About

Tom Fiorina

My circuitous communication career has included having worked for Silicon Valley start-ups, helping international companies to market their products in foreign lands, and, while employed at Europe’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, trying to convince employees that selling bottled, sugary fizzy water was some sort of divine mission. But my most rewarding job, bar none, was being probably the only American walnut farmer in France’s southwest with an MBA. And probably the greatest compliment that I’ve ever received was when my 75-year-old neighbor, who had been a farmer all of his life, told me that I worked like a true “Perigordin.”

And it’s in that spirit that this wine blog was created. The 21st century is a tumultuous period for French winemakers. Declining wine consumption in France, stricter alcohol restrictions for drivers, the pulling up of old vines, and competition from New World wines are altering its wine landscape. Some French winemakers are thriving, however. The most common characteristic of their wine is the use of low-yield, low-interventionist techniques that result in original, well-crafted wines. This blog is dedicated to these men and women. Contact me at tomfiorina(at)thevineroute.com to discuss wine, France or any related subjects.

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