Statistically speaking

I'm trying to make sense out of last year's tastings. Of three hundred and fifty seven wines, one-sixty-one were white and one-ninety-six were red. Excluding a few gift bottles all were close to or under twenty dollars. Two hundred and three (57%) were from Vintages and one hundred and twenty-one (34%) were from the General shelves. The remainder were purchased directly from a winery.

Of the Vintages releases, fifty-nine or 29% (twenty-five white and thirty-four reds) showed up in the seventy-nine Favourites for 2007. Of the General listings, thirteen or 11% (seven whites and six reds) showed up in Favourites.

The countries favoured with the most purchases were Australia (86), Canada (55), Chile (55), and Italy (39). Argentina (29), France (25), USA (22) were in the middle with NZ (17), Spain (12), South Africa (12) sharing the rest except for four from Portugal, one from Germany.

Of the top four countries, my Favourites numbered 21, 7, 15 and 4 respectively. Forty-five of the Canadian wines were whites with four showing up in Favourites and three of the remaining ten showing as red favourites.

The biggest return, by percent, was a combined Argentina and Chile - a total of 84 purchased and 25 Favourites (30%) - Australia came close with 21 favourites from 86 purchases (24%). The biggest return for favourite whites came from NZ (10 of 16), but I love a kiwi sauv blanc more than once in awhile.

What I could deduce from the numbers is:

• For reds I should purchase from Argentina, Chile and Australia
• For whites: from NZ, Chile and USA
• Portugal and Spain: great bubblies
• France, is generally too pricey to show a benefit
• Finding a Favourite even with some guidance has been 1:10 (General) to 1:3 (Vintages)

However, and the conclusion I will draw, the wines came from twelve countries giving me a sampling of terroirs and wine methods that vary around the globe. I have visited websites telling me of family traditions, their history and growth over decades and their ambitions for the future. I couldn't have experienced the spread of passion for winemaking if I narrowed my purchases to a few countries or a few wineries. I would like to say thanks to each winery, each winemaker and to each proprietor for not selling out to a large conglomerate. THANKS! And I know I carp about them but thanks also to the LCBO for bringing these wines to me and the local wine critics for their view of the world.

Cheers, Ww