Organic Wine - The Truth
April 28, 2008
Between organic wine and wine that is not classified as organic, is there any real difference or is it just marketing hype? - Missy in Pine Bluff, AR
An organic wine is defined as “a wine made from organically grown grapes and without any added sulfites by the USDA and must give information about who the certifying agency is.
A lot of savvy marketers will take advantage of certain overly zealous health nuts that want everything they touch to be “organic”. However, there is a specific reason why this trend has caught on, mainly being is that if made right organic wines can be just as high in quality than conventional wines if not more so. You have to stop and think for a moment that before the advent of industrialized farming which uses pesticides and powerful fertilizes, the craft of wine making has always truly been an organic process from vine to bottle.
Also, another contributing factor to the higher level of quality is because organic vineyards have a better resistance to bad weather and various diseases. Many organic wineries will use grapes from organic vineyards that hand pick their grapes vs. relying on mechanical pickers. This process provides the best bunches of grapes while at the same time saves the vine and soil from the damaging effects from the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers.
It’s definitely easy to be jaded when something is lauded as new and different with a shiny politically correct label slapped on it and some slick marketing behind it. But believe it or not I have tasted quite a few organic vintages and I have to say that they are on the top my list of some of my most favorite wines. Cheers!!
Do Your Wine Legs Have Body?
April 8, 2008
I notice sometimes that there are streaks of wine that flow back down into the glass after I take a sip. I’ve heard of this referred to as wine legs and I wanted to know what makes them. - Heather in Albany, GA
Ahhh… more wine trivia. Wine legs are something that any casual drinker has probably seen at one point or another and this term also goes by the name wine tears as the wonderful French call it. The principal behind why this happens is based upon the Marangoni effect. In simple terms this states that alcohol evaporates faster than water. The alcohol moves up the side of the glass as it evaporates, but since there is a film of water on top, it is pushed up in an arch.
As the ethanol evaporates, gravity takes over and the surface tension that is pulling the wine up is broken and the water runs back down into the glass in rivulets, hence the term. Some think that the more wine legs/wine tears the better the wine. Not necessarily so, to be straight forward, wine legs really won’t tell you that much when judging a wine based on appearance.
Although ethanol, which is the primary type of alcohol in wine is a major contributor to the “body” of a wine, having a bottle that has a high alcohol content does not guarantee a fullness or texture. Also, this phenomenon is usually seen in wines above 12% alcohol.
Regardless if this is a point of debate about a measure of quality for some people, it is definitely something interesting to look at, especially after you’ve had a few glasses. Believe it or not I have had some very curious conversations after I’ve made the comment to the person sitting next to me that they have great legs.
Cooking with Wine
April 3, 2008
Hi Wine Virgin, I’m planning a dinner and I’ll be cooking with wine. Does the type of wine varietal and quality really matter that much or can I choose something off the shelf and go with it? - Marlene in Burbank, CA
Marlene, simply put, when cooking with wine… it will definitely have an impact on the taste, along with your guests willingness to make the leap of faith and eat what you prepare. When selecting a wine to cook with, unless a recipe calls for it, use a dry wine and not a sweet one.
More often than not, white wine goes with fish, chicken and pork dishes. Where cooking with red wine fits nicely with beef. However, don’t be afraid to experiment. Cooking with white wine provides a wide range of opportunities to go after and doesn’t limit you.
When planning to cook with wine, it’s important to know beforehand what items you want to have a heightened flavor. Say for instance, adding a young wine with high acidity to a dish that is a bit on the mellow side to balance it out. Typically, I add a splash of wine to the meal that I know I will drink with the dinner itself. But this isn’t necessary. Also, since you’re cooking the wine, the wine varietal isn’t a big deal.
Select a good wine to cook with but not a wine that you wouldn’t want to drink and don’t use a wine that you would want to enjoy just by itself either. Definitely, do not use one that has been sitting in the fridge for a while and out of wine guilt, you feel like putting it to use.
Hey, I understand with being a lush myself how hard it can be to pour unused wine down the drain but still… don’t use an old oxidized bottle to prepare a meal with. Believe me, you will see that polite but “I really don’t want to eat this” look on their faces as the end up picking it over like a two year old brat.
Pigeage
March 18, 2008
Does pigeage still exist today as a way of getting the juice out of wine? - Jonas in Asheville, NC
Pigeage is a term for the traditional stomping of grapes in open fermentation tanks. This was practiced long ago and there are even ancient sites still around where you find stone pits that were hewn from the ground for this very purpose.
And yes for small scale wine making, the grapes are sometimes crushed by pigeage where the vintner uses their feet like a homemade wine press. But with the advent of mechanical pressers, these are used instead to mass produce wine on a very large scale and to increase their overall output of wine per ton.
Even so, pressing is not always a necessary act of wine making. If the grapes can be crushed by pigeage, the vintner is able to acquire a considerable amount of juice which is called free-run juice. Typically this free-run juice is of a higher quality than what you would normally find with press juice.
