Winemaking ?

[lizardbrains]

I've been wondering about this... and I thought I'd ask my favorite wine experts!!!

Since I live in a wine-country area, I've had a lot of opportunities to go to different wineries and try their wines. It's been a FABULOUS learning experience! I've noticed that I may LOVE a winery because they have some great wines that tickle my fancy... yet they also have some wines that are just plain not-so-great.

I understand that there are a lot of things that go into making wine (ie: quality of the grapes that year, etc.). But if a winery makes great wine, shouldn't ALL of their wine be great?

I'm sure it's for a reason (that all their wine isn't fabulous), but I'm just wondering what that reason is.

Also, if they have one type that's just awful, why do they even bother selling it? Why don't they just dump it? Because doesn't it make them look bad when they are selling yucky-tasting wine?

AND... if they have bad-tasting wine in a certain varietal one year, is that varietal probably always bad at that winery? Or maybe might it be good in the next vintage?

As you can see, I've been pondering this for a while! Hopefully you can help put my brain at ease!

Thanks,
Elizabeth :-)