Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Pandemic pedagogy.

For me, one of the best things to emerge during the Covid-19 pandemic is the advent of online wine-related webinars (mostly hosted on Zoom and Instagram Live/IGTV) that anyone can access - for free.  Of particular note amongst all the video offerings available is a series called, Behind the Wines with Elaine Chukan Brown (in association with the Wine Institute/California Wines).
In today's virtual tasting and discussion, wine writer and educator Elaine Chukan Brown considered some new trends in California wine.  Well, not really trends, but rather innovations and explorations of, and in, grape varieties, growing regions and out-of-the-box winemaking.  Ms. Brown's guests this morning were sommelier and author, Kelli A.White and San Francisco Chronicle wine critic, Esther Mobley.  The discussion that ensued regarding the evolution of California winemaking was informative and thought provoking.  The featured wines were; White Rock Vineyards, Claret, Napa Valley 2016; J. Lohr, Wildflower ValdiguiĆ©, Monterey 2019; and Mountain Tides, Petite Sirah, California 2018.  Compelling stuff.  And a fitting way to kick off California Wine Month.

4 comments:

New Hampshire Wineman said...

Cool stuff! During rehab I haven't done Zoom, but have been enjoying a number of YouTube wine bloggings, especially Wine Folly (unpretentious, but knowable fun).
With two TKA surgeries since March, and the China virus, a poor boy needs to keep his body and mind moving.
Cheers!

Vinogirl said...

NHW: Yes, keep that brain exercised. 'Behind the Wines' is available on YouTube, look it up.

New Hampshire Wineman said...

VG: I will definitely look at Behind the Wines!

Vinogirl said...

NHW: It's an okay way to kill an hour :)