Summertime and the living is easy here on the Central Coast. There is a lot going on in the wine world with wine tasting events, wine tours, new winery discoveries and new wine releases. It’s nice being so close to such an inviting wine region where you can talk directly to owners, winemakers and grape growers.
The big news that has been making headlines for all of us in the wine trade is that consumption of wine in the US has increased almost 7% this past year. In a challenging economy people are enjoying affordable pleasures like good California wine. This makes our local vintners happy.
The news even gets better. For the first time ever Americans collectively consumed more wine than the French! Granted the average Frenchman and Frenchwomen drink more wine per capita (their population is less than a quarter of the US). This however is a milestone that many thought never possible.
To celebrate lets raise a glass and toast to the folks who make this moderate, natural grape beverage that we enjoy so much.
Coming up this summer don’t miss the SLO Vintner’s Association Roll Out the Barrels event starting Thursday June 23 or the Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival on June 25th, or the Central Coast Wine Classic starting July 7th.
By Barrie Cleveland
