I get a lot of emails and calls asking how a certain winemaker becomes famous, why his or her wine is better than another, and it has always been a challenge to find the right words.  A recent guest, Winemaker Charles Smith, assisted me on this… 

“You can’t talk a wine into being great.”  I love this phrase and I thank Charles for his unique perspective.  You can’t manipulate the wine, you can’t stand over the barrel and will it to be great, it is the sum of all the parts that come together that make that wine outstanding.  It is the art of the winemaker and their building abilities.  It is a process to be respected.