a message from tina jones

This issue marks our 15th year of The Cellar Door magazine—and as we head into this issue, we rediscover just how challenging this industry is. It is a fractured, ever-moving picture, with tens of thousands of wine producers, each with a place in our global industry. We strive to equip you, our readers, with the tools you need to grow with us and hear more stories about the farmers, families, and winemakers we support. It is the people behind these labels that make this work so personal and rewarding for us.

It is an exciting time in the wine industry! There was a time in North America when one could expect, at best, a few dozen options on any given wine list, but now guests rightfully expect to discover new, exciting lists featuring small producers and growers from far-off corners of the wine world. Our job is to bring this big picture into frame for you and our restaurant partners. We help you focus on the parts that will enrich your wine experience.

In this issue, we share our thoughts on some of the big topics in the wine industry, as complex as it is. Gary Hewitt and Mike Muirhead tackle the corporatization of the wine industry and how it affects the diversity of choices available to you—as well as how the digital age is shaping how wine lovers make decisions about their purchases. Ricki-Lee Podolecki breaks down the very different palates of three generations of wine drinkers, and Sylvia Jansen challenges our thinking about what wines actually merit “100 points.”

This issue marks a special anniversary—a time to reflect on what we have explored together. We thank you, our readers, for your enthusiastic feedback; our advertisers and restaurant partners who help us bring you amazing articles and images; and our team at The Cellar Door for coming together for the last 15 years to learn, teach, and share all that our industry has to offer.

Cheers to many more!

Tina Jones