Comments on: Napa grapples with fears of “Disney-fication” http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/ A blog about the world of wine Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:24:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Theo http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/comment-page-1/#comment-20811 Theo Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:41:51 +0000 http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=4417#comment-20811 Seth, considering some historic estates in Bordeaux are now urban wineries, I'd say they lost that battle a long time ago. In general, I thought the commercial nature of the city of Bordeaux is what led to the rise of the Bordelais, as it is a city full of bankers (though, not sure if that is worse than dot-commers). Seth, considering some historic estates in Bordeaux are now urban wineries, I’d say they lost that battle a long time ago. In general, I thought the commercial nature of the city of Bordeaux is what led to the rise of the Bordelais, as it is a city full of bankers (though, not sure if that is worse than dot-commers).

]]> By: Charlie Olken http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/comment-page-1/#comment-20772 Charlie Olken Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:37:54 +0000 http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=4417#comment-20772 Sounds like Bordeaux wants to build the next version of Copia. What both regions are struggling with, if struggling is the right word for places that can sell wine at three digit prices and maintain its place in the market, is that every one there wants an even bigger piece of the pie. You do not see many established Napa wineries struggling and the same is true in Bordeaux. But, in reality, despite their great popularity, they are not Disneyish. There are not endless T-Shirt stores and cheap pubs. For that, see places like Fisherman's Wharf in SF or Carcassonne or parts of London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice. Wine country tourism has not sunk to that level yet, but both Sonoma town and Healdsburg come closer than does any town in Napa. What Napa has not been able to prevent was places like Chateau Boswell or Castello di Amarosa--surely bigger blights on the landscape than the Wine Train. Sounds like Bordeaux wants to build the next version of Copia.

What both regions are struggling with, if struggling is the right word for places that can sell wine at three digit prices and maintain its place in the market, is that every one there wants an even bigger piece of the pie. You do not see many established Napa wineries struggling and the same is true in Bordeaux.

But, in reality, despite their great popularity, they are not Disneyish. There are not endless T-Shirt stores and cheap pubs. For that, see places like Fisherman’s Wharf in SF or Carcassonne or parts of London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice. Wine country tourism has not sunk to that level yet, but both Sonoma town and Healdsburg come closer than does any town in Napa. What Napa has not been able to prevent was places like Chateau Boswell or Castello di Amarosa–surely bigger blights on the landscape than the Wine Train.

]]> By: Seth http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/comment-page-1/#comment-20754 Seth Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:30:13 +0000 http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=4417#comment-20754 This is interesting, especially juxtaposition to the "great new hope for Bordeaux" where they are now talking about a 55-million euro wine cultural centre that will either be shining beacon of wine tourism to come or a great waste of resources. Napa and Bordeaux may be like apples and oranges but the premise of what these regions are struggling with remains the same, how do we succeed in improving the accessibility of products, increasing market-share and flexibility yet retain some connection to the agricultural, economic and social contexts which gave rise to such great wine culture. This is interesting, especially juxtaposition to the “great new hope for Bordeaux” where they are now talking about a 55-million euro wine cultural centre that will either be shining beacon of wine tourism to come or a great waste of resources. Napa and Bordeaux may be like apples and oranges but the premise of what these regions are struggling with remains the same, how do we succeed in improving the accessibility of products, increasing market-share and flexibility yet retain some connection to the agricultural, economic and social contexts which gave rise to such great wine culture.

]]> By: Dylan http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/comment-page-1/#comment-20686 Dylan Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:12:28 +0000 http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=4417#comment-20686 I think it's just a matter of being self-aware. As long as Napa follows the effects of allowing greater tourism, they can always pull back the reigns when it loses balance. Not a slippery slope at all. I think it’s just a matter of being self-aware. As long as Napa follows the effects of allowing greater tourism, they can always pull back the reigns when it loses balance. Not a slippery slope at all.

]]> By: winenxt http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2009/11/13/napa-grapples-with-fears-of-disney-fication/comment-page-1/#comment-20684 winenxt Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:17:05 +0000 http://www.steveheimoff.com/?p=4417#comment-20684 wine tourism helps for direct cellar sells and building of reputation of wine so its necessary to minimize the restrictions.... wine tourism helps for direct cellar sells and building of reputation of wine so its necessary to minimize the restrictions….

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