But what a fun way to make a few bottles with your friends just by hoping around in a bucket and stomping away. Hopefully for your sake you, you and your friends have clean-uninfected feet. Cheers!!
Ullage
March 13, 2008
I was wanting to know if the ullage of a wine can be used to indicate quality? - Gwen in Waterville, ME
When you are looking at a bottle and deciding if it is something that you are wanting to invest in. The ullage of a bottle will tell you about the condition of the contents. As a rule the larger the ullage, the more space for oxygen within the bottle which can hasten the aging process. This term refers to the unfilled air space at the top of a bottle of wine, which in this case is essential to allow for the expansion of the wine as the temperature changes.
During the wine fermentation process, the wine breathes through the cork and this adds complexity to the aromas and flavor of the wine. But if the fill levels are lower than what is normally expected for the wine’s age, it can lead to the decrease in the value of the bottle. Now, for a wine up to 20 years of age, it’s ullage level should be in the neck. As for wines 20 to 40 years old, anything below top shoulder should be viewed in caution.
Here is a quick reference guide when you are checking out a bottle of your favorite wine.
Mid neck: A mid neck fill tells if a wine that has been kept well.
Base neck: A lot of bottles are filled to the base neck level. For older wines this level indicates exceptional storage conditions.
Top shoulder: A wine which is over 10 years old with a top shoulder fill should be considered acceptable. Older wines will only have a top shoulder fill if they have been stored well.
Mid shoulder: A mid shoulder fill is not unusual for wines over 50 years old, but it may suggest that the wine has not been stored in the best of conditions.
Low shoulder: A low shoulder fill level suggests that the wine has been held in poor storage conditions and is usually not considered to be drinkable.
Below shoulder: This is not seen very often and can indicate that the ullage has dropped below the shoulder into the main section of the bottle with a very high chance that the wine is not drinkable.
Gwen, you are now armed with the right knowledge to judge whether or not you should pick up that curious bottle of wine and take it home with you. Cheers!!
Wine Crystals
March 11, 2008
Last night I opened up a bottle of white wine and noticed what looked like wine crystals down at the bottom of the bottle. Are these harmless and what causes them to form? - Ada in Norwich, CT
You really shouldn’t worry about wine crystals and actually crystals in wine can denote the level of quality. I’ll explain. These are more common in red wine where they take on the color of the wine and are regarded as part of the sediment. In white wine they remain clear and some people worry that they may be glass.
Sediments occur in bottled wine and the wine crystals you saw are a type of sediment. The wine crystals are potassium tartrate and this is found naturally in wine. It will precipitate and form these crystals under certain conditions especially at prolonged storage under cold temperatures. The processing required to guarantee that these crystals will never form is generally considered to diminish the quality of wine.
When you buy some bottles, they may already have crystals that have formed. Others may develop crystals while being stored in cold weather or simply refrigerated for a few days. Wine crystals come in various shapes and sizes. Sometimes they resemble tiny grape nuts or small pieces of ruby glass and will completely dissolve in warm or hot water. But again these wine crystals are completely harmless.
Don’t have a fit the next time you see these crystals and do not try to shake the bottle up in the hopes that it will dissolve them. Gently pour the wine into a glass and have a care free moment of bliss knowing that the crystals will harm you not.
Something Leesy
March 4, 2008
Would you please tell me what leesy means? - Martha in Crandon, WI
Leesy is a term referring to when a wine maker lets the wine sit on the lees for a longer period than normal during the wine fermentation process. As a primer, for those newly christened virgins out there, wine lees are a sediment consisting of dead yeast cells and other solid matter such as grape pulp etc.
Some wines are aged for a time on the wine lees which is a process known as sur lie and from there gives way to the term “leesy”. This produces a distinctive yeasty aroma and can actually give the wine extra flavor and body. Eventually the lees must be removed by racking the wine. As the sediment collects at the bottom of the container the wine is siphoned or poured off into a clean container before it is finally bottled.
If the wine sits too long on the lees if can ruin the flavor and aroma but most importantly, leaving it sit too long without racking will allow the formation of hydrogen-sulfide gas, this basically yields a smell like rotten eggs and after that you may as well just throw it out.
When you sit down after a long day to enjoy a glass of your favorite wine, stop to think about all the time and effort that has been invested in creating this wonderful elixir and really let your mouth savor all the aromas and flavor that high quality wines bring.
Wine Nose
March 4, 2008
Hello Wine Virgin, I would like to learn how to develop my wine nose. What do you suggest I do? - Matt in Nova Scotia, Canada
Wow, our first Canadian question… Matt, the first thing I would have to say in order to develop a good wine nose is simply sit back and relax. Try not to eating anything for two to three hours before you actually proceed with this process. Reason being is that the flavors from certain foods would interfere with you being able to fully appreciate the aromas and could possibly taint your first experience. What a horrible thing for a virgin.
Having a nose for wine makes the time spent well worth the effort and here is some information to help you get on your merry way. The nose or smell of a wine describes the perfume that is given off in the form of esters.
