F_S 2195 Wine Final - Mizzou

4 Italian Wine Laws

There are 400+ wine zones in Italy falling into 4 categories:

1. Vino

2. IGT

3. DOC

4. DOCG

"Classic" Italian Wine

Often the original center of wine production in the area, superior surrounding areas

"Superior" Italian Wine

Contains a higher level of alcohol by volume than required of the corresponding normal wine

"Riserva" Italian Wine

Wines that have aged for a longer minimum period of time than regular wines

Italian Growing Climate

• The rugged terrain led to many different types of vines and winemaking techniques

• The Alps block most of the arctic air masses

• Northern tier has cooler climates (i.e. Piedmont, Veneto)

Italian Grape Varieties

Largely indigenous varieties with some French varieties as well; 400+ varieties permitted - Most popular:

1. Sangiovese (Red)

2. Trebbiano (White)

3. Catarratto (White)

4. Montepulciano (Red)

Tuscany

• Italy's most famous wine region

• Sangiovese = most important red grape variety

Piedmont (Italy)

• Located in northwest region and is the largest region of the Italian mainland

• Currently has more high-level wine appellations than any other region. 40+ DOCs and 16 DOCGs

• Home of Asti, Barolo, and Barbaresco

Veneto

• Best-known of the Tre Venezie region

• Home to 14 DOCGs

• Whites: Garganega, Prosecco (Glera), Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Grigio

• Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and a little Merlot

German Wines

• One of the most northernly growing regions in the world

• Known for producing excellent, crisp white wines

• Built its reputation on world-class Rieslings

• The Rhine & Mosel Rivers are the heart of lifeblood of German wine-making

Germany's Wine Laws

Follow the EU standard laws falling into 3 categories:

1. Wein - Basic wine category

2. ggA (Geschützte Geographische Angabe) - Country wine

3. uG (Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung) - New category as of 2009, includes QbA & QmP categories

Germany's Grape Varieties

Whites:

• Riesling - most widely planted

• Müller-Thurgau

• Weissburgunder - Pino Blanc

• Grauburgunder - Pino Gris

Reds:

• Spätburgunder - Pinot noir, most widely planted red grape

• Dornfelder

• Trollinger

Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete - QbA

• The lower level of the 2 uG categories

• Translation: "quality wine from a designated region"

• Must come from 1 of the 13 Anbaugebiete

Prädikatswein

• The highest quality level designation

• Wines must come from grapes grown in the same 13 Anbaugebiete as the Qualitätswein

Determining German Prädikat Levels

The levels are based on the ripeness achieved by the grapes at harvest

Kabinett (German Prädikat Level)

Wines from grapes picked during normal harvest minimum ripeness, generally lower in alcohol

Spätlese (German Prädikat Level)

• Wines made from late-harvest, fully ripened grapes

• More intense aromas and flavors than Kabinett

Auslese (German Prädikat Level)

• Wines made from very ripe grapes

• Harvested in selected bunches

• Rich bouquet and aroma

• Can have high alcohol content, 14%+

Beerenauslese (German Prädikat Level)

Sweet, rich dessert wines made from individually selected berries which may also be affected by botrytis

Trockenbeerenauslese (German Prädikat Level)

• Wines from individually picked berries

• Shriveled by botrytis almost to the point of being raisins

• Richest, sweetest of the dessert wines

• Very expensive

Eiswein (German Prädikat Level)

• "Ice wine"

• Made from BA or higher level grapes

• Harvested after they have frozen on the vine

• Must freeze naturally

Top 5 German Wine Regions

Most are located in the southwest of the country near rivers and mountains

1. Mosel - Large producer of Riesling

2. Rheingau - Most famous wine region, Riesling & Spatburgunder

3. Rheinhessen - Largest area

4. Pfalz - 2nd largest, produces 1/4 of Germany's Riesling

5. Franken

German Wine Labels

1. Producer name

2. Vintage date

3. Einzellage name (preceded by village name)

4. Grape variety

5. Prädikat level

6. Quality level

7. AP number

8. Anbaugebiet

9. Alcohol content

10. Volume

Austrian Wines

• Mostly dry white wines and excellent sweet wines

• Only the eastern part is suitable for winegrowing

• Cool continental climate

Austrian Wine Laws

Wine laws are one of the strictest in the EU, mostly based on the ripeness level of the grapes

