Trubek shows that terroir is dependent on the landscape, but that it is also a product of culture.Does California have the experience necessary to claim specific terroir? Some of Trubek's French informants fault California winegrowers not for their lack of potential, but for their lack of history. They argue that it takes time to identify the nature of a plot of land.
Is it constructive to compare Europe and North America when it comes to taste? The wine industries of these two continents developed with very different intentions. Remember that California agriculture is marked by demand-driven planning. The majority of the state's crops have always been intended to meet the demands of a larger national or international market. This is quite different from the wine traditions of many established European appellations.
--Brent W.
"Place matters in France. A strong agrarian tradition, the symbolic importance of the peasant, and nationalist pride in all things culinary allowed a set of values and practices to persist in the midst of numerous social and economic transformations(Trubek, 93)."
ReplyDeleteTerroir does not exist in our country so much as it does in the old world. I do not mean that we don't have any terroir, by all means we have plenty, but it does not mean the same thing. Average American consumers would never be able to tell which farm a certain wine came from. We want our wines to taste like they always do. We don't want to taste whether or not it was a good rainy season, or if the vines were near a river or the ocean. We want our Chardonnay to taste like Chardonnay, our Pinot to taste like Pinot. The market is highly consumer driven in America and American's don't have time nor do they derive pleasure from having refined tastes. Vintner's produce what tasted like it always did, incorporating science and fertilizers and ratios to omit the possibility of mother nature infusing any flavors that are off normal.
Jeff S
“In light of our global food system, the taste of place has become a transnational mode of discernment. Increasingly the taste of place is an intervention into the vast array of placeless and faceless foods and beverages now available to people everywhere.” (Turbek, Amy 128)
ReplyDeleteIn the reading the author gives her opinion about the wine making and cultural significance in Europe along with California. The author implies as traditional items such as particular spices or dishes moves around they become less symbolic. When considering wine viticulture and viniculture in Europe in contrast to California, Europe has a long standing history rather than California. The author implies it is the terrior that set the two wine countries apart but in actuality it is their history. I agree with the author in her attempt to show as our food system grows the taste of place become a mode of discernment, but to say it would enter a placeless and faceless place is wrong. Although foods of a particular culture or tradition may move and change it will also have a significance to wherever or whatever it’s used for. In my opinion of the reading it is quite unfair to compare the Europe to California because California has to meet the demands of America along with international markets.
Yolanda B
People may argue that California has no history when it comes to wine but he history is they have been making wine for decades. Although they haven't done it for hundreds of years like France and Italy, California wine producers still have a great understanding of how to make wine and what makes wine great. In my opinion California has prime terroir and conditions for growing wine and other types of crops. Although one may argue that it takes many years to not only develop good soil but to identify it and the weather conditions surrounding it making up the terroir, California does an excellent job providing premier wines to the daily American consumer. the truth is that most Americans don't know much about wine at all and are perfectly happy with a $8 bottle of chardonnay from any random place in California. If California can make their buyers happy than thats all that matters. Sure French wines are supposed to be top of the line, but in many occasions California wines win in taste test and are much less expensive and more readily available to the consumer.
ReplyDeletePeople may argue that California has no history when it comes to wine but he history is they have been making wine for decades. Although they haven't done it for hundreds of years like France and Italy, California wine producers still have a great understanding of how to make wine and what makes wine great. In my opinion California has prime terroir and conditions for growing wine and other types of crops. Although one may argue that it takes many years to not only develop good soil but to identify it and the weather conditions surrounding it making up the terroir, California does an excellent job providing premier wines to the daily American consumer. the truth is that most Americans don't know much about wine at all and are perfectly happy with a $8 bottle of chardonnay from any random place in California. If California can make their buyers happy than thats all that matters. Sure French wines are supposed to be top of the line, but in many occasions California wines win in taste test and are much less expensive and more readily available to the consumer.
ReplyDelete-Josh R
"The American story of taste of place invariably differs from the French version, for reasons of history, politics, and culture."
ReplyDelete-Trubek, Amy B. "California Dreaming." The Taste of Place: A Cultural Journey into Terroir. pg. 128.
This quote represents the reading because it explains how terroir in America has evolved into what it is today. It also shows how it is very different from what the French view terroir as. Terroir dates back to a time that I can not even think of, but the French were the first to realize what it actually was. In American terroir, it is a branch off of French terroir. But American terroir has its own characteristics that differ itself from France. Also, because of how large America is, it has a wide rage of different terroir, that makes it very unique compared to any other country in the world.
