
An Interview with Wine Renaissance Man Rajat Parr
Biography
Restaurant
- Mina Group
244 California Street, 4th floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 359-0791
www.michaelmina.net/contact-us
Par on the evolution of California Wines, Climate Change, and Mentors
Chris Struck: What are your impressions of new winemakers in California today compared to those of 20, 30 years ago? Are new generations or those coming to the craft as second careers doing anything notably different?Rajat Parr: I think the new generation is looking at the past and adapting to the present. Also, they have an open mind. They are trying Old World techniques that might work in the New World.

Rajat Parr of the Mina Group
CS: Sweetness, acidity, and polyphenolic
structure from tannins play significant roles in how well a wine
can age. Will this new wave of lighter winemaking in California
affect the cellaring potential of these wines in the
future?
RP: I think this “new wave” is the “old wave.”
We’ve seen that older bottlings of Au Bon Climat, Mount Eden,
Ridge, etc., have aged quite well even though they were light
textured and have lower alcohol content. As long as the wine has
a balance between fruit, tannin, and acid, the wine will age
gracefully.
CS: What projects are you currently
working on in your vineyards and restaurants to showcase
leaner-style California wines?
RP: We have two labels based in the
Santa Rita Hills: Sandhi, which focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot
from purchased grapes and Domaine de la Côte, which is
predominantly Pinot from our Estate vineyard in the western edge
of the Santa Rita Hills.
CS: It seems as though many wine lists either
tend to be dominated by California selections, or they are
downright absent from them. Given the historical spread of
European immigrants in this country, especially on the east
coast, are California wines still in any way disadvantaged in
domestic markets outside of the state?
RP: Yes. I think primarily because most
sommeliers were trained in classic European wines and were not
that exposed to domestic wines. And for years American wines were
produced only in the big and juicy style. Now there is more
diversity and we see sommeliers around the U.S. supporting and
loving domestic wines.
CS: You have professed your love of red Burgundy
on many occasions, citing Bourgogne as your favorite winemaking
region. What unique challenges do California producers have
working with finicky grapes, such as Pinot Noir or
Graciano?
RP: I love Burgundy but Pinot Noir from Burgundy
cannot be made anywhere else. California producers can learn from
Burgundy and adapt the techniques of viticulture and oenology but
that's it. I think having a Burgundian sensibility is a great
thing but that's as far as it should go. Pinot Noirs from Sonoma
or Santa Rita Hills have their own identity and that should be
the focus of the producers.
CS: You have overseen the wine program of
Michael Mina’s restaurant group for over 10 years. What are some
of the unique challenges and opportunities
that you've discovered managing the wine of such a
large empire?
RP: There have been lots of great opportunities
to discover different wines from around the world and to serve
them to a diverse client base all over the U.S. The challenges
were mostly price-based. Due to a varied distribution system, the
pricing at every restaurant was different. That really frustrated
me. Also, finding interesting wines in smaller markets was always
challenging.
CS: How can California—and the U.S. as a
whole—do a better job marketing their wines to the rest of the
world?
RP: I think it's very important to export your
best wines. Historically, U.S. producers only exported the wines
they could not sell in the U.S. or sometimes put it under a
different label. We must be proud of what we produce and the
appellation we are in. The reputation of California wine is oaky
and sweet. We all must change that by producing wines with
structure and balance.
CS: There’s been a trend in the past five to 10
years of some European vignerons producing higher alcohol and
more heavily oaked wines in order to better compete with New
World wines in the global market. What do you make of this?
RP: I think that’s just a trend to satisfy
certain wine critics. It will pass!
CS: What can European producers learn from their
California colleagues and vice versa?
RP: I think there is a lot to learn from
California. With a change in climate and early harvests,
Europeans can learn the challenges we’ve had. Also, there’s a lot
more experimenting happening in the New World. Many New
World producers take their inspirations from Europe and this will
continue.
CS: What nuances distinguish a wine produced in
California from one produced in Europe in the same style?
RP: I think the soil and climate are the
predominate differences.
CS: Who are the notable players of Old World
style-winemaking in California today? Which of their specific
wines comes to mind as most indicative of the balance and
subtlety traditionally found in European wines?
RP: Au Bon Climat- Isabelle Pinot Noir, Copain-
Halcone Syrah, Kutch- Fallstaff Pinot Noir, Sandlands- Chenin
Blanc, Arnot Roberts- Trousseau, Pax- Trousseau Gris, and many
others. These guys are pushing the envelope to produce wines that
are in a European style.
CS: What governmental regulatory constraints on
wine production, marketing, sales, and transport are preventing
U.S. consumers from the consumption habits and prices
historically enjoyed by those in Europe? Do you see State Liquor
Authorities (SLA) existing in the future? How can Direct to
Consumer (DTC) sales be improved at an interstate level?
RP: I think the government should look into
creating a control body similar to the Institut
national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) or Appellation d'Origine
Protégée (AOP). We must control beverage production. It's the
only way to move forward with high quality products. DTC sales
have been predominantly based on scores by critics. With social
media, a lot is changing. Interstate boundaries are slowly
disappearing. People are a lot more aware.
CS: In both your book and in previous
interviews, you mention the importance of the role that your
mentor, Larry Stone, played in the onset of your career, and how
important having a mentor is for young somms. What other advice
would you give young people working as servers and
junior/assistant sommeliers and what bad habits have you seen
among these freshmen?
RP: It’s very important to have a mentor or
teacher. Someone who has walked the walk and can offer you sound
advice and perhaps teach you the classics. I think the biggest
problem with the newer generation of sommeliers is that they skip
the classics and move straight towards the geeky and esoteric
wines. It’s of prime importance to master the classic wines of
the world. As far as bad habits, I don't think that's a big
problem but what is a problem is work ethic and hospitality. A
sommelier must know that the number one job in a restaurant is
hospitality. Yes, wine service is important but being hospitable
is MOST important. Second is training. Young sommeliers must
patiently work and study. Too many are in a rush to become a Wine
Director or Master Sommelier. They miss the path. Every
young sommelier must learn everything about service--bartend, bus
tables, stock wine cellars etc.
CS: Where do you see California winemaking in 20
years?
RP: I think we’re just scratching the surface.
The revolution is just starting. Most producers are going to look
to the past to make wines with balance, wines made for the dinner
table. Climate change is happening worldwide. We’ll all have to
figure that out. I'm sure grape varieties will change. The
question is, who will lead that change...
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