Michael Garner

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn from #Wine #writer Michael Garner @keepercoll talking about #Amarone and Wines of #verona !

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: We’d like to introduce you to #Author Michael Garner @keepercoll #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Michael Garner @keepercoll to say hello & so he knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: As we ask our Qs, you can ask Michael your Qs as well! He'll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: W so many participants lots of gr8 Q's R asked! Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 @keepercoll 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Let's start talking #Amarone and #verona #wine with #Author Michael Garner @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Michael says: Hi everyone! I will try and answer UR Questions on #SommChat to the best of my ability - this is my 1st time on #twitter !!! I look forward to your questions.

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: .@keepercoll Michael, how did you start getting into #wine and writing about #wine? #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Michael says I got into #wine by accident. The writing was natural extension of what I was doing as I always wanted to write. I studied Literature in University. Once I felt I had enough #wine knowledge I was pleased to be able to write about it…. #SOmmChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: I was BW jobs working in bars & a guy came in and I thought I knew him. We started talking & he said he had an opportunity for a job in #wine and I then went to work in a chain wine shop in the 40 yrs ago and that was the beginning of #wine for me. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what was your first #wine writing gig and which one was your favorite Michael?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: 1st #wine writing gig was 1983 4 #UK publication called #wine & #Spirits Mag as a result of trip 2 #Italy where I visited Roberto Anselme in #Soave. I fell in love W/ the #wine & wanted the world 2 know abt it; so I submitted to the magazine & that's has it all began. #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Maybe writing my 1st book could be called my favorite gig as it is very exciting to start your 1st book authorship. Certainly I have many that have been great gigs. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Can you tell me about your @cwl_wine book and why you selected #Amarone and Wines of #verona as your subject?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: I think @Amarone and #wines of #verona is an area that is widely misunderstood so I wanted to set the record straight as I have always had an evangelistic streak about me. Veronese #wines are more popular than they have ever been but maybe not 4 the right reasons. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm why do think #Amarone and #wines of #verona are so misunderstood and how long did it take you to write the book ?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Actually writing the book from beginning to end was abt 18 mths but as you can see I have been visiting the area for 35 yrs+ so I felt I had a lot of knowledge BF writing the book & I had written numerous articles 4 @Decanter on the subject #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Why do you think the wines of #verona are popular but not for the right reasons - what are the right reasons?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: First off, I think a lot of the popularity comes from niche #wines like #Amarone & also it’s bastard offspring #Ripasso. The gr8 Red #wine of #verona is #valpolicella. As 4 #Soave it is 1 of the world’s most undervalued white #wines…. #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: #Amarone & #Ripasso both derive from semi-dried grapes. The 1st you taste is a methodology instead of a unique geographical identity. It is the way the popular wines R made rather than the beauty of the vineyards in #Soave & #Valpolicella which should be the focus. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm do you feel that #Soave #wines are made to age or only drink young and how would you determine which ones are made which way?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Some #soave are made to drink young and some to age - the only way to tell is to know the #winemaker and his/her objectives. There is beauty in both and let’s talk about each one a little bit…. #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Most #Soave producers will make both #wine styles- the younger style which is abt primary fruit flavors & aromas is made by a family simple methodology - anaerobic fermentation at low temps designed 2 show off freshness of the fruit characters. These R bottled early.. #SomMChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: With extended lees contact you get richer flavors, more structure, and #Soave #wines that are able to develop in the bottle. The key is using the fruit from the right #vineyards. #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: The age-worthy #Soave versions i.e. single vineyard or selection of best fruits are handled very differently in the cellar. Usually by extended lees contact and often some wood aging or stainless steel or cement. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Are there any sun/wind directional areas that are better for the #Soave age-worthy wines and what is the terroir like?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: The terroir is a mixture of #limestone and volcanic Basalt. The best sites in #Soave tend to be the steeper higher vineyards which have the best microclimates. The older vineyards are all planted in the traditional Pergola system and can only be worked by hand… #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: The South facing vineyards always produce riper fruit but sometimes it is impt to slow down the maturation of the fruits in order to preserve aromas and freshness so those are planted East/West and even North facing to allow for longer hang times. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you describe some typical tasting notes to identify #Soave #wines and is there a big difference in those that are made to drink young vs old?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Some of the best #Soave #wines have white flowers apple and or grange blossoms and have jasmine especially #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: Typical #Soave notes R orchard fruits apple pear apricot & notes of mandarin zest & preserved lemon. On palate you have really crisp & fresh with very strong mineral sensations. As they age they Become richer more honeyed but don’t lose the freshness which is vital #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q Fr #SommChat #Somm does your @cwl_wine book on Soave #wines talk about producers and would share a few?

Michael Garner @keepercoll: The description of the #Soave and #valpolicella producers is a vital part of the book’s narrative and coverse over 120 pages. #Soave is rediscovering itself and So you will find a mixture of traditional and new blood in the area in my book. #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: There are gr8 traditional #Soave producers like Pieropan, and Gini, but there are so many new exciting small artisan wineries, like Le Battistelle or Balestri Valda to name a few. Read the book, taste the wines and then tell me what you think!!! #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Question for Michael How has #journalism helped you in the #wine #world and are you writing any new pieces? #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: I am always writing new things - writing is a passion for me - it gives me a certain amount of gravitas because ppl say they value my writing. I am fortunate BC I love #wine and love #writing and get to do both #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Michael would you share some info about #Valpolicella? #SomMChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: #valpolicella is 1 of the world's most versatile red #wines - brilliant with food and comes in a range of styles fr simple everyday quaffing #wine to high-quality wines that can compete with #Burgundy... #SommChat

Michael Garner @keepercoll: For food to pair with #Valpolicella, lets start with the simple everyday and pair that with fish, it is also gr8 with pork, charcuterie & lighter meat dishes. For the high-quality, treat it as you would a fine #Burgundy. #SommCHat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk with Michael Garner @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: It was great to have Michael join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Please join us in thanking Michael Garner @keepercoll for his time #SommChat #SommsUF

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Michael says it has been gr8 to share some thoughts on #Wines of #verona with all of you. I hope you are keen to take a fresh look at these #wines as a result. I am pleased that my book is a resource for all @cwl_wine and will be a good resource on the subject. #SommChat