In Pursuit of Balance to close

In Pursuit of Balance, a group of California wineries that came together to promote wines of elegance and restraint, is to hold its last tasting in November.

Rajat Parr at the London tasting in February

Founded in 2011 by Jasmine Hirsch, general manger of Hirsch Vineyards in Sonoma, and Rajat Parr, who recently acquired Sandi Wines from Charles Banks, In Pursuit of Balance will cease operations at the end of 2016.

The group’s final tasting will be held in San Francisco in early November.

“We created IPOB to change the dialogue around the meaning and importance of balance in California wine at a time when this conversation was not taking place on a broad and public level.

“We achieved what we intended – to bring the debate around balance and winemaking styles to the forefront of the wine community. This debate will continue in California and around the world, and it is by no means finished. We wanted to end on a high note,” Hirsch said.

“We’re gratified by the response of wine producers, the wine trade, and wine lovers who have accompanied us on our endeavor to affect the dialogue surrounding California wine,” she added.

IPOB’s mission, defined in its Manifesto of Balance, has been to bring together like-minded winemakers, sommeliers, retailers, journalists and consumers who believe in the potential of California to produce balanced Pinots and Chardonnays.

Jasmine Hirsch

Each year, California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers were accepted for membership to the group after submitting their wines to a blind tasting panel.

“IPOB was founded to show what balance in wine means to us. It started as a small event to draw attention to producers who weren’t chasing after ratings from wine critics,” Parr said.

“It wasn’t supposed to be an ideological war, but we felt that balanced wines in California weren’t being paid enough attention to by the wine community, so we decided to shine some light on what we were doing,” he added.

IPOB organised a series of tastings and seminars around the world, showcasing California wines that reflect their origins and have lower alcohol levels.

The group held its first tasting in London this February, where Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat spoke of the importance of kicking high alcohol out of bed.

Ted Lemon of Littoria meanwhile, admitted that the global financial crisis led to increased freedom for winemakers to make the kind of wines they really like.

The 36 producers involved with IPOB include some of California’s most respected Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, such as Mount Eden Vineyards, Littorai, Copain and Au Bon Climat, alongside a new generation producers like Kutch, Wind Gap, Matthiasson and Chanin.