Jean Yates is owner of Avalon Wine,
and has worked to promote Orregon and Washington wine for
over 15 years through her wine shop, web site, and articles.
Jean previously worked in the computer
industry and does most of the work on the Avalon website. She is a passionate
photographer and most of the images on this site are hers.
For
all of 2004, Avalon's website articles and columns is focusing
on the
vineyards of the Northwest. Why?
Because as Oregon and Washington's wine industries mature, it
is increasingly obvious that the vineyard makes the difference.
If the vineyard site produces great fruit, the wine is good to
spectacular. If the vineyard site could potentially produce good
fruit, but the viticultural practices don't allow the grapes
to reach their potential, or if disease, weather, or bad choice
of grape type (clone) happen, the wine cannot reach greatness.
Yes, the winemaking is also a huge factor (our
theme for 2005???) but for this year, let's focus on the vineyard,
all the aspects, and maybe come out of 2004 with a better sense of
what it takes to produce grapes that make a truly great wine.
Facets of Grapegrowing
We already have several articles on the site
that you can start with (see sidebar). In the next months, we'll
take a super in depth look at ten of the top vineyards in Oregon
and Washington, starting with Oregon's Shea Vineyard and Washington's
Klipsun Vineyard. We'll also begin looking at facets of grape growing-
irrigation, choice of clones, planting and trellising styles, the
controversy over crop size per acre, organic, biodynamic, salmon safe,
the use of sulfites, phyloxera and other diseases that are affecting
Oregon's pinot noir, and so on.
We welcome your input- what would
you like us to cover? We'd be thrilled to hear from you.
Craig Broadley,
For
all of 2004, Avalon's website articles and columns is focusing
on the
vineyards of the Northwest. Why?
Because as Oregon and Washington's wine industries mature, it
is increasingly obvious that the vineyard makes the difference.
