions in Oregon, Germany, and Switzerland (the Swiss not only make wine, but I’d argue it’s better than their chocolate and more affordable than their watches). With each vintner visit, our discussion of their carefully crafted whites and demand for their latest vintages inevitably led to the following conclusion: Consumers are sucking them down long before they should be opened. In other words, we drink white wine too young.

Chasselas is a great variety. Yet must it be said loud and clear to let it be known. A difficult step for Swiss winemakers who struggle to put themselves forward. The challenge is even more difficult due to the fact that the grapes are more typical from the French-speaking wine region and face a significant image deficit. Frequently uprooted, it is too often confined to the ungrateful role of “quaffer” with fondue and raclette as only gastronomic opportunities.