Rich Mauro’s a great wine writer resource. In my continuous sharing of who key players in the wine world are, Rich Mauro plays well into this category.

I asked Rich my series of questions because I find writers’ answers to be so timely and revealing about who they are, and what interests them.

Rich’s Website is People’s Palate: Rich Mauro ~ People’s Palate

In a perfect world, every writer I know would have his or her own Website. The joy of being able to have a place to upload one’s own continuing thoughts is very uplifting… Life without an editor… First Amendment… It’s just great.

Q: When did you start to write about wine, and what prompted you to begin?

A: I started writing about wine in 1995 when my brother-in-law, who was editor of Out Front Colorado at the time, asked me come to a tasting of Guenoc wines. Then (if I thought they were any good) write about the winery’s promotion, where they would donate a dollar from the sale of every bottle of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon for a month to AMFAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research, I believe). After that, the publishers asked me to write a regular wine column.

Q: What aspect(s) of wine do you most enjoy covering?

A: Issues–like what makes great wine, recognizing terroir, sustainable winemaking, alcohol levels, and so on.

Q: How has your job changed since you’ve started?

A: I used to FAX columns. Now, obviously, they are emailed. I’ve made more contacts, so I am able to cover more topics and a wider variety of wines. I started with one small, community paper; now I also write for a daily, a trade publication, and two websites.*

Q: What’s the most memorable wine you’ve ever tasted?

A: I’d have to say a 1966 Chateau Cheval Blanc, because it was the first really fine wine I ever tasted. I was in college and working at Liquor Mart in Boulder and drank with a colleague over dinner at my apartment. It was a real revelation.

Q: What’s your favorite variety?

A: Zinfandel.

Q: Do you believe that there are better quality, lower priced wines today, than in past vintages?

A: I’m conflicted about this one. Certainly, there are a lot of clean, well-made wines today at reasonable prices, but I still remember some Italian, French and Portuguese (mostly) reds with much more character and distinctiveness, something we usually have to pay more money for these days.

Q: What’s your favorite innovation in the past few years?

A: Sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming and winemaking. In some ways it is a little bit “back to the future” but the practices and technology are more advanced and so necessary in today’s environment.

As a footnote to Rich’s humble answer about where he’s contributing, here’s his list:

  • Colorado Springs Gazette
  • Beverage Analyst
  • www.gabbygourmet.com
  • Out Front Colorado