What I got out of this reading is that terroir is a vital part of any society and can help define any particular region. Also, it helped make me realize that America has a wide variety of terroir compared to any other country, even though it has not been established for nearly as long as countries like France, Italy, and Spain, where terroir is very important. I agree with the article, I do believe that American terroir is a branch off of what the French discovered and I do believe that wine in America is a great way to get a feel for what American terroir is. I found it interesting that peoples taste will help define terroir for a certain area. I didn't realize that this factor would affect terroir, but after thinking about it, it makes sense because people can produce things that represents their preferences.
-Arthur P.
"The difference between the Old World and New World when it comes to making, drinking, and discerning wine are primarily historical, the result of different agrarian traditions."
ReplyDeleteThe article,"California Dreaming" talks about the uprising of California wine production and reconization. We read that the French have had centruies to be able to make their wines which gives the New World wines a challenge by being matached up with the classics. But we can't just compare to what we thought was right or good before. Now we are able to expand our minds and palates to different types of wine production. Each area has their our terroir which brings its own flavors to the bottle of wine. But if we haven't been exposed to a particular growing regions wines how can we assume that it has no terroir?
California and the rest of the United States have been increasingly interested in area, or taste of place. this is due to the conscious effort of human beings.and just because the French have been practicing it earlier it allows them to pin-point place with certain things. I don't doubt that in a few decades that the United States will start to practice this. We have already taken steps in this direction with AVA's. But this has no consideration on the grape varietal, production style, quantity, and historical characteristics. It's hard to define this with such a young product. Beckstoffer says "quality is determined by the soil, the climate and the activities of the vineyard, but alsohow one manipulates nature; under cropping, over cropping, and bringing forth the flavors from the soil and climate which gives a vintages year it's characteristics." It's only a matter of time when we see wine producers taking into consideration the quality of grapes and land in making distinct wines. The United States also had set backs to further there mark on the world of wine. The passage of the Volstead Act,or National ProhibitionEnforcement Act, put a halt on any alcoholic beverage making.This forced wine makers to walk away from vines or to produce hardier ones that were suited for shipping for making wine at home.
To come back to the quote, this is really the reason why the United States wines aren't as established. I pointed out that it takes time for consumers to catch on what a wine from the Russian River Valley will and is suppose to taste like. It will take years of the commitmentof wine products to establish a terroir for their wines. People will be able to taste a California or New York wine and pick up the classic characteristics of its terroir. Plus, the outlook of wine enthusiests have differed from the past. They have become more "democratic" in what makes a wine good. They realize that certain qualities are accented in certain places.We have a lot to see in our future in United State based wines.
- Tim T.
"In the United States most contemporary winemakers utilize modern technology much more completely than do the counterparts in France or elsewhere in Europe." (Trubek 100)
ReplyDeleteIn this article Trubek focuses a lot on the terroir of wine growing areas and how a lot of places in Europe focus on strict traditions of the land. It is interesting to see someone talk about the other side of the business though, the somewhat counter tradtionists in California. This is in no way saying that Californian's do not charish tradition, but mearly stating the fact that the history of wine making is much shorter in the United States. Despite this California's inovation has allowed them to use more new age techniques of producing wine, creating a unique wine which some people may consider surperior to the traditional methods. Despite my personal preference of traditional European wines, I think it is great to see the inovation and creativity of the Californians, who have successfully done what they needed to do in order to compete with these traditional wines.
Joe C.
"California is one of the richest agricultural regions in the country, and agriculture figures prominently in the state's economy"
ReplyDelete(Trubek, Amy "California Dreaming" pg. 94, reader pg. 128)
The quote reflects the agricultural and economic reality of California as a whole. California’s agriculture is very distinctive from other states agriculture because for many years it has led the U.S. in both the agricultural production and manufacturing of products. California is also a major exporter of goods within and outside of the U.S. California’s farming industry produces more than 350 crop types within state lines. Grape's being one if it's major crops helps the state in being one of the top produces of wine in the U.S. Compared to the history and production of wine in France, California is merely a child. But, California's wine industry has developed and international name for itself. The impression I got from the reading was somewhat repetitive to what we have already learned about the history of California's wine industry. The author kind of went through the start of wine making in California and its comparasions to that of France's. She also talks about the industry going through American history, like the effects of prohibition. I agree with the author because she basically states fact about the states wine industry. To be honest, I didn't find anything thought provoking or challenging about this article.
Brandon G.-
“Archaeologists conclude that winemaking in Europe began as early as 5000 B.C.” (Trubeck pg95) Terroir is a European concept that encompasses this historical fact. It includes where wine was grown and concepts on the development of wine through the cultures and people who made it. California began growing wine in varieties that mimicked European wines. These wines were inherently different from the European varieties and began to take on their own set of characteristics. California does not have the experience to claim specific terroir. California wine has not had time to develop with a culture of people long enough. Michael B
ReplyDelete