A wine think tank that engages in conversations with people from all walks of the wine world. This quote from Eric Asimov, New York Times, sums up the spirit of ARENI Global.
Jean-Claude and I recently had the pleasure of attending the annual ARENI Live think tank in California as members of a delegation of six South Africans. Last week I reported on the first day of the think tank. Here are some impressions of the second day.
Dutton Ranch, Sonoma: Robert Joseph debating on “Is the age of wine democratisation over?”
Day 2 of our roundtable discussions brought us to Dutton Ranch where Clarissa Kruse, President and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, was our host. While I contributed to the discussion on ‘Securing the Future of Wine Tourism’, JC participated in ‘Securing the Future of Vines’.
Why are these issues important?
Ultimately it is to ensure that we create a sustainable future for the fine wine industry, worldwide. And this means a secure, prosperous and just industry offering the wine lover access to fine wines made and brought to the table with integrity. Producers of fine wine have a shared interest in sustainability. They can be seen as leaders as well as bridge builders, for the benefit of the environment and everyone involved.
The Geisenheim University report on Sustainable Wine Tourism measures sustainability by country. South Africa scores highly for using wine tourism as a profitable business unit, for our long-term development strategy, for our biodiversity and for our use of green energy. Most importantly, we lead in hiring locally as well as respecting labour laws. We believe this is the cornerstone of sustainable wine tourism and indeed, our discussions highlighted how hospitality and staffing inform the tourist experience.
Saying this, we also have a mission to broaden horizons and create a world view. We propose a three-month global wine visa to further bilateral relations, assist in building cultural diversity, inclusion and development, and secure the future of fine wine by collaborating with our fine wine friends around the world.
Another point of debate was the importance of strengthening the links with other tourism activities.
As mentioned, JC participated in the ‘Securing the Future of Vines’ discussion where a vital point that came to light was (quoting JC): “Rootstock research neglected over the last 40 years could create vulnerability on securing the future of vines; without which we will have no wine. We need to look into this and intensify our focus on rootstock research.”
Iron Horse: Joy Sperling showcasing dinner menu at which Iron Horse was served at the White House
Following these roundtable conversations, JC’s group visited the Littorai wine estate with host Ted Lemon and moderator Elin McCoy. The topic under discussion was ‘Diversified Wine Farms as a Model for the Future of Viticulture’. In contrast, my group went to Iron Horse to address ‘Fine Wine and Diplomacy’. Among the invaluable insights gleaned is the fact that so many great peace accords between governments have been celebrated over a glass of fine wine!
Dinner in the restored barn at Dutton Ranch
We ended day 2 with a wonderful dinner at Dutton Ranch in an old restored barn where we tasted wines from around the world brought and shared by delegates. What I appreciate most about ARENI is the spirit of collaboration which leads to innovation. I really look forward to sharing highlights of day 3 with you next week.