Bundles of dormant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines ready to be planted / Photo courtesy Jessica Dunnam, viticulturist, Results Partners
Wine is a global commodity, but does it make for a better product when everything is locally sourced?
The history of wine-grape cultivation dates to at least 6,000 B.C., and it’s deeply intertwined with the development of civilizations, empires and global trade. Grapes are planted on every continent except Antarctica, and producers craft bottlings from grape varieties indigenous to regions across the planet.
But increasingly, winemakers try to source ingredients from closer to home in a bid, they say, to create more authentic and delicious wines. Their reasons are many, and range from concerns over the spread of pests and disease, to logistics and a desire to develop their region’s terroir.