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6 WINES&VINES December 2017 A member of Wine Communications Group Inc. ADVERTISING Vice President and Director of Sales Jacques Brix jbrix@winesandvines.com (707) 473-0244 West Lydia Hall lydia@winesandvines.com (415) 453-9700, ext. 103 Midwest Hooper Jones hooperhja@aol.com (847) 486-1021 East (except New York) Laura Lemos laura@boja.com (973) 822-9274 New York and International Dave Bayard dave@bayard.com (973) 822-9275 Advertising Production Manager April Kushner ads@winesandvines.com (415) 453-9700, ext. 114 DIGITAL EDITION All print subscribers now get digital access to Wines & Vines. You can: • DOWNLOAD pages or full issues • BROWSE current and archived issues • WATCH videos • ACCESS via desktop, tablet or smartphone • SEARCH by keyword or table of contents • NAVIGATE by topic or page thumbnail • QUESTIONS? Contact customer ser- vice at custserv@winesandvines.com or (866) 453-9701 Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT. CABERNET SAUVIGNON REIGNS AS KING PLUS, THE HOTTEST TRENDS AND TOP STORIES OF 2017 By Wines & Vines staff THE BIGGEST AND BEST OF 2017 WINES&VINES 31 SAVERGLASS INC. Napa (CA): (707) 259-2930 East Coast (NJ): (201) 825-7100 Pacific North West (OR): (707) 337-1479 Mid West (KY): (859) 308-7130 www.saverglass.com HAUTE COUTURE GLASS COLLECTION PRESTIGE HERMÈS The charismatic Bordelaise HERMÈS enchants with its classic beauty and elegantly balanced proportions. CONNECT WITH US CONTRIBUTORS As you will see in the "Biggest and Best of 2017" report, regular con- tributor Andy Starr wrote the best-read column this year on the topic "How Wineries Use Vineyard Technology." In this issue, the winemak- er-turned-management consultant again looks at vineyard technology (page 24), sharing insights from a trip to the eastern Oregon prairie, where he attended the Future Farm Expo. Manufacturers of high-tech farming equipment gathered near Pendleton, Ore., to show the ag industry what new techniques and equipment they've been develop- ing. "It's leading edge farm technology," Starr said upon returning. "Everything from wheat and potatoes to apples and grapes." Tim Martinson is a senior extension associate in Cornell University's Viticulture and Enology Department. He notes in his Viewpoint column (page 28) that grape pests and diseases have emerged or evolved in recent times, while the plants they prey upon in most vine- yards have not. Read his article, "The Frozen Genetics of Internation- al Wine Cultivars," to understand the problems in that contradiction and what he thinks the wine industry should be doing about them. Aerial drones are fun, and increasingly they can be useful tools. In his article, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Drone" (page 61), Dr. Jim Meyers, extension specialist with Cornell Coop- erative Extension, describes the key concepts behind drones and their strengths and weaknesses. He then uses a specific example to explain how drone photography can help solve specific vineyard issues such as the variability in soil types, vineyard floor health and vine vigor. DECEMBER 2017 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON IS KING Unified Symposium Sessions Preview Product Focus: Oak Fermentors Biggest and Best Stories of 2017 What's New in Vineyard Automation WINESANDVINES.COM ON THE COVER Crunching data for this Biggest and Best of 2017 issue, we noticed that Cabernet Sauvignon defied trends in sales channels, showing steady increases across the board. In this month's cover photo, taken by Bob McClenahan for Napa Valley Vintners, a cluster of the "King of Grapes" is harvested by hand. QUESTION FOR DECEMBER: Why does Cabernet Sauvignon keep growing in popularity? Rebekah Wineburg Winemaker Quintessa Vineyards Rutherford, Calif. With its ability to produce wines of harmony, it is no wonder Cab- ernet Sauvignon is the most planted wine grape in the world and growing in popularity. Within the one variety, you get a combination of fruit and savory along with tannins that are both powerful and supple. As a winemaker, that allows you to create a wine that gives enjoyment young while still having incredible ageability. Steve Peck Red winemaker J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Paso Robles, Calif. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those rare varieties that has adaptability around the globe. I'm equally as intrigued trying a Cab from Coonawarra as I am from Sonoma, Paso Robles or South America. It put the "super" in Super Tuscan. It put Bordeaux on the map. It's got an ageability factor that is unparalleled. It's a wine that on release is very intriguing, and as the wines age, they just get better and better. Sarah Hedges Goedhart Head winemaker Hedges Family Estate Benton City, Wash. Cabernet has been king of the wine world for quite some time and is deserving of the title. It grows well anywhere that offers warmth and sunlight. It offers the wine drinker the best of both worlds: a wine that can be powerful, tannic and fruity, but also show elegance, acidity and complexity. Cabernet can also age well, so if you are willing to hang onto a well-made Caber- net, it will surprise you.