Small Batch Wineries

Move over, big wine corporations and mega-millionaires. We’re talking Small Batch Wineries today: the real OG’s of wine.

“Small Batch Wineries” have toiled in anonymity for decades. I know brands like Brad Pitt and Angelina’s Château Miraval make splashy headlines, and Joe Wagners’ Copper Cane Wine and Provisions seems to print money.

Still, one can not deny that these big brands and celebrity vanity projects are indebted to the thousands of small artisanal wineries that paved the way for their success.

There are approximately 11,000 wineries in the United States. Only a few of these, less than 1% to be exact, are considered large production wineries. These large scale producers are massive corporations producing over 500K cases of wine annually. For example, EJ Gallo Wine Company made over 71 million cases of wine last year, and Constellation Brands produced over 51 million- that’s a lot of VINO!

If you tour EJ Gallo’s 200K square foot production facility, you can’t help but be awestruck by massive two-story stainless steel fermentation tanks, mini Zamboni’s cleaning the floors, and forklifts whizzing around, burping, and chirping; it kinda reminds you of rush hour traffic.

In addition to transformer-looking machinery, massive corporate wine facilities have huge marketing and PR teams. They have advertising budgets in 10’s of millions and with 78 billion dollars up for grabs each year, they use everything they can to tip the scales.

These are not the small family owned wineries where you find the leather skinned winemaker slowly rolling out a barrel of wine from the barn, his faithful lab in tow. Yet, this is the imagery created by slick PR departments.

Most American wineries ( 97% to be exact)  produce less than 50K cases per year and are classified as small producers. This subculture of wineries, the small and mighty, have created additional classification for themselves, since the industry definition is so broad.

Wineries that produce 50K to 5K are considered “small” producers. In comparison, those that make 5K to 1K are considered “very small” producers. And, last but not least, since they comprise over 40% of all wineries are the “limited production” wineries. The truly boutique, artisans who for the simple love of wine, believe me i’s not for the money, produce less than 1K cases of vine each year.

So what about these wineries; these unsung hero’s, this elusive 97% ?  What’s their story? Unfortunately it’s a classic David vs. Goliath stand off. The giant corporations dominate the supermarket shelves. Their marketing and distribution machines hard at work aggressively using those massive budgets to nudge out smaller producers.  As consumers, we also play huge part in this unevenly matched cage fight.

How?  I’m glad you asked. The average wine drinker, or wine snob, as I have been called a time or two, we consider ourselves to be pretty SAVVY.  In California we are zealots about supporting our local community farmers’ markets, we love everything sustainable, and I can go on and on about farm-to-table. Despite our cultural values, many of us miss the boat regarding wine.

I understand, it’s hard to get past TV commercials and feel-good marketing when choosing the perfect bottle. And, a trip to Napa or Sonoma can be amazing and overwhelming at the same time. Castles! Gondolas! Giant Steel Bunnies dressed up like Uncle Sam- Who doesn’t love that stuff?

 

But let’s not forget: all of this is marketing at it’s finest. The influence these huge wine companies have over what wines are available for us common folk on supermarket shelves is remarkable. We fall for it every time.

If you want to try small batch wines, let’s begin with a baby step. I recommend the next time you are tasked with bringing “the wine”, ditch the supermarket and hit a local wine shop. You know, the one you pass every week, and say I really should go in there. Refuse to be sheep jumping blindly off the cliff, explore and ask questions. Wine geeks love talking about wine and you will make more informed choices about the great bottles that cross your path.

Are Small Batch Wineries better?

Wine is one of the few wonders in life that delights all your senses, making it unique to each individual.  Some prefer a $500 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, while others prefer a $10 bottle of Rose. Nobody should judge.

A quick clarification: I’m not saying large-production wineries make bad wine, just that the process creates an entirely different experience of what we expect on a wine-tasting tour.

You can also silence that nagging voice that says, “Oh, those wines are expensive.” Limited production does not mean cult-like, outrageously priced wines with long waitlists. A few may fall into this category but they are relatively few and far between.

You don’t just taste small-batch wine; you experience something magical, like Disneyland in a glass. You can explore the vineyards and enjoy an intimate tasting led by the winemaker or owner – and that’s just to get started!

Winemakers who produce small batch wine are deeply rooted in tradition. You’ll meet the creators from vine to glass! Furthermore, you’ll gain a better understanding of the wine-making process from experts who are passionate about what they do.

Also, there is no better place to meet new people. Whether you share a passion for wine or you are on a quest for discovery, those popping corks lead to conversations and possibly new friendships – living la dolce vita!

Ok friends, my rant has ended, but let me leave you with this. When it comes to wine, there are no wrong answers. Every bottle has its own epic story. In fact, exploring the world of small-batch wine may open your mind and take you down a delicious path toward discovering new varietals and regions you otherwise would not investigate.