For over 150 years Australian winemakers produce (mainly in NSW) heavy, high alcohol port- and sherry-like dessert wines. Resistance from Europe now led to the fact that terms such as “Port”, “Sherry”, “Hermitage”, etc. disappear. That does not detract from the quality and superior price-performance ratio. One of the most famous producer Peter van Gent is in Mudgee / NSW, which produces an outstanding Tawny Port. Absolutely at the top and sweet wines won gold medals with a hundred-fold Darren De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon’s “Noble One”.
Read the rest of this entry »
Australian Port, Sherry and Sauternes
Blockbuster Red Wines From Chile
If you think of values when you think of Chilean wines, think again. Two red wines in the $50 range are about to be released that by their price and their pedigree seek to place Chile among the world’s top red wine producers. One is made by veteran Chilean vintner Aurelio Montes, and the other is a joint venture between California’s Robert Mondavi wine group and Chile’s Viña Errazuriz.
Leading the charge is Montes Alpha M, which at $54 a bottle is the most expensive Chilean wine to date. The Montes Winery recently introduced its 1996 luxury red at a tasting in New York. The wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Cabernet Franc and Merlot blended in. It stands apart from other super Chileans, remarkable for its understated elegance.
Read the rest of this entry »
Leading the Way in Chile
Concha y Toro is big business. The biggest winery in Chile sold nearly six million cases of wine last year, for total revenues of nearly $75 million. A $25 million investment program is building new wineries and refurbishing old ones, and the company now tends nearly 5,000 acres of vines. The effort is paying off: Concha y Toro is leading the way in Chile.
The winery operates as a number of relatively independent units, which brings the size down to a manageable scale and gives talented winemakers the chance to express themselves. The result is good wines under a variety of labels and at many price points. It’s no wonder the company (which also includes the Walnut Crest brand) is responsible for more than 50 percent of all Chile’s wine exports to the United States.
Read the rest of this entry »
New Faces, New Wines
Chile’s wineries have been geared for over a century to satisfy local tastes, but what sells at home–oxidized whites and simple, often dried-out reds–has little appeal to international markets. To make the fresh, fruity varietals now so popular in the United States, they have had to reorient the vineyards, reengineer the wineries and reeducate the winemakers and grape growers.
“Clonal selection. Microclimates. Appellations. No one really studied these things.” Fernando Almeda, 28, is the winemaker at Miguel Torres’ winery in Curicó, 150 miles south of Santiago. He transferred here from the principal Torres winery in Spain two years ago. “I volunteered to come because of the challenge. I love this country. We can do great things here.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Derek Mackey interviews the winemakers
100 feet below the water’s surface and near the abyss of the Marianas Trench, the deepest area in the world, Eric Titus meticulously pulls core samples from the ocean floor. In 5 minutes he must begin is ascent to the surface to avoid the dangers of decompression illness. The porous limestone that comprises this island, in the heart of the Micronesian South Pacific Ocean, is leaking possible toxins. The US Navy has once again called upon his expertise in an effort to determine the impact that a seaside landfill has had on the local marine life.
This is Eric’s day job.
His other job is vineyard manager/marketing director, for family-owned winery, Titus. He works hand-in-hand with his brother Philip who is chief winemaker for Chappellet by day and Titus winemaker by night. Together they are carving a niche as up and coming California wine stars.
Read the rest of this entry »
Wine tasting fundamental
At a wine tasting they have the opportunity to taste several wines. Mostly it’s like inviting the winemakers, wine merchants and restaurateurs them to a wine tasting. Another variant of the wine sample, the sample through a specialized audience, which also will be awarded. With such a wine tasting of the wines will be evaluated on a consistent basis.
The third possibility is the wine tasting in a private setting. This is probably the loosest, and promises lots of fun. The proper temperature for white wines at 10-12 ° C and in red wines at 14-18 ° C. Red wines should already be a while before uncorking the wine tasting.
Read the rest of this entry »
Fungus resistant variety
More and more winemakers want to cultivate an environmentally friendly wine. Thus there are already dozens of Switzerland in the organic wine growers who opt out of chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. In most areas of high rainfall Switzerland but do mildew and other diseases of the vine to create.
Read the rest of this entry »
Organic Vitis Switzerland
Many winemakers want to grow close to nature:
More of the vintners in the desire to cultivate an environmentally friendly wine. Thus there are already dozens of Switzerland in the organic wine growers who opt out of chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. In most areas of high rainfall Switzerland but do mildew and other diseases of the vine to create.
Read the rest of this entry »
How to combine wine and food?
Connoisseur of wine will never buy a bottle on the label is not specified by the manufacturer, region, vintage and varietal composition of grapes. But besides the experts have a huge army of neophytes who have not yet learned to understand all these subtleties. They just know that they have for dinner today steak on the grill. Or pizza. Or roast chicken. And they should take appropriate drink to this dish.
But in fact, to counter label any bottle is usually written, with some dishes this wine is best to use. But – so small shaped as letters at the bottom. Immediately and do not make out.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sonoma county red table wine
As winemakers, much of what keeps our motivation high and our creative instincts flowing are the opportunities and challenges to source tremendous new grape sources and craft wines, which accurately reflect the unique micro-regions from which they were grown. As a consumer, you often see such efforts with vineyard specific or vineyard designated wines.
Read the rest of this entry »