Jancis reviews "Wines of Carcassonne - The Cabardes AOC"

“lavishly illustrated”
“takes advantage of the medium”
“an enterprising first stab at self-publishing”
–Jancis Robinson, Vintner turns e-author 21 Dec 2010

What a trip.  Seven years ago, I was reading the Oxford Companion to Wine and daydreaming about being a winemaker.  And today, the editor of that book and one of the world’s foremost wine writers is bigging up my writing on my little old wine region!

And she knows that I want other winemakers to do the same thing.  I want them to write testimonials for their own regions.  And she sees it as clearly as I do as she wonders “How many more wine producers will be moved to invade the territory that used to be the preserve of professional and many semi-professional wine writers? It could be a perfect activity for the winter months in between those sales trips to Shanghai.”

Of course, Jancis isn’t worried about her job security.  But all the same, I think this is a perfect time to address the notion that I’m encouraging winemakers to take wine writer turf.  I see this more as an opportunity to expand the world of wine writing.

I’m not asking winemakers to steal ground from wine writers.  If we tried to write our own version of the Oxford Companion, we’d do an awful job.  Because we lack objectivity and distance from the subject.  Instead, we have to conquer new lands.  Invent new genres or reinvigorate types of writing that were abandoned in the past century.

So what if, in general, winemakers lack the objectivity to write excellent wine manuals and reference books.  That subjectivity makes us perfect authors for authentic portraits of every wine region on earth.  Every appellation, AVA, DOC, DAC, or plain old neighborhood that makes wine has inspired hundreds of winemakers and farmers.  It’s time for farmers to start giving back and sharing our love of our land with the world.  If you’ve ever been touched by a place, it’s time to write your book.   And we’ll win over new readers who weren’t ready for the reference books and tomes.  We’ll enchant them with medieval castles and gorgeous pictures of limestone on clay.  And the next thing you know, they’ll be drinking wine every day and then they’ll want to read more objective books from the critics and pros.  That’s my dream world anyway. Let’s make it happen!

And yes I appreciate that we don’t all have time.  It’s ridiculous that winemakers have to leave the vineyards they love so much for the Shanghai sales trips Jancis alludes to.  But that is life.  We are expected to wear many hats and perform many jobs.  And I think some of you may be ready to be authors.

🙂

How to find us

Domaine O’Vineyards, located in the North Arrondissement of Carcassonne, is just minutes from the Carcassonne train station, the Medieval City, and the Carcassonne Airport.
GPS coordinates: 43.259622, 2.340387

O’Vineyards
Wine, Dine, Relax at our Boutique Vineyard
Unique thing to do in Carcassonne
Wine Cellar. Winery Visits. Wine Tasting.
Wine & Food Pairing

North Arrondissement of Carcassonne
885 Avenue de la Montagne Noire
11620 Villemoustaussou, France
Tel: +33(0) 630 189 910

  1. Best by GPS.
    Follow the signs to Mazamet/ Villemoustaussou using the D118. At the end of the last straight part of D118, you will come to a roundabout with the Dyneff gas station.
  2. Take the exit towards Pennautier. Continue 500m to a small roundabout and go straight over.
  3. Look out for the second road on your right, Avenue des Cévennes which curves up hill (about 1km) to Avenue de la Montagne Noire on the left.
  4. At the last juction, bear left. the road sign “Ave de la Montagne Noire” (confusing as it seems to show a right turn)
  5. After another 500m you will see our red brick color building in the middle of the vines.
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