The Noble Vine was started by my good friend Isadora Bodian and three partners, Justin Connor, Adam Reinhart P.H.D, and Max Taylor. They are a “full spectrum, modern wine consulting firm,” according to their website. But they really are a whole lot more than that. These guys get wine, they are experts in their field, and they’ve pooled their experience to break the mold when we think of wine firms. They really do it all, and Justin and Isadora were good enough to answer some questions for me this weekend. Here are the results of that interview. For more information, you can see their website, find them on Twitter or Facebook, or simply send them an email. Their contact information is listed at the end of the interview.

What is The Noble Vine? Who is involved?

The Noble Vine is a dynamic, full spectrum wine consultancy. Our team consists of professionals with expertise in the full lifecycle of a wine bottle: soil science, collecting, retail, importation, distribution, and restaurant service. We provide tailored services to clients who desire to bring wine into their lives or who need help managing their current wine collections. With wine education programs, tasting events, turn-key cellar creation, collection management platforms, and restaurant wine consulting, we endeavor to aid every client – whether s/he has a collection of 2 bottles or 2,000 – in the discovery of a place for wine in her/his life.

Where did the idea first come about? Did it evolve out existing trends in the wine business? It seems very innovative, do you think we will see more of this personalized service?

Currently, most people in need of wine related services ask a local wine merchant or sommelier. This is a great first step, but these people are dedicated to their positions and can therefore provide a certain degree of service. The founding concepts of The Noble Vine evolved from this assessment. Our clients see us as their go-to team for anything wine related; we are akin to their accountant or lawyer. We provide a palate of services that includes Taste Profiling, Acquisition/Liquidation services, etc.; but more importantly we are available to advise a client about which wine in her cellar pairs best with braised lamb that she is making for her husband’s birthday (a Gigondas perhaps), when to open it (a few hours prior to dinner), which glasses to pour it into (Hermitage), and how best to remove the stain from her new carpet (Wine Away, blot, don’t rub). This level of client dedication paired with a tailored wine education course flattens the learning curve and produces clients who seamlessly integrate wine into their lives.

What are your goals at The Noble Vine?

That each of our clients discovers a place for wine in his or her life. Also, that each client learns to trust and appreciate his or her own senses. This second goal is of extreme importance to me, because too many people put the palates of perceived experts onto a pedestal. A message to the crowd: Empower your taste buds by drinking wine and thinking wine. If you are really interested in the subject, dedicate the same amount of time to reading about wine as you do to tasting it. Keep a journal of your own impressions about each bottle that you drink and become an expert on your palate.

The various food movements and the wine world seem to have a lot in common, what are some of these overlapping issues?

The organic/sustainable movement has always really been part of the wine world at the higher price points from producers like Araujo, Lafon, and Vieux Telegraphe. Volume brands are beginning to adopt the trend as it gains traction in the foodie universe. These companies were founded with a strategy of minimizing cost per bottle, but they are suddenly starting to see the organic/sustainable concepts as having business value – even though they increase costs.

I continue to wonder whether or not the locavore trend will become more prevalent in the wine consumer universe. Wineries exist in every one of the 50 states, but California/Oregon/Washington/NY control the market. A blog that I recently stumbled upon, http://theother46.com/, seeks out world class wines from the other 46 states. It will be interesting to see what they find.

What is a biodynamic wine? Is it different than organic? If so, how?

Phew, tough question because of the stakeholders involved and the current controversy. Technically, all biodynamic wine is crafted organically, but with a spiritual twist. Biodynamic agriculture is based upon principles set forth by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s. He believed that by ‘preparing’ soil through various methods, one example being the burying of a cow horn full ground quartz into the soil during the fall and exhuming it in the spring to spray the quartz on the vines, one could harness the spiritual power of the soil. No non-organic material is used in growing the grapes, thus, they are organic. That being said, practitioners of biodynamic principles would argue that it is the spiritual nature of the practices that truly enhance each bottle. Believers in the biodynamic also assert that wine should only be consumed on certain days. In fact, recently, biodynamic winemaker Anne Claude Leflaive told TNV Partner Adam that her wine was best enjoyed under the glow of the full moon. Sounds fun!

What do you see happening to the market?

Direct to consumer and direct to trade sales will continue their rapid growth as companies like Inertia and Amazon build their market share. This shift means lower prices for consumers and less restriction for retailers!

For people concerned with local wines, what is their best resource to find and purchase local wines wherever they may be?

The best resource for someone looking for any wine – be it local or otherwise – is to find a reliable and knowledgeable, local wine merchant. Bridging a relationship with a wine merchant is an invaluable step one must take before plunging into the world of wine. The sacrifices that these men and women make everyday for their clients is astonishing: tasting wine all day, traveling to the wine regions of the world to stay educated, eating in the best restaurants to develop their pairing skills, etc. Seriously though, a good local wine merchant works hard to have the best available wines at every price-point and a deep understanding of wine as a subject. For local wines specifically, check out theother46 blog and search the internet for state/regional wine groups like http://www.virginiawines.org/. Most states have websites like this to provide information about their wines.

Zachary, thank you very much, I hope that I was able to effectively answer your questions. If anyone else has questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail at Justin@thenoblevine.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @TheNobleVine or check out www.TheNobleVine.com.

Thank you again, Cheers!

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