Comments on: Stogie Commentary: Cigars Should Embrace the Wine Model

By: Stogie Commentary: Cigar Labeling… What’s in a Name?

Stogie Commentary: Cigar Labeling… What’s in a Name? — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:01:59 +0000

[...] Old Clone, Vineyard Select, Select Harvest, Bottle Aged and Barrel Select – are quite similar to terms used in cigar [...]

By: The vintage cigar | Best Cigar Blog

The vintage cigar | Best Cigar Blog — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:50:14 +0000

[...] guys have a great post today on labeling high-end cigars with aging dates. Having in the past made a fantastic argument on why cigars should embrace the wine model of labeling by breaking down not only aging dates but information on the tobacco used in the [...]

By: Stogie Commentary: Just the Facts Ma’am

Stogie Commentary: Just the Facts Ma’am — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:02:39 +0000

[...] Cigars should welcome that approach, even if it means dispensing with the idea that every cigar is best smoked immediately after it is released. Doing so would encourage cigar smokers to become collectors who want to learn more about the cigars they buy and how to get the most out of them through aging. [...]

By: Doc

Doc — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:27:20 +0000

Very nicely done Patrick! The wine industry is way ahead of the cigar industry in systematically educating the wine consumer. And, it has paid dividends in increased wine consciousness and more people choosing to become hobbyists and collectors. It also helps justify the higher prices, when you understand all the processes and complexities that go into making a bottle of wine.

As for standards, there will need to be some standards. For example, what does "vintage" mean when applied to cigars? For some it is the year the wrapper was harvested (e.g., Perdomo Estate Selection Vintage 1991) For others it refers (loosely) to the age (in years) of the wrapper leaf (e.g., Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 and 1992). For others it is the harvest date of the filler and binder tobacco (e.g., Bahia Vintage). And yet for others, vintage is the release date (LG Diez Vintage 2008). This is a moving target that will continue to confuse cigar consumers and will continue to render the term meaningless.

Other terms that could be standardized would be aging terms. It is important to note the difference between the age of tobacco prior to versus after rolling cigars. So, yes, I do believe that some terms should be standardized. However, standardization will not be the greatest challenge, but rather it is REGULATION that will be of primary concern. That is another story…

By: Patrick S

Patrick S — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:53:09 +0000

Thanks for all the kind words about the commentary. George- I do think that Doc's petition addresses much of this, although I'd make one small caveat to the petition's demands: I don't think standardization (as Doc wants) is needed so much as simply more information. With wine the information varies greatly, but virtually every wine maker has considerably more information than all but a few boxes of cigars.

By: abu dhabi

abu dhabi — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:37:50 +0000

I agree with you, and this is the reason I like Cuban crafter s" details". How ever I guess manufacturers have the right to keep there secret blends hidden "copy Rights"

By: JB

JB — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:25:46 +0000

I think that the difference between the wine and cigar industries is that most wine companies sell wine made from grapes grown on their own estates and produced in one area. The cigar industry has many growers and producers that buy and sell tobacco from each other and create blends that may originate from several different regions and countries from all over the world. I think that cigar manufacturers like to remain quiet because they may be buying the same tobacco that their competitors are using and they wouldn't want the consumer or their rivals knowing that.

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:54:14 +0000

Now that's what I call hitting the nail on the head! As both a wine and cigar lover (I often pair the two unlike many people I talk to), I haved hoped for some time that cigar manufacturers would offer the type of detail about their creations that wine makers do. It would also be nice to see cigar manufactures label their cigars with general but more detailed information about the "smoking experience" one might have with a particular cigar as wine makers do. I have certain taste preferences that I shop for in wine and would struggle quite a bit more with my choices if all I had to go by was a description of medium or full bodied as the description. Thanks for all the great work you do on this site!

By: Gregory

Gregory — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:48:01 +0000

Wow, what a great commentary. I completely agree, more information will allow me to educate myself more on the brands and cigars that I enjoy. Like you said it will only allow you to appreciate the time and effort that goes in to the cigar. Great commentary!

By: George E.

George E. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:24:14 +0000

Great commentary. Readers might also want to check out Doc Stogie's petition drive (http://www.stogiefresh.com/petition/) to get more info from cigar makers.