American Graffiti

Everything connected with US wines has been in a growth mode for the past five years including retail sales, publications, online blogs, classes, 5 million private wine clubs, tastings, direct-sales, private label wines, home wine cellars and popular wine bars.

Hollywood celebs have turned winemakers and two high-profile films signaled the mainstreaming of wine culture. The Cannes Film Festival Palme D'Or was awarded to the documentary "Mondovino" (world wines) and 'Sideways" won the Oscar and Golden Globe and won over a legend of new fans to Pinot Noir. With the popularity of these films more grocery store aisles were designated for wines. And because women buy 60% of all the vinos--labels became snazzier. Then an Internet wine chat room moniker, Two-Buck-Chuck, ignited a Web 2.0 firestorm that fueled the fastest-growing brand sales in wine's 8,000 year history.

If 'American Graffiti' signaled the end of our country's adolescent years, can the national shift to wine signify that we are on the cusp of a spiritual awakening? Because beer is a drink for the body while wine is a drink for the soul.

With 700 wine blogs on the Internet and a public eager to learn more about wines perhaps the US is moving to more refined tastes. For certain the wine industry is adopting Green as the gold standard. And with more consolidation creating beverage behemoths, plus higher transportation costs, the small family wineries--like the rest of our culture--need to be adaptive, proactive and nimble.

With wine's spiritual connotations that stand for wisdom, immortality, joy, youth and vitality--maybe its rise in this Age of Transition is a message for us all.

© 2010 -Suzanne de Cornelia. This article may be reprinted on websites as long as the entire article, including website link and resource box below are included and unchanged.

Suzanne de Cornelia is a freelance writer. Her novel, "French Heart" is a wickedly funny romance that takes readers on a heart pounding roller-coaster ride through glamorous settings as a former CIA-agent and her cohorts battle global racketeers to uncover the secret to love, riches and environmental transformation. "French Heart" will be launched in December 2010 along with brand merchandize including "French Heart" private label wine, organic cotton spa-wear, and signature charm bracelets.