Sangiovese

Of course. Some grape varieties 'travel' well; others don't. By this I mean that they will not do well outside their home range.

Unfortunately not many are of real interest.

I don't follow you. It seems you are contradicting yourself:

"I would hardly call Sicilian wine potential untapped..."

First there was the potential. Then we got the actual wine.

The actual wine is only rarely of real interest. So the potential for creating a wine industry has been amply fulfilled.

That's not the way we use those terms in English. What you're saying makes no sense.

The issue is not where a particular varietal originated. My point is that there are numerous regions that can produce a great wine from a given grape. Not just one.

Some countries are fixated on growing a particular varietal only in one region. Any other region is assumed to be a lesser wine. Thats the issue I disagree with. Some areas lesser, some areas perhaps even better than the so called traditional region.

Name a popular varietal that doesn't do well anywhere else but one region. I do not see how this is possible since a given region can have numerous micro climates. In Napa Valley California one area can get substantially more rain on average than another area only 1 mile away. A generalized region in itself isn't uniform across its terrain.

miles wrote in news:4zaEg.934$rT5.671@fed1read01:

Not sure what your point is. The statement made by UC was that some grape varietals don't have as much range as others and you reply that some areas have microclimates. Some microclimates do not support all varieties equally you might have a growing region with areas that don't provide good nurture, farmers of all sorts are familiar with the field that just won't do a certain crop for various climate related reasons like too much not enough rain, frost issues etc..

Not the point.

Nebbiolo, for one.

PMJI - A fairly obvious example would be Nebbiolo - oh, OK, it does not do bad in Valtellina, but, it nowhere reaches the same quality it does in Barolo and Barbaresco (dang, that's two ... ;)), and I don't think it has a wide following Overseas.

Then, that begs the question what constitutes a 'popular' varietal. To be 'popular' I suppose it has to be spread to several regions ... too complicated.

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

My point is that just because a wine comes from a particular region doesn't mean thats the best region for that grape. A region can cover numerous microclimates. It's a particular plot of land that might be ideal within that region. Furthermore there are generally numerous regions that are ideal for a particular varietal. Not just one single region. Some countries are fixated on the belief that the best wine for a given varietal can only come from a single region. It's that notion I strongly disagree with.

I realize you are saying all sangiovese must be compared to those produced in Tuscany. Why? Just because thats where it originated doesn't mean its the standard for comparison. It doesn't mean Tuscan wines are better or worse. I've never seen typical blind tasting scores that state a wines rating as compared to Tuscan wines. The ratings stand on their own for each wine and not that its above or below Tuscan wines.

Yes, it does.

Sangiovese originated in Tuscany or central Italy hundreds of years ago. It has adapted itself to that area. It is the quintessential Italian grape. To suggest that any wine made from Sangiovese grown elsewhere should not use Chianti, Brunello, or Vino Nobile as a reference is absurd on its face.

Nebbiolo hasn't caught on that well around the world. However, Argentina out produces Italy and Nebbiolo is grown in smaller quantities in Australia, California, New Zealand, and South Africa and many other countries. I think the issue is market demand which results in few winemakers doing that much with Nebbiolo except in Italy especially the Piedmont region.

Same thing I find with Syrah (Shiraz, Sirah). While California produces some excellent Syrahs I find Australia to be a magnitude better. Mostly because they have been producing it much longer. Experience plays a large role just as finding the ideal regions. Given time and market demand there is no reason great Nebbiolo wines couldn't be produced in many other regions besides Piedmont.

I think popularity is the key. Nobody is going to try a varietal in a new region if the market won't support it there. You named two regions and forgot about Nebbilos most popular (to me) region, Piedmont.

Absurd to you but hardly reality. Wines stand on their own and are rated individually. Not compared as you seem to demand. You are also implying that Tuscany Sangiovese is a matter of fact superior to anything produced elsewhere. That is what is absurd. Just because its older, traditional etc. does not make it better. Rating a wine based on where it came from is absurd. Taste it on its own and judge accordingly without prejudice. You may prefer the Tuscan style. Others may not.

Did not. Barolo and Barbaresco ARE in Piemonte. Sure thing, went there this summer, wonderful experience, highly recommended. There are other places in Piemonte that produce Nebiolo, but Barolo is tops, with Barbaresco a close second, and they are c 30 km apart (20 miles to the anglometrically challenged).

Cheers

Nils Gustaf