CONTACT & FACTS
John Wilson, winemaker and wearer of various other hats at The Wilson Vineyard has been producing a newsletter since 1986. He was also the wine columnist for over 10 years to the fortnightly Medical Observer magazine. Herewith some of his wisdom.
The vigneron does not run the vineyard; the vineyard runs the vigneron.
If all the vine rows in Australia were laid end to end, they would reach nearly to the moon ... but how would we pick the grapes?
The most wonderful thing about wine is its mystery and magic. If science delved to the extent that there was no magic left, wine would become a dreadful bore.
Composing back-labels is one of the most horrid tasks in winemaking. To be done properly it requires pencil, paper, and most importantly, at least a whole bottle of the said wine.
Vintage equipment is only used at vintage; therefore it naturally follows that it always breaks down in the middle of vintage.
People often ask whether one requires great skills to make wine. I reply that any fool can make wine. The hard part is selling it - it requires a special sort of fool to sell wine.
Some people believe that a world without wine would be a better world: but the last time that happened the average adult life expectancy was less than 30 years.
It would be unfair to not offer wisdom contributed by customers at cellar door. For nearly as long as the sales cellar has been going there has been a little book, called "Cellar Door Tales" for staff to jot down their sayings. Here are a few.
In the days when we made a pinot noir, one lady declined to taste it: no thanks, I won't try the pinot, I'm yet to find one that I like.
They both liked the chardonnay, and he suggested that they buy six bottles. She replied that one bottle will do as the rest may not taste the same.
The chardonnay is too tasty for my liking.
Gentleman tasting the zinfandel: I don't know what to make of it. I think you'd only like it if you were a wine drinker.