| Life today is much different from in the past as a | | | | organically or biodynamically. This is the ultimate |
| new era is truly beginning. Today, most people | | | | system of sustainable agriculture because literally |
| look toward the future instead of the past, | | | | everything that grows on the property is recycled |
| especially our technology driven future. As | | | | in the same location. Each farm, like the globe |
| technology alters our world every day, we | | | | itself, nurtures diverse plants and animals and is |
| depend on mobile phones, email, instant | | | | self-contained albeit with scientific help in the form |
| messaging, and online social networking. The world | | | | of monitoring plant and soil health. This farming |
| is always on the brink of dramatic innovation | | | | movement is diametrically opposite to giant, |
| today and it even affects wine making. This | | | | centralized, chemically-dependent, mono-culture |
| article looks at the future for wine. | | | | farms that represented innovation in the past. |
| Purchasing Wine | | | | Such mega farms depended on crude oil prices |
| New trends in the wine business relate to these | | | | around $15 a barrel so that transporting crops |
| larger themes. The first trend that comes to mind | | | | from huge farms across the country was |
| is that the corner store is no longer the only place | | | | economically viable. The far-reaching |
| where you can buy wine or any other product. | | | | consequences of chemical contamination and |
| You can purchase wine from a wine club because | | | | exhausted soil were unknown then. |
| you can browse the internet. You might order a | | | | A World Of Wine |
| random wine in a restaurant and decide that you | | | | Redeveloping local agriculture is once again a viable |
| want more. So you contact the winery directly, | | | | model as almost every state in the U.S. now |
| because its email address is on the back label -- | | | | makes wine. While California has been doing it the |
| and if it isn't, no worries. You Google the winery | | | | longest, all the others are finding their way toward |
| name and ask them to send you a few bottles, | | | | competence and excellence. New grape varieties |
| bypassing both the corner store and the | | | | will likely emerge in the near future, especially as |
| wholesaler who sells wine to the owner. | | | | wine club associations thrive with new members |
| The same situation occurs in the music business | | | | looking for new, unique wines. From the time that |
| when you download a CD or even in a shoe | | | | the new plant grips the soil, grows up, relinquishes |
| store. If the store is out of your shoe size, you | | | | its first viable crop that is then fermented into |
| go to the manufacturer's website and order the | | | | wine and placed on a table, time passes, five |
| shoe there. In other words, the way goods are | | | | years at the very least. Twenty years ago, the |
| distributed is changing. Buying direct from | | | | French varieties Pinot Noir and Syrah were the |
| manufacturers will probably accelerate as cheaper | | | | new enthusiasms of winemakers. Today, they are |
| and more efficient transportation technologies | | | | mainstream as are Italian wine grapes like Pinot |
| develop. The corner store will remain with an | | | | Grigio and to a lesser extent Sangiovese and |
| altered product line, but the current owners could | | | | Barbera. Now the talk is about Spanish varieties, |
| also decide to move their business online. | | | | especially the noble Tempranillo. |
| Wine Grape Farming | | | | One thing is certain. It won't be wine that will be |
| Wine grape farming is undergoing transition as | | | | making our heads spin in the future. It'll be the |
| more and more wineries choose to farm | | | | pace of change itself. |