
'The World in a Wineglass' explores the future of wine
Clip: 11/23/2023 | 6m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
'The World in a Wineglass' explores state of wine production and future of industry
Many Americans likely paired their Thanksgiving meals with a nice bottle of wine. That's something that shouldn't be taken for granted because climate change is threatening wine production across the globe. Geoff Bennett spoke with one wine expert about the state of wine production and gets some recommendations on which bottle to try next.
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Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...

'The World in a Wineglass' explores the future of wine
Clip: 11/23/2023 | 6m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
Many Americans likely paired their Thanksgiving meals with a nice bottle of wine. That's something that shouldn't be taken for granted because climate change is threatening wine production across the globe. Geoff Bennett spoke with one wine expert about the state of wine production and gets some recommendations on which bottle to try next.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipbecause climate change is threatening# wine production across the globe.
Geoff Bennett spoke recently with a wine# expert about the state of wine production## and got some recommendations# on which bottle to try next.
GEOFF BENNETT: The ever-expanding world of# wind looks a bit different today compared## to 50 years ago.
While consumption has# increased, the accelerating effects of## climate change have forced the industry to# adapt and adopt more sustainable practices.
We're going to dive into that part of the# business with noted writer and editor in## this industry who's out with a new book.# It's called "The World in a Wineglass:## The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable,# Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now."
And it's written by Ray Isle.
He's also# executive wine editor for "Food & Wine."
Ray, thanks so much for being with us.
RAY ISLE, Author, "The GEOFF BENNETT: As we have reported recently on# the lowest level in some 60 years.
What accounts# for that and how are wine producers coping?
RAY ISLE: Well, there's a number# of things that account for it.
One is drying up, I guess you would say, lower price level of wines, in Europe, especially,# where the youngest generation kind of doesn't want## to drink with their parents or drinking.
And so# the supermarket level of wines there has shrunk.
But there's also been a lot of climate issues# which have affected grape production.
You see## it around the world, which is what the# climate is doing, everything from fires## in California, to hail in the wrong season# in France, to heat spikes And then all this makes growing# grapes for wine quite difficult.## People manage.
They keep going.
They# adapt to the climate shifting on them, but it's definitely thrown some wrenches# at vintners' ways, I guess you would say.
GEOFF BENNETT: There's been so much# consolidation in the wine and spirits industry.
Reading this book, I was shocked# to learn that much of the wine## consumed around the world comes from# just a handful of producers, RA Y ISLE: Yes, it's true.
I me on store shelves are brands that are owned# by three or four or five companies.
And I## wanted to write this book to write about# wineries that are working sustainably or## organically that are run by people who live# at the vineyard,who are on the vineyard,## are trying to express something of# a place and of personal passion.
And a lot of wines are not that.
They're# made in 100,000-gallon tanks and they're## enzymatically pushed through fermentation and# zapped with liquid tannins and whatever you## want.
And it makes a very pleasant beverage# product, I guess is the way you would say it.
That wasn't what I was after with this book.# I wanted to get to the kind of soul of wines## that really -- we're about the land, as an# agricultural product, as well as a drink.
GEOFF BENNETT: Yes, you# referred to the book.
Really,## it's an encyclopedia in GEOFF BENNETT: But the most interesting# part of this book in many ways is,## you talk about learning to describe wine based# on the stories t RAY ISLE: Yes.
GEOFF BENNETT: ... less so by the point system.
RAY ISLE: Yes, I think the point# system and partly because -- and I# have noticed this working at "Food & Wine," as I talk to consumers.# And I talk to yo There's just more and more interest in how# a wine was made and what you're putting your body when you're drinking# it.
And then the point system,## you don't get more points for being# organic And, additionally, it adds a kind# of pseudo-objective rating.
I mean,## it's really subjective, as we know.
All# critics ratings are subjective to some## degree.
But you say 94 points, and it sounds# very official.
And it's an opinion, as GEOFF BENNETT: Well, you were kind enough to give## us some recommenda So walk us through what you're recommending# th RAY ISLE: These are all wines# that come from the book that## are also just terrific for the Fi rst one is a Grgich Hills sauvignon blanc# from Napa Vall large winery.
And what's interesting to me# is, they work organically and regeneratively,## which involves keeping cover crops on the ground,# so the soil life -- soil stays alive, essentially.
But they do it at scale.
They have got a# couple of hundred acres of vineyard.
So,## they produce quite a lot of wine, but they# farm very responsibly at the same time.
And## this is a gorgeous sauvignon blanc.
It's# classic Napa Valley, a l plus a little bit of melon character,# adaptable to anything you might want to eat.
GEOFF BENNETT: And then# you also recommended a red?
RAY ISLE: Yes, and then so# th Chateau de Beaucastel, it's one of my favorite# quotes in the one of the great chateau nouveau# producers in France.
They have## been farming organically since 1950.# They have never put it on the label.
And Marc Perrin, who's the family that# owns it, said to me, his father said## to him there are the people who go to# church because they believe and there## are the people who go to church so they# can tell everybody they went to church So they have been organic for a# long time.
They don't promote bu t that's -- they believe in it.
And# it's just a gorgeous Southern Rhone re rich fruit, lots of power, lots of# flavor, sort of perfect for cold And then Lyndenhurst.
Spottswoode is one# of the great Napa Valley wineries.
Their## top cabernet costs a lot, but it's a great# cabernet.
They too have been -- they're in## the early wave of sort of organic# farming in Napa back in the 1990s.
But their Lyndenhurst wine, which# is their affordable cabernet,## is -- it's a beautiful bottle of cabernet,# re I say -- when you talk about organic# grape growing, that's not a flavor.## It doesn't -- the wine won't taste different# or weird compared to a normal Napa cabernet.
It's really a philosophy and approach to the land## and a way of farming that doesn't# involve a lot of agrochemicals.
GEOFF BENNETT: The book is "The World in a# Wineglass: The Insider's Guide to Artisan Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now."
Ray Isle, thanks for your time.
RAY ISLE: Thank you so much fo
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