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Central Coast Wines Rated by The Wine AdvocateWednesday, September 27, 2006In the most recent issue of The Wine Advocate, influential wine writer Robert Parker rated more than 700 Central Coast wines, giving high marks to many San Luis Obispo County wines.A high score by the man who invented the 100-point ranking system - and is seen by many as the most important wine critic in the world - can translate into sold-out wines. A low score is dreaded. Either way, local wineries say that Parker has had a significant influence on elevating the profile of San Luis Obispo County wines on the national and international horizon. Parker's impact on the Central Coast goes far beyond recognizing a few industry leaders. For several years, he has been a strong proponent for the region as a whole. In 2004, he famously predicted in Food and Wine Magazine that 'California's Central Coast will rule America,' noting that 'no viticultural region in America has demonstrated as much progress in quality and potential for greatness as the Central Coast, with its Rhone varietals.' Then in October 2004, he granted Central Coast Rhone varieties - more than 20 grape varieties like syrah and viognier, which are grown in France's Rhone Valley - a spot in his vintage guide, which is a rating of each vintage for the major wine regions of the world. While entire wine producing nations - like New Zealand or South Africa - are not yet included in the vintage guide, the Central Coast Rhone varieties earned their own distinction. It is the only wine subcategory in California outside of the North Coast. "Parker has given this area a stamp of credibility to the whole world. The Advocate is not simply looked at in one region. It's translated into multiple languages and followed by the cognoscenti," Alban said. "When the Central Coast gets a chance to have the spotlight on that big of a stage, it's a bright light." Local wine industry professionals uniformly said that the strong scores that a number of wineries received in the August report speak to the high quality of winemaking in San Luis Obispo County. They believe that it will help to further validate the region to a wider audience. Article: Big numbers, bright lights, The Tribune Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine |
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