Awsome Winemaker or War Criminal, You Decide!

[Thomas]

After having met RAD face-to-face last night in NY City, I have to say that he is a true wine guy who does the unthinkable in America: he thinks! Love the reference to Columella. You know, while Rome was being overcome by big "corporate" wine entities, such as the one that killed off Falernum, Columella was trying to convince Roman farmers that the small vintner could make a lot of money--geez, does that sound like somewhere on earth today!

RAD, your argument has some merit, even to this "America lacks culture" guy. You especially make a good argument when you point out to those who may not know it, but America does have its home-grown wine grape varieties, and most wine drinkers do not drink them. So, what is the essence of American winemaking? Incidentally, according to the history books, the first wine produced commercially in Los Angeles County, by Germans from Herman Missouri, was Catawba. Essence of America?

By the same token, the essence of Italian or French winemaking certainly is not the California style of winemaking, which truly is beginning to get on my nerves.

Stalemate? Maybe, but I have a feeling that Roberto will not be so kind as I am.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 10-04-2000).]