It’s the pourer who makes the pour

Part of the appeal in embarking on small wine tours is to get a better understanding of the wines we buy off the shelf and to help us decide what to purchase next. It involves us in the make up and emotion of the wine - to find out what drives winemakers to blend as they do, what the local area gives to the grape and what makes a special wine a special wine.

To meet the vineyard managers, owners and their families who put the wine at the centre of their lives is truly fascinating. They must be asked the same questions over and over again, knowing that the taster has many choices and may well leave empty handed. The devotion they express to their art is, on the whole, exceptional.

Meeting the 'new generation' of winemakers is also interesting. It is they who are developing and adding to what's been built before them to sustain the business and stand out from the rest. There are the limitations of what nature provides but the science of wine making becomes as important as the history, the inspiration and the romance. This is very apparent where estate buildings appear old and run-down but the interior picture is clean, modern and constructed with an over powering view towards the next generation.

And finally, one the key points we noticed from the many visits we have undertaken world-wide, is the reception received at each and every estate. The first ‘taste’ isn't from the bottle! A warm, welcome reception can certainly outweigh some of the shortcomings in the wine itself. Santé!