SOMM TV wine & food Episode 282: The wine draft: Islands that make wine
Feb 25, 2026
Claire Coppe, a professional sommelier, brings tasting expertise and strategy. Jonah Beer, wine entrepreneur tied to Gabriel Glass and Pilkrow, adds industry perspective. Steve Mathiason, veteran Napa winemaker, offers winemaking insight. They draft islands known for wine, battle over Sicily, New Zealand, Santorini, Madeira and unusual picks like Pelee and the Azores. Fast-paced picks and lively bidding.
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Islands Produce Unique Wine Terroirs
- Islands create distinct terroir because wind, isolation, and maritime influence dramatically change grape behavior compared with nearby mainland regions.
- Jason Wise uses archipelagos (e.g., Hawaii, New Zealand) as single picks and explains Greece is limited to five notable wine islands to keep distinctions meaningful.
Treat Archipelagos As One Draft Pick
- When drafting wine regions, treat archipelagos as single picks to avoid fragmenting influence across nearby islands.
- Jason Wise enforces that picks like Hawaii or New Zealand count as one island and Greek islands are capped at five.
Hokkaido's Rapid Wine Renaissance
- Steve Mathiason recounts consulting in Hokkaido where the region grew from ~5 to 60–70 wineries as young people embraced viticulture.
- He says Japan incentivized youth to farm, drawing grape growers who treat wine like a cultural revival akin to Burgundy 30 years ago.