|
Napa winemakers 'would approve' GM vines
March 8, 2001
Adam Lechmere
8 March 2001
Prominent California vintners would happily use genetically modified vines if they thought it would have beneficial effects.
Ed Sbragia of Beringer Vineyards and Michael Martini of Louis M Martini, both highly-respected Napa producers, agree that the use of GM vines is not necessarily a bad thing.
Speaking at a public tasting in Napa recently, Sbragia said, 'It's a tool. We never used to have refrigeration or centrifuges, or any number of other techniques, but we use them all the time now.'
Referring to the vine-killing disease that is threatening many southern Californian vines, and is worrying winemakers further north in Napa, he said, 'I would accept a modified gene that is resistant to Pierce's Disease.'
Martini said the subject was often met with an emotional response rather than a reasoned one. 'It's a not a question of science, it's a question of morals. GM is going to happen - we'd be in denial if we said it isn't. It all comes down to the level of education - there are a lot of people who won't touch the issue.'
Sbragia added, `It's not a bad thing per se - Mother Nature does it, so why shouldn't we?'
In Europe the mood is very different. Debate in the European Parliament on a measure to allow 'The free commercialisation of materials for the vegetative multiplication of the vine', was adjourned at the beginning of the year with no new start date. Organisations such as the Italian-based Slow Food movement, and Greenpeace, lobby constantly against genetic modification of any crop.
Recently, producers in the Italian region of Montepulciano came out in opposition. The president of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile de Montepulciano said, 'Selection is a natural process, while genetic manipulation leads to risks.'
|
Register on decanter.com absolutely free for news alerts delivered direct to your email inbox, and our fortnightly newsletter with advance notice of what’s coming up in Decanter magazine, offers, competitions and more.
PLUS registration is a one-stop shop for the Decanter magazine Archive and Decanter Fine Wine Tracker. |
Search for similar news stories
Back to index
|
