May 23, 2023
It takes inspiration to make wine. It takes a dream. It takes ambition. It takes hard work. Jay Nunez has all these traits and more.
But the most important trait it takes to make honest wine is philosophy. Wine is part science but mostly art. We might find AI in the winemaking game one day (don't ask me how) it might make solid wine every time...but it won't make passionate wine. It won't make the kinds of wines that Jay philosophizes about, the type of wine Jay dreams of as he is picking the grapes.
We went to the heart of the subject of what our roles are as stewards of the land and of the industry. We are just passing through, we have to leave it in better shape than when we arrived. This is the type of approach that AI would never be able to understand. It takes soulful reflection and knowledge to do what Jay does.
Jay takes a risk each day he comes to work; most winemakers do. For Jay, each day is a chance to do better the the previous day, to learn from a mistake and move on. Have a listen to who seems to be to me an "old soul" in the wine trade.