384: Is It the Wine or Is It You? Alan Ramey on What Really Makes Wine Taste Good

Is a fully organic future in agriculture possible or even affordable, or are there limits to how far we can go? Why has biodynamics thrived in wine when many of its founder's ideas were rejected in medicine and education? How much of what you enjoy in wine comes from what's in the glass versus your mental perception of what you're drinking? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Alan Ramey, author of Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Alan Ramey's terrific new book, Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!   Highlights What real-world vineyard challenges force growers to abandon organic practices despite their intentions? Can organic treatments like copper create unintended long-term harm? Why is it difficult to apply a single organic farming standard across vastly different climates and growing conditions? What did the Sri Lanka fertilizer ban reveal about the risks of transitioning to organic agriculture too quickly? Why has organic wine struggled to gain traction with consumers compared to organic food? How do certification labels function as signals of trust for consumers? How does the philosophical origin of biodynamics differ from more modern approaches to farming? Why do biodynamic practices persist in wine despite limited scientific evidence supporting measurable differences in outcomes? How are climate change pressures forcing winemakers to rethink some traditional practices? Why does climate change create greater vintage variability? How much does price shape our perception of wine quality   About Alan Ramey Alan Ramey comes from a vintner family in the Sonoma/Napa area north of San Francisco, California. He is currently co-president of the family winery, Ramey Wine Cellars. He learned wine making as an apprentice to his father, one of the most famous winemakers in the US, and has also studied wine making and apprenticed in Chile and France, including harvests at Veramonte in Casablanca and Méo-Camuzet in Burgundy. While studying for his MBA at Cambridge University he was selected to join the blind wine tasting team, competing around Europe. He is a board member for the California Wine Institute and is active in the wine community. Alan was on his high school and college debate teams and during his study abroad year at Oxford he won the 'best new debater of the year' competition.         To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/384.