Page 16 - Wine Spectator (January 2020)
P. 16
F E E D B A C K
The Toll of Tariffs I have reached out to my con- northern Spain and had the main list often make it onto
I do not think that wine gressman and senators, asking opportunity to visit producers another list, available if you
lovers have been sufficiently for help. I hope Wine Spectator big and small in Rioja. We ask for it. We’ve found lunch
warned of our president’s readers will do the same. tasted classically styled wines in the dining room on a quiet
punitive tax increase on David S. Milligan from wineries such as Mar- day to be an opportunity to
French, German and Spanish Founder, David Milligan qués de Riscal, Marqués de engage with the sommelier
wines, with potentially worse Selections Vargas and La Rioja Alta and develop a relationship.
[to come]. (Viña Ardanza), along with Bryce Sanders
A conflict between the Editor’s note: See page 17 nontraditional yet impressive New Hope, Pa.
U.S. and the EU over multi- for our news story on the tariffs styles from Bodega Miguel
national aircraft subsidies is and their impact on the wine Merino, Cupiani, Gontes and Thanks for the
being used to target small industry. La Emperatriz. Memories
family businesses across the There was a clear and strik- As someone who is passion-
U.S. and Europe. Genera- Quinoa Correction ing diversity of philosophy ate about food and wine,
tions of families on both sides I enjoyed your informative and opinion regarding the fu- Harvey Steiman is able to
of the Atlantic have spent articles about whisky in the ture of Spanish wines and the share these experiences with
their lives growing, vinifying Oct. 31, 2019, issue (cover). need for evolution in the in- his readers. “Choosing a bot-
and promoting this very spe- I just wanted to point out a dustry. At the same time, tle to drink with dinner
cial beverage, and now, while small error on page 70 in the there was a pervasive pride in should not be an occasion for
stock markets soar and CEOs section “What’s Grain Got and commitment to produc- nail-chewing” (“Harvey Stei-
make record-breaking sala- to Do With It?” ing distinctive, world-class man,” Dec. 15, 2019). In-
ries, we will see families lose For quinoa, you state that wines. I couldn’t agree more stead, as Steiman puts it, it
their historical vineyards and “By the books, it’s actually with Matthews’ assessment should be a pleasant experi-
small import companies go a grass, not a grain.” In fact, that “it’s a great time to find ence. How lucky then are
out of business. quinoa is not a grass but a treasure” in today’s remark- Wine Spectator readers like
A bottle of wine that cost member of the amaranth able Spanish wines. me with whom Steiman
$20 now costs $25, and if family of plants, Amarantha- Lindsay Prichard shares his unique experiences
these new proposed tariffs are ceae. In addition, all true Pittsford, N.Y. with wine and food. From in-
put into place, it will cost grains (i.e., barley, corn, rye, terviews with chefs to wine
$38. This will affect all alco- rice, wheat, oats, etc.) are Cruise Booze producers, the reader is taken
hol across Europe, now in- grasses in the plant family Like many readers of Wine in by his writing and brought
cluding Italian, Greek and Poaceae (aka Gramineae). Spectator, we like to travel. to the table.
Portuguese wines, Cognac, Tom Ranker Over time, we’ve discovered I hope he does not retire
grappa and more. Boulder, Colo. it’s possible to bring favored from writing. There will al-
This industry is founded on wines or treasured bottles on ways be compelling people
passionate entrepreneurs, a Observations on cruise vacations—all within making compelling food and
class of citizen our country Spain the rules. Most of our cruis- wine. And Harvey will be
purports to revere. And yet Congratulations to Thomas ing experience has been with there to tell us what
these past few years have Matthews for his vivid por- Cunard, which allows passen- happened.
seen many actions taken that trait of today’s Spanish wine gers to bring along a bottle of Howard Jay Meyer
make this harder and harder, industry (“Something Old, wine to celebrate special oc- Brooklyn, N.Y.
with support going instead to Something New,” Oct. 15, casions. As a couple, we read
large corporations. 2019) and its delicate balanc- this as one bottle each. Other
I started my wine import ing act between creative cruise lines should have simi-
Questions and Comments
company 25 years ago. Last evolution and deep-rooted lar rules; your travel agent If you have a comment on a story or
year, my son Alex succeeded tradition. Many aspects of would know. In our experi- a question about wine, we would like
to hear from you. Please keep your
me, continuing our passion our understanding of Spanish ence, corkage is about $25.
letters brief and be sure to include
for sharing French wines with wines, including fundamental Another secret we’ve your name, address and telephone
people across the United concepts of identity and reg- learned about cruise ships is number (not for publication). We
reserve the right to edit letters for
States. I cannot help but feel ulations, are being debated their “bin end” list. Like clarity. Write to us at Letters, Wine
our dreams are on the verge and challenged, as Matthews land-based restaurants, they Spectator, 825 Eighth Ave., 33rd
Floor, New York, NY 10019; send a
of being crushed because of so aptly noted. vary their cellar inventory.
fax to (212) 684-5424; or email us
our own government. Earlier this year, we visited The wines removed from the at letters@winespectator.com.
14 WINE SPECTATOR • JAN. 31 – FEB. 29, 2020
