Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences

Who are we?

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences is a four-page weekly wine commentary, sent via e-mail or First Class U.S. mail directly to you, hot off the press. Among the topics we cover:

Stories of the industry:
Wine is as much a reflection of the people who make it as it is of the soil in which it grew. To appreciate wine beyond a mere beverage takes an understanding of the wine maker and the history of the land. This is the context that puts a third dimension on and adds color to an otherwise sterile liquid.

News:
When major changes occur in the wine industry that affect the way wine is made, marketed, or regulated, I will report on these changes briefly, with my perspective. The extent of this coverage is dependent on the response from subscribers.

Commentary:
There is a good reason this communication is called a commentary rather than a newsletter or a column. It is because I make a stronger personal statement than ever before. This includes more pointed opinions about wine styles, procedures, and many other issues that would be inappropriate in a daily newspaper column.

Ratings:
Many of you know of my abhorrence for numbering systems as tools to the understanding of wine. The problem is obvious: wine is a living thing that changes almost weekly; wine is also a product not just of what's in the glass, but also of the context in which it is consumed. Also, wine's character is a result of its grape variety, the soil it grew in and wine-making goals and procedures. So it has at least three dimensions, the most important of which is the context. Therefore, a single number as a reflection of its general quality is just too simplistic a notion.

In these pages, you will see wine tasting notes that cut out the dross. Wines are listed in approximate descending order with no specific ranking, and you get only the best wines, no mediocre or over-priced wines. One critical fact is that I tell you where and when -- and how -- I tasted these wines. For instance, I might taste 83 German Rieslings in a trade tasting, and I'll list the top eight or ten in general order of preferance. Or I might taste a new release Cabernet Sauvignon at a winery tasting room. Such notes stand by themselves.

Hard-to-get wines are virtually guaranteed to be available to our readers because we publish so often. And we list phone numbers and discounted prices when we can.

Wines are rated without scores, but by Exceptional, Very Highly Recommended, and so forth.

Subscriber Contributions:
This publication is intended as a two-way street. I sincerely hope subscribers communicate with us and let us know their feelings.

Send letters to:

Dan Berger
P.O. Box 5857
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
or via e-mail to i nfo@vintageexperiences.com.

Wine Industry Trade subscription rate: $95.00 per year
Special Consumer rate: $58.00 per year

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences
P.O. Box 5857 Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Telephone: 707-571-1200
Fax: 707-528-7395



Welcome Who are we? Sample issue* Dan's credentials Subscribe/Renew online! Wine competition results Supplemental articles Wine news Links Search: Powered by Website Baker	Who are we? Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences is a four-page weekly wine commentary, sent via e-mail or First Class U.S. mail directly to you, hot off the press. Among the topics we cover: Stories of the industry: Wine is as much a reflection of the people who make it as it is of the soil in which it grew. To appreciate wine beyond a mere beverage takes an understanding of the wine maker and the history of the land. This is the context that puts a third dimension on and adds color to an otherwise sterile liquid. News: When major changes occur in the wine industry that affect the way wine is made, marketed, or regulated, I will report on these changes briefly, with my perspective. The extent of this coverage is dependent on the response from subscribers. Commentary: There is a good reason this communication is called a commentary rather than a newsletter or a column. It is because I make a stronger personal statement than ever before. This includes more pointed opinions about wine styles, procedures, and many other issues that would be inappropriate in a daily newspaper column. Ratings: Many of you know of my abhorrence for numbering systems as tools to the understanding of wine. The problem is obvious: wine is a living thing that changes almost weekly; wine is also a product not just of what's in the glass, but also of the context in which it is consumed. Also, wine's character is a result of its grape variety, the soil it grew in and wine-making goals and procedures. So it has at least three dimensions, the most important of which is the context. Therefore, a single number as a reflection of its general quality is just too simplistic a notion. In these pages, you will see wine tasting notes that cut out the dross. Wines are listed in approximate descending order with no specific ranking, and you get only the best wines, no mediocre or over-priced wines. One critical fact is that I tell you where and when -- and how -- I tasted these wines. For instance, I might taste 83 German Rieslings in a trade tasting, and I'll list the top eight or ten in general order of preferance. Or I might taste a new release Cabernet Sauvignon at a winery tasting room. Such notes stand by themselves. Hard-to-get wines are virtually guaranteed to be available to our readers because we publish so often. And we list phone numbers and discounted prices when we can. Wines are rated without scores, but by Exceptional, Very Highly Recommended, and so forth. Subscriber Contributions: This publication is intended as a two-way street. I sincerely hope subscribers communicate with us and let us know their feelings. Send letters to: Dan Berger P.O. Box 5857 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 or via e-mail to i nfo@vintageexperiences.com. Wine Industry Trade subscription rate: $95.00 per year Special Consumer rate: $58.00 per year Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences P.O. Box 5857 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Telephone: 707-571-1200 Fax: 707-528-7395
Contact us: info@vintageexperiences.com