Do ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn wines lack a sense of place?
Wine Well known UK wine and food writer and broadcaster Andrew Jefford has taken a year-long position at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide to research ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog's wine regions. As Senior Research Fellow at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog and Winewriter in Residence to the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Wine 2030 research network, Mr Jefford will undertake research and write a book about how great ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn vineyard sites differ from each other and from those elsewhere in the world. He will also take part in lectures, industry meetings and conferences as part of Wine 2030. Mr Jefford said some ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn winemakers needed to be "a bit braver" in allowing regional characteristics to shape their wines. "×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog's astonishing wine success overseas has been built on consistency, strong brand marketing, its newness, to some extent fashion, and the clarity and straightforwardness of the wine," said Mr Jefford. "But the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn industry needs to deliver more if it wants to maintain and strengthen its position. A sense of place is the guiding principle of gastronomy and fine-wine creation the world over. There is an ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn vanguard which appreciates that, but it's still missing from the typical ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn export wine." Mr Jefford is known for his writing and broadcasts about different places in the world and the foods, drinks and scents associated with them. He's won many awards for his work including three Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards in the last three years. Over the past 20 years he has led a highly successful career as a writer and broadcaster in the UK, including many years with the Evening Standard and BBC Radio Four and, currently, the Financial Times, Decanter, World of Fine Wine and Waitrose Food Illustrated. He has written a number of books including The New France, Peat Smoke and Spirit: a Portrait of Islay and its Whiskies and Andrew Jefford's Wine Course. Mr Jefford said some may question his credentials to comment authoritatively on ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn wines and its industry. "There are some outstanding books about ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn wines written by ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog's great wine writers. Why do we need one by a Pom? "But maybe that's an advantage. I'm not from within the industry and I haven't got an ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn-trained palate." In fact, he said, the strong "×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn approach" to winemaking was ripe for evolution. "I'd love to see more aesthetic width in ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn wine. More ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn wine made, if you like, in a less ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn way," he said. Professor Christopher Findlay, Head of the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog's School of Economics and Convenor of ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Wine 2030, said Mr Jefford would contribute to the work of Wine 2030. "What makes a great wine? That is one of Andrew's interests and working with him and with the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn industry on that question will offers new insights for local winemakers and add value to our work," Professor Findlay said. Mr Jefford's Senior Research Fellowship is being funded and supported by wine-maker and the co-Chair of the Wine 2030's external advisory board, Brian Croser and family, publisher and media proprietor Javier Moll, the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn Wine and Brandy Corporation and the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide. Story by Robyn Mills
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