SPECIAL REPORT: Bright Future Predicted For Boutique Wine Industry
While big wine business is fine-tuning and tweaking, the world of boutique wine is out there painting in broad, expressive brushstrokes. It’s a pretty enchanting time for those who work small, farm their own land and create wines of beauty, interest and deliciousness – a ripe epoch for consumer and wine community interest in the smaller grower-producer whose hand is firmly on vineyard and winery tiller. The dichotomy is pretty genuine; those that choose the ‘artisan’ route are seen as actually having a hand in the production of their final wares, not just claiming the kudos for a wine in a labeled bottle. Boutique can be a word bandied about by any wine producer or brand seeking an association with premium wine; and is increasingly an attraction and agitation in equal measure. But it will always be those that are deeply
involved in the production process, and find their métier in smaller volume, that lay claim to the genuine ‘boutique’ tag, and reap the rewards from an increasingly engaged and interested audience of drinkers. ‘Our biggest challenge as small wine producers is to not only be true to ourselves, but to make mistakes along the way’ says one boutique wine producer, ‘if we turn our clichéd ‘boutique’ winemaking into a commodity too, then we really are at a loss’. The real boutique wines are authentic to site and a translation of this is found in the wines. Detailed vineyard work produces their regionally focussed, best flavoured grapes possible, then little intervention occurs in the winery to amplify the sense of place – the greatest benefit of boutique winemaking. The most important thing is to have some heritage in mind for smaller producers, not just look to a couple of accolades or faddish regard for the wines. The strength of growerproducers of the boutique world is the wine itself. This is the bright shiny path of the future. - Mike Bennie
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