New Frontiers – Q&A
Bragato Research Institute Chief Executive MJ Loza has had a busy 18 months, helping drive the establishment and development of the national wine research centre, based in Blenheim.
The publisher of two websites; WineDiva.ca (since 2004) and WineScores.ca (since 2008) Daenna has been a contributor to TASTE Magazine and Canada's national Vines Magazine for roughly eight years. She has a segment on the Tasting Room Radio Show in Vancouver. Having visited every major winemaking region in the world as a journalist, she is also an international wine judge and speaker and an accredited sommelier.
Sauvignon Blanc – often not listed among the great "noble" wines of the world. Why do you think that is?
I'm not sure. I've always considered it a noble grape variety therefore a noble grape should make a noble wine. It's silly anyway. A wine's popularity should not be based upon whether it's noble. I think that's an outdated concept.
Where does Sauvignon Blanc sits in your part of the world?
Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand wines in general are very popular in Vancouver/British Columbia. I think it's due to the fact that we have very similar climates and cuisines. Being a coastal province (rainforest) we are very green and have a good respect of nature. We eat a lot of seafood and are very concerned with environment, sustainability and overall wellbeing for each individual. We are a healthy province – the healthiest in Canada.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Celebration?
I'm eager to see what the future of Sauvignon Blanc is. What producers are doing and what they are working on to ensure the popularity of Sauvignon Blanc continues. It's been five years since I was last in New Zealand so I anticipate I will have seen some very positive changes. Additionally, I look forward to meeting some of the other guest speakers who will be traveling to the conference and I understand I have agreed to play in a touch rugby match. By the way, I've never played, or actually seen a live game, so it should be hilarious to watch. I guess I should invest in a rule book...
What are you hoping to take away with you from this event?
A greater understanding of the future of the variety, what winemakers are doing in the vineyards and in the winery. Additionally, how my fellow speakers view Sauvignon Blanc and how they see it in their own regions now and in the future.
How important is it for the variety to be the subject of such a celebration? And for this to be held in New Zealand?
Well, despite the roots of Sauvignon Blanc being linked more to the Loire, Marlborough is really the one who put it on the map – as far as the average wine lover/consumer. Those are the people who spend the most money because they are the vast majority. Marlborough took the snobbery and the mystery out of Sauvignon Blanc.
What are you most looking forward to, as a guest?
The camaraderie of an event like this is inspiring. Sharing ideas and meeting people who make the wine world a more interesting place, everyday, is pretty awesome.
