The Wine Wars “world tour” is still rolling along; I thought you might like to see the current schedule of events (see list at the end of the post).

More Homework!

I’m particularly pleased to announce that I will be teaching in the “University of Pinot” that is being organized as part of the annual International Pinot Noir Celebration on the campus of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon at the end of July. The IPNC is the premier event for Pinot Noir lovers, drawing winemakers (and drinkers) from all over the Pinot world. It will be fun to mix and mingle with them and talk about the state of wine on Planet Pinot.

There will be courses on geography, geology, climatology, and applied cultural studies (flying winemakers) taught by a cast of wine experts and celebrities.  Allen “Burghound” Meadows is teaching the “study abroad” course, although I think Burgundy will come to Oregon, not the other way around.

Several courses include wine tastings led by the winemakers themselves. Sounds great, doesn’t it. I expect the students to demand more homework! (No problem: the wine really flows at IPNC.)

I’m honored to be on the UP faculty and to be able to bring a global wine economics perspective to the curriculum. Here’s the catalog description of my course:

Globalization cuts both ways. It brings us a world of exciting wine experiences, but it also unleashes market forces that threaten to overwhelm the soul of wine. This dilemma affects all wine but the stakes are highest for real terroir wines such as Pinot noir. Drawing on the lessons of his 2011 book Wine Wars, Mike Veseth will investigate the global forces shaping wine and explain why he has “grape expectations” that Pinot terroirists will prevail.

My only regret is that Benjamin Lewin MW, the author of In Search of Pinot Noir, is not also on the program. But I understand that he will be in Bordeaux in July … in search of Cabernet Sauvignon (for his next book). Happy hunting!

Wine Wars World Tour Update