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Wine, Beer and Spirits Part 1 Introduction and The Basic Wine Making Process
Wine, Beer and Spirits Part 1 Introduction and The Basic Wine Making Process Growing up in a rural area of northern Florida, I did not have much exposure to what many would call the fine qualities of living and life. Sure, we had enough to eat. Most farmers do.
Sure, we had good cotton jeans and shirts. Most people where we lived, also wore cotton jeans and shirts. Seems like everyone drove a Ford pickup; except the town Banker, who had a Cadillac. So, when my father got a job in a big city in central Florida, my life change and I began to learn that some people went to restaurants almost every night. Some had silk shirts. And there were more than two kinds of cars. Since, my first exposure to wine (a dark Mogen David Concord Wine at a friend's uncle's house), I knew that there was something special, different here. This was not grape juice. It made me feel light and warm. Latter, I began to learn about wines, beers and spirits when I worked at Bern's Steak House in Tampa, Florida. The learning process about wines, beers and spirits is forever a work in progress. I invite you to join me on a memory journey of experiences that I have had the pleasure to enjoy from these beverages. One does not have to consume any of these beverages to experience the joy that wine, beer and spirits have brought to the world of civilization. These beverage have civilized we humans; and they are a part of what makes us masters of our world. Here I will establish a basic knowledge of wine, beer and spirits. For some it will cover things you already know and use daily. But, like me when I first start learning about wine, beer and spirits it will help you get up to speed. This will be a mixture of academic and subjective information on these immense topics. Our journey will begin with basics on each subject and then move to more useful data of the process of growing, making and enjoying the finished product. Wine will be the first beverage we explore. We begin by following the wine making process from grape growing through the finished product that you enjoy. The first section offers helpful information, showing major red and white grape varietals, and a their production. Next there is a short history, tracing wine from its earliest known times to the present. Wine Evaluation basics will be covered next. In the forth section Wines of the World; major wine growing regions, grape varietals and typical wines will be discussed. A glossary will be provided at the end of each wine region. Because most people have wine with food, the art of matching them in endless combinations will be presented. The Basic Wine Making Process When you have heard wine experts discussing wine, you may have heard the term "terroir" used. The French wine makers use this all encompassing term to define where grapes vines grow. The closest meaning of "terroir" is "terrain" which defines the geographical area, a piece of land where the vines are grown and the grapes are harvested. Terroir includes also the physical properties of the land and how the climate influences the area, the vine, and the grapes. The French feel that there is a direct relationship between the quality of the wine and the "terroir". This helps explain why many French wines are named for the place where the soil is located. To explain "terroir", we take a specific location in France like the Northern Rhone region of Cote Rotie.(Image 1 & 2) Cote Rotie translates to "the roasted slope" which describes the direct sunlight shinning on the very steep hill where the vines are planted. This terrain is located by the Rhone River, which was established during the Roman occupation. Vineyards were planted by the Romans near the river because the water has a stabilizing effect on the climate and changes the growth and maturing of the grapes. In harsh winter periods the water helps regulate the climate temperature, thus preventing the vines from freezing. The summer sun literally cooks the grapes and in the spring the cliffs protect the vines from a destructive wind called the Mistral. The vines are planted among rocks in a sandy soil with limestone and iron qualities. There are 173 acres of vines which produce a full-bodied red wine that is then blended with different varieties to produce one of the most rare and expensive wines in the world. This is what "terroir" means. In the United States the phrase "growing a wine" refers to a similar concept as the traditional French term "terroir." An example of "growing a wine" in the United States is the early 1960's wines grown by Joe Heitz in the Napa Valley (Image 3) in California. Joe Heitz focused on making Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the French tradition. He found that a particular plot of land that had a unique soil composition that imparted special and specific characteristics to the grapes which made a distinct quality wine. This wine was recognized by its balsamic aromas from the soil and the eucalyptus flavor from the eucalyptus trees planted as wind break around the vineyard. Heitz bought these grapes and made a special wine called "Martha's Vineyard", named for the owner of the special plot of land. There are many qualities that can come into play, from the soil, to the location, to the temperature variations unique to a plot of soil in a vineyard. So important are these factors that where the vines are planted and what vines are planted are determined by the "terroir." Going all the way back to fourteenth century Europe, matching a particular grape variety to a specific "terroir" has taught the winemaker what works and does not work. Winemakers in California and Italy have this last century begun a new wine renaissance by experimenting with different soil type and different grape varietals. They are changing the winemaking rules and adding to enjoyment of these new wines. In the United State, the wines are called domestic and are most often named for their predominant grape variety. Although, some winemakers are beginning to follow the French in naming a wine for a place as well as the predominant grape variety. There are about four dozen different recognized grape varieties called vitis vinifera out of more than 5,000 species of grapes that are used to make the wines that most wine-lovers seek out. Next White and Red Varietals Part 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te-R%C3%B4tie_AOC
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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