cover art for Slow Wine Guide 2022: Italy and US
“In the name of productivity, the ‘fast life’ has changed our lifestyle and now threatens our environment and our land (and city) scapes.” Carlo Petrini, SLOW FOOD MANIFESTO
Inspired by the Slow Food Movement which began in 1986 after a “demonstration on the intended site of a McDonald’s at the Spanish Steps in Rome,” and which advocates “a comprehensive approach to food that recognizes the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture,” The Slow Wine Guide and the Slow Wine Tour highlight those wineries that epitomize the “slow” approach which avoids chemical herbicides and instead promotes regenerative agriculture.
With a reliance on in-person winery visits and winemaker interviews, The Slow Wine Guide today evaluates over 400 different wineries in Italy and almost 300 in the US to create a well-informed, detailed review of the wines, the vines, and the people for select wineries that respect and reflect their local terroir by practicing sustainable methods that benefit the environment. Wineries that receive “the snail” (the highest Slow Wine rating) are 100% free of chemical herbicides. Emphasis is on wineries that grow their own fruit, and that are certified organic and biodynamic.
After COVID required cancellations, Slow Wine returns to the US for a tour in honor of the release of the 2021 Slow Wine Guide in its first ever print edition and in advance of the 2022 edition forthcoming this spring. Meet and taste wines from Slow Wine Guide producers from Italy and the US in San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Miami, and New York City:
- Mon. Jan. 24: San Francisco, CA
- Tues. Jan. 25: Seattle, WA
- Thurs. Jan. 27: Austin, TX
- Mon. Jan 31: Miami, FL
- Weds. Feb. 2: New York, NY
Slow Wine events
Seminars on different topics will be offered as well as walk around tastings. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 test required at all events.
While in previous years, the Slow Wine Guide tour had a wine trade component and a consumer tasting, this year the event is open to industry trade and press only; business cards and credentials will be required to enter. Register here for the city of your choice or fill out the survey below to be added to the 2021/2022 invitation list here.
Demeter certified biodynamic Troon Pet tanNat paired with fresh tuna; Troon is in the 2021 and I wrote about Troon for the 2022 edition
In San Francisco, over 80 wineries represent Italy while almost 20 wineries from the US will be there, including Oregon’s Troon, one of the wineries that I wrote about for the 2022 edition, and which I will be publishing about soon. I visited and researched about 30 wineries for the 2022 edition in two states and in four regions.
AmByth “Decorus” orange wine: Demeter certified biodynamic AmByth will be new in the 2022 edition. Find the link to the article about my visit where we picked sangiovese and foot stomped the grapes!
Of the 30 wineries I visited, I submitted entries for the following 15 wineries: two in Oregon, three in Paso Robles, two in Lodi, three in El Dorado, and five in Santa Barbara.
- Acquiesce –Lodi
- Ampelos — Santa Barbara
- AmByth — Paso Robles
- Beckman — Santa Barbara
- Bokisch — Lodi
- Castoro — Paso Robles
- Camins 2 Dream — Santa Barbara
- Chateau Davell — El Dorado
- Field Number Fifteen — El Dorado
- Madrona — El Dorado
- MAHA — Paso Robles
- Spear — Santa Barbara
- The Ojai Vineyard — Santa Barbara
- Troon — Oregon
- Weisinger — Oregon
I will be publishing additional articles about our visits soon!
edition US Slow Wine Guide 2021
Purchase the 2021 Slow Wine Guide:
Find the list of 2021 wineries here.
See you in San Francisco!
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wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 