Esters are compounds produced by the reaction between acids and alcohol. This happens during the wine fermentation process and also as the wine ages. The contribution of esters to wine is an acetone smell that’s sweet and slightly fruity. Esters also contribute complexity to wine
Also, the nose is determined by the aromas and bouquets which are inherent to the wine itself. Aroma is the part of the smell derived from the grape such as a flowery nose. The bouquet comes from the aging of the wine in a cask or in a bottle e.g. a woody or nutty nose.
A wine virgin should judge the wine nose by sniffing the wine in an open glass. The nose of wine can range from very pronounced to moderate to subtle. A wine would lack nose if there was no discernible smell at all.
As a rule of thumb here are some guidelines for wines that have a nose which are pleasing: Fresh nose is a wine that is pleasant with a zesty charm. Flowery nose is a wine which is fragrant with an intense aroma of flowers that may have been involved during the wine fermentation process. A fruity nose is attractive and has a fresh quality with the smell of ripe grapes.
A fragrant wine nose is attractive and has a natural aroma while a spicy nose has a rich, herbal or spicy aroma. Clean nose is absence of unpleasant odors. Woody nose is a just as it sounds, a wine that has the scent of wood and finally a wine that has a yeasty nose can relate to how the wine was made, such as allowing the wine to remain on the wine lees which will give it certain hints of different flavors.
Now for wines with an unpleasant nose here are a few examples. A metallic nose is usually due or caused by metal contamination during wine-making or aging process. A moldy nose comes from the use of rotten grapes or stale, unclean casks or bottles.
Corky nose will give the faint smell of cork but not to be confused with corked wine. A sulfuric or matchstick nose has a similar smell of rotten eggs. An oxidized nose delivers a stale smell due to exposure to air and finally if wine has a vinegar like nose simply toss it due to it being unfit to drink.
Matt, follow these simple guide lines and let your nose show you the way. Cheers!!
The Wine Bottle Punt
February 28, 2008
What is the purpose of a wine bottle punt? - Adrian in Rochester, NY
Adrian, you must have been pretty sober to notice that, not to mention retain that question long enough to ask. You deserve a glass to balance out your heightened state of awareness and enjoy another for me too ok? The wine bottle punt is the concave bottom on wine bottles. The earliest origins of the punt are unknown but there is much curiosity that surrounds it’s purpose.
Wine bottle punts provided a stable platform that would not rock back and forth and this handy feature kept you from spilling the precious contents inside. Today a punt is not needed and exists only because a lot of people equate a wine bottle punt with the measure of quality. Nowadays wine bottles can be made that do not require a punt for strength or as a platform of stability.
Here’s an interesting task for an empty bottle. After you and a known wine virgin have finished it off, turn it on its side and spin it. You might get lucky. Cheers!!
Your Recipe for Homemade Wine
February 26, 2008
Hello Wine Virgin, last week I over heard a conversation my co-workers were having about a quick and easy recipe for homemade wine. I was wondering if you had a good answer? - Danielle in Fargo, ND
Isn’t that an interesting question? So basically you were spying on your co-workers and over heard them talking about a subject that brought out the natural lush in you and now you want to know an easy recipe for homemade wine so you can one-up them ehh?
Ok, sure why not? Hey that’s a great quality to have, staying on top of office gossip like that while making sure that you’re always in the know regardless of what you have to do get there.
Now this recipe is really, really simple. Below is everything that you will need to create wine and the exact step by step process to follow.
1.) A gallon of grape juice, red or white grapes are fine.
2.) 1 gallon of water
3.) 3-1/2 Lbs. of cane sugar
4.) 1 packet of wine yeast
5.) A 2.5 gallon food grade plastic bucket
Hey, keep in mind that even bakers yeast will work if you just can’t stand another day without having something unique fermenting in your closet. I would mention that you need to be as careful as you can with making sure that everything you use is sanitized properly… but then again, you did ask about a quick and easy recipe for homemade wine.
Mix the cane sugar with the water and bring it to a boil. Now after the sugar water has cooled down, mix it together with the juice and yeast in a food grade plastic bucket. Cover it with a trash bag, yes dear… a trash bag and make sure that it’s secured with a rubber band. Now, give it a day or two for the wine fermentation process to begin and you will soon notice that the trash bag has become filled with gas.
From here, you will need to siphon, or gently pour your wine mix into another bucket and leave anything that has settled down to the bottom of the bucket behind. Cover the bucket again with a new trash bag and continue siphoning or pouring your wine off into a “clean” bucket every two weeks for a six week wine fermantion process total. By then, most of the solids will have settled and your wine can be bottled. If you can steal a moment from the crazy pace of your Fargo office you will have a chance to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Remember, this recipe to make your wine will produce about 10 bottles, plenty enough to hand them out to your “friends” at work for their enjoyment, or envy… with more than enough left over to satisfy your cravings for an quick pick-me-up throughout the day. Enjoy!!