Are Appellations Valid?
Appellation validity was probed in-depth by winery principals and guest speakers in a lively seminar presented for the press and trade last October at Opus One. The event preceded the second annual “Oakville in October” tasting, at which growers and vintners of the Oakville Winegrowers presented barrel samples and current releases. A few months later, the Robert Mondavi Winery hosted a related, but broader program for the press and trade moderated by renowned British wine writer Hugh Johnson. Five veteran winemakers analyzed several of Napa Valley’s existing and potential AVAs in an effort to substantiate the notion that appellation designation is valid and necessary. Winemaker Tim Mondavi set the tone for both programs in recognizing in the Oakville seminar that while “terroir is fundamentally important, an appellation is a statement of origin and not a guarantee of quality.” Groth’s Winemaker Michael Weis also focused on the matter of quality, asserting that “the soul of the appellat