Wine Regions of Austria

Lower Austria

• Largest & most important region

• Home to over 50% of Austrian vineyards

• 4 DACs here

Burgenland

• 2nd largest region

• Known for its dry red wines, primarily from

Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt

5 Greek Wine Laws

• OPE - Top level, sweet wines only

• OPAP - Wines of superior quality

• TO - Regional wine

• OKP - Special category for Retsina

• EO - Table wine

Greek Wine Quality

• Over 300 indigenous varieties

• One of the oldest winemaking regions

• Middle ages placed a high tax on wines hurting their industry

Greek Grape Varieties

Whites:

• Moschofilero - pink grape related to Pinot Gris

• Assyrtiko - High acidity, grown throughout Greece

• Muscat - Grown throughout Greece

• Roditis - Widely planted, produces easy drinking wines

Reds:

• Xynomavro - Largely grown in Macedonia

• Agiorgitiko - AKA St. George (important grape)

• Mavrodaphne - mainly used for sweet, fortified wines

Greek Retsina Wines

Greek rosé or white wine flavored with pine resin

Australian Winemaking

• First vineyards planted in the late 18th century but the industry didn't pick up until 1960's

• Most vineyards are located in the southeast part of the country

• No strict laws to regulate the wines but there are regulations that define viticultural regions and labeling laws

Australia's Grape Varieties

Whites:

• Chardonnay

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Semillon

• Riesling

Reds:

• Shiraz

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Merlot

• Pinot Noir

South Australian Wines

Barossa Valley/McLaren Vale

• Known for Shiraz

• Surrounds Adelaide

Clare Valley/Eden Valley

• Known for Riesling

• Also surrounds Adelaide

Coonawarra

• Famous for Cabernet Sauvignons

• Best-known area of the Limestone Coast

Riverland

• 2nd largest producer of wine

New South Wales Wines

Hunter Valley

• Home to the first vineyards in Australia

• Known for Semillons that age well

Mudgee

• Reputation for Cabernet Sauvignons

Riverina

• Largest by area & production

• Mostly bulk wine

Victoria Wines

Rutherglen

• Known for fortified Muscats

Yarra Valley/Mornington Peninsula

• Noted for still & sparkling wines

• Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

Heathcote

• Known for Shiraz

Western Australia Wines

The Margaret River is a cool growing region planted with both red and white grapes. The area is prized for white wines like Chardonnays, and intense Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends

New Zealand Wines

• 85% of production is focused on white grapes

• Most vineyards are on the North Island

• The Southern Alps keeps the eastern side warmer & drier on the South Island

New Zealand Grape Varieties

Whites

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Chardonnay

• Pinot Gris

• Riesling

Reds

• Pinot Noir

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Merlot

New Zealand Wine Laws

• Like Australia, no strict wine laws are in place

• All wine must be labeled as a product of New Zealand

Gisborne (NZ North Island)

• Self-proclaimed Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand

• 50% of the vineyards planted to Chardonnay

Hawkes Bay (NZ North Island)

• 2nd largest wine region in New Zealand

• One of the warmest regions

• Produces nearly 70% of the red wine other than Pinot Noir

Marlborough (NZ South Island)

• Northern tip of the South Island

• The largest wine region in New Zealand

• Home to nearly 60% of New Zealand's vines

• Most of the Sauvignon Blanc is grown here

Central Otago (NZ South Island)

• The most southerly winegrowing region in the world

• Known for Pinot Noirs

• Relatively new region

• Vineyard acreage doubled from 2003-2010

South African Wines

• Winemaking dates back to the 17th century

• More focused on quantity than quality

• Until 1991, wines were unknown in the U.S. due to trade sanctions with Africa over apartheid

3 South African Appellations

Stellenbosch District

• Known for Cabernet Sauvignon

• One of the oldest wine-growing areas

Robertson/Worcester Districts

• Further inland, hotter climate

• Known for fortified and dessert wines

Walker Bay District

• Cooler growing region

• Known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Chilean Wines

• 2nd largest wine producer in S. America

• Most vines are in the Central Valley, between the Andes and coastal mountains

• NEVER HAD PHYLLOXERA

• First vines were planted by the Spanish but France has the greatest influence on the wines of Chