Albemarle Terroir

Assume the data is wrong. Observing the weather is complicated stuff and while a spreadsheet might contain data, you usually have to be very careful to ensure it’s correct.

I recently wrote about Ashenfelter et al., 1995.   In an effort to reproduce the results of the paper, I tracked down Global Historical Climate Network data for Bordeaux-Merignac and compared it to the weather reported in Ashenfelter’s paper. The problem with the GHCN data for Bordeaux is that it ends in 1999.   There happens to [...]

If we go all the way back to my first post on Albemarle Terroir, I quoted a description of Terroir written by George Taber. He says:  “Climatology, geology, and history all fuse in the French concept of terroir.  There’s no exact English translation for the word that combines all the factors that go into making [...]

Over the weekend a friend told me about an article relating climate in Bordeaux, France to Bordeaux wine quality.    The article is “Bordeaux Wine Vintage Qaulity and the Weather”, published by the American Statistical Association in 1995 and authored by Orley Ashenfelter, David Ashmore,  Robert Lalonde.    The basic premise of the paper is [...]

The article below,   lead me to wonder about the how the 2009 Spring in Albemarle County is progressing.  http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=64493&htitle=Winegrowers%20Respond%20to%20Quirky%20Spring The image at right depicts Charlottesville, VA average daily maximum and minimum temperatures (the two smoother lines) while the more erratic lines,  which cover only the first third of the year show the 2009 daily [...]

The other night I finished a Memorial Day barbeque with Veritas Vineyards and Winery‘s 2006 Othello.    The description from its web site describes it as:       “Othello, our noble hero, held high in men’s regard, epitomizes our ruby-styled Port wine fortified to win the heart of Port aficionados. Do not think of [...]

The NWS has issued a frost warning for this evening.  Below freezing temperatures can damage early spring shoots.   According to the North Carolina Winegrape Growers Guide (I had found a Virginia version a few days ago but can’t find it now): “Spring Frosts that occur after grape vines have broken bud and commenced shoot [...]

The climate of Bordeaux is unique.  There is a reason it’s the best wine region in the world (soil and culture help too).   Below is an article on a weather event that defintely does not help the wine this year.   See:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/bordeaux-wine-harvest-decimated-by-severe-hail-storms-1685218.html

Tonight for dinner we combined the best of two worlds.    1) White Hall Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay 2) Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie Pizza.  A Fat and Sassy and Margarita Pie to be eact.   It’s one of Charlottesville’s best Pizza joints, if not the best.  The White Hall Chardonnay pours with an excellent aroma.  Once [...]

I came across this post this morning from the Blog over at Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. “Bottling is coming up on February 6. That’s this Tuesday. The forecast temperature for Tuesday: 20F! This will add some extra effort to the bottling campaign. The mobile bottling line sets up outside on the crush pad. I’ll [...]