Thailand: Good Practice For Climate Change

     Most of you probably had no idea people are making wine in Thailand. It just isn't one of those places you think of when it comes to good wine agriculture. Kathrin Puff is a winemaker at Siam Winery in Thailand and she believes that working in such different conditions has prepared her for the global climate changes.
     Making wine in the tropics is a challenge in itself due to the high temperatures and storms that come and go as they please.  Puff, on the other hand, considers this good practice for the inevitable climate changes. It makes her work harder and try different methods that would be considered unorthodox by the old world (Italy, France, etc.). Thailand, being the new world of winemaking, has already been experiencing the conditions that are just now affecting other parts of the world, which gives her a competitive advantage in adapting to and succeeding in less than perfect environment for growing grapes.

Climate Change Is No Match For Northwestern Grapes

The climate has been changing over time and wine makers have had to make adjustments to these changes in order to deliver product of high quality.  Most places like California and Western Europe have been and will continue to suffer the most because the amount of rainfall has dropped and the temperatures have risen.  However, there are places in the Northwest that should be able to prosper despite these climate changes.  The reason being the places like Washington and Germany, where the altitude is much higher and their latitude is also higher, will not feel the tyranny of mother nature and continue to do business as usual.  Unfortunately, places like California, France and Italy will have to reevaluate and make adjustments to their winemaking methods.

Genetic Breakthrough in Growing Grapes

Who knew this day would come?  The day when scientists find a way to genetically enhance grapes to grow properly in extreme weather.  Italian scientists who have been running tests on certain grapes this have discovered the future of making wine. Click here for the full article.

The American Dream

          At the age of 22 Pedro Rubio-Ibarra came to the Napa Valley in 1984 in search of work.  A man named Jack Neal, owner of vineyard management company Jack Neal & Sons, offered him a job.  The hours were long and the pay was not the greatest but, he had to support his family back in Mexico so he fought through it.  Soon he learned the trade and began working his way up the ranks.  After 20 years of working for Jack Neal & Sons he became Vice President of the company and was part of one the largest vineyard management companies in all of Napa County.  He now works in Lake County for Beckstoffer Vineyards, which is also a vineyard management company, as General Manager and hopes to start his own family winery.
          This man is my father, and his dream to start his own family winery is becoming a reality.  His dream has also become my dream and I am going to do my best to help him achieve this goal. My two younger brothers and my mother have all helped make our own family wine.  We helped stomp the grapes with our bare feet and even bottled the wine in our very own garage. We've bottled a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Late Harvest Zinfandel and 2009 Malbec.  My father is waiting for my brothers and I to finish school so that we can help brand and promote our wine label and distribute it to local vendors. My name is Pedro Rubio III and it is my duty to make sure our wine gets in the right hands.