Much like the ‘top 100 most influential in the wine industry’ list which was a total joke. I have no clue where he gets these lists, or how he puts them together
And, no Gary Figgins? The guy belongs in the top 5 for what he’s done in the Pacific Northwest.
98-Bryan Ulbrich of Left Foot Charley
Very cool, he is a great guy making great wines in MI. I cannot speak to his “influence” but I like his stuff.
I only saw one from Georgia, but couple each from Virginia, Michigan, and Missouri, as well as Idaho and Texas entries. While I applaud the spread of American winemaking, and understand wanting to credit pioneers in a region, about 10% of the list representing states that combined make way less than 1% of nation’s wine (and winemakers with basically zero influence outside their home states) seems somewhat ridiculous on a list of most influential.
I have big issues with the specifics, but no problem with the list in general. It gets people talking and there have been many notable achievments that merit recognition.
Without a doubt, but since this list was made only a couple months after the ‘most influential people in the wine industry’ list, and realizing the many, many odd choices and omissions, I think it is rather clear that a bit of true research, and perhaps some extra time in between ‘best’ lists would be smart, and create a product that is truly valuable. I’m guessing that these lists are simply ways to get links to his site, frankly, as everybody listed links to the site because of their ‘award’.
For the most part, it’s not the inclusions I question, as I feel guys like Pott et all deserve recognition, but as Todd has said, it is the omissions that have me mostly concerned as well as some of the ordering, but what the hell do I know? (Not having Thomas Brown in the top 10 of a US Infuential Wine List just seems… wrong).
Very true. Regardless of whether or not you like TRB’s winemaking style, his influence is HUGE in Napa.
Any list without Paul Draper in the #1 slot is flawed. Glad for Hardy however. He is working hard and making the wines he wants to make.
Others have hit on this, but I see lists like this as developed only for creating discussion. Who’s on it? Who’s not? Who’s ranked to low? Too high? And perhaps most importantly: Who is completely unknown to you? And then all of them get discussed and those more under the radar get a bit more exposure. Between the list and this thread, I’ve already got a bunch of new experiences ahead.
And Mark, thanks for making me laugh out loud with that picture. I cannot think of all the contexts for which I am going to be shamelessly stealing it.
TRB not being in the top 10 is all I needed to know.
The omission of Wells Guthrie?? Very influential in the movement to dial back the intensity of California wines.
He’s so influential, they spelled his name wrong. He’s more influential that some others on the list, but that’s not saying much, and I like his wines a lot.
Influential how?
I have nothing against the guy and hardly know his wines. But it doesn’t seem that anyone is emulating him in any way.
Abe is ground breaking and a visionary, and in that context I could call him influential. Just because we can’t clearly see the influence in any other winemaker, does not mean it does not exist.
I guess the list is really supposed to be 100 noteworthy or famous winemakers.
But why am I/are we debating this silly thing???
Back to my day job…
Abe has flown the pennant for the 7% of the marginally recognized California varieties for over a decade now. This clearly has real traction in the current wine world.
Well, as witnessed by this thread, mission accomplished to the author of the list. Now everybody is looking at these ridiculous lists, but going to his site nonetheless!
Those of us in the AFWE can only WISH that Paul Draper was the most influential winemaker in the US. GREAT wines, not so influential on a lot of Cali wine styles though.
While there are some notable omissions and questionable inclusions (#74 – WTF?), overall I think its a pretty good list. I am very happy to see Jeff Emery on there, as he has had a subtle but important influence on many young winemakers. I’m surprised that John Alban, Jeff Patterson and Pax Mahle aren’t in the upper half, much less on the list at all. John, for one, could be held responsible for much of what has gone on in West Paso Robles. All three have had a dramatic influence on my efforts.
The bigger question is, with 7000 bonded wineries, shouldn’t the list be a lot shorter?