Garagiste

A French term first used in Bordeaux in the 1990s, the word garagiste (gare-a-JEEST) refers to an innovative (possibly renegade) professional winemaker without much financial capital, who began making small lots of fine wine in his/her garage or in another humble venue (like an industrial park). Garagistes are now at work all over the world. The term is generally used approvingly.

What does the Italian term “Langhe” refer to?

A. A winegrowing region located on hilly mountain ranges in Italy

B. A colloquial term describing the length of a wine on the palate

C. A region in northern Italy near Lake Garda that is known predominately for white wines

D. A term added to a wine label to indicate the wine was made in a small farming village

The Langhe (from the Italian lingue—tongue) is a series of hilly ranges in southeastern Piedmont, Italy, that are said to be shaped like tongues. In fact, much of the Piedmont region is comprised of mountains and rolling foothills: Piedmont itself means “foot of the mountain.” The Langhe is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco, two of Italy’s most superb and long-lived reds.

“Making great pinot noir is like being a chef. Making great chardonnay is like being a pastry chef—the margin for error is very small.”

—Josh Bergström, manager and winemaker, Bergstöm Wines, Willamette Valley, Oregon (Bergström is known for its stellar chardonnay, “Sigrid.”)

Garagiste

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