Page 64 - Grapevine May-June 2020

International News

“If I buy a big property, then I’m like everybody wine he doesn’t. He continues to consult for Le Clos
else, where I have to make wine, or mostly make Jordanne and Domaine Queylus as well as work
wine, from that property, which is a beautiful and on other projects in Burgundy, Oregon, and, more
honorable thing to do. Whereas, if I continue the recently, in Chile. He’s avoided huge start-up costs
way I’m going, I get to interpret Niagara, every- as well as licensing fees and staff expenses and has
where. We’re going to try to do that. The Old figured out a way to produce interesting, small-
World has really defined their terroirs, and now is batch wine for a captivated audience. In the bigger
our time to do that.” picture, Bachelder has started breaking ground on a
much larger project, one that could be a significant
Staying true to his Burgundian influence, movement in North American winemaking.
Bachelder’s latest release, La Violette, offers Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay but also Gamay Noir from There are a lot of prime vineyard sites that stretch
five different vineyard sites across Niagara, includ- beyond the Niagara Peninsula. In Ontario, there is
ing Lowrey vineyard. They offer not only single Prince Edward County and Lake Erie North Shore.
vineyard “Cru” wines but also Beaujolais inspired The Niagara Escarpment continues into the U.S.,
“les Villages” wines available from each varietal, and the Finger Lakes are rapidly gaining in popular-
which blend grapes from several single-vineyard ity. Pennsylvania wine is on its way up. Now, more
plots to create something more affordable and also than ever, is the time to take full advantage of this
very powerful. Bachelder is also offering his wine region and bring to light all the beautiful vineyards,
by the case in three “Terroir” packs, which allow unique terroirs and incredible wine that comes out
customers to sample each of the variations of both of it.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in one case.

Thomas Bachelder is doing something right. As a
“micro-negocient,” he remains free to make the
wine he wants to make, as well as not make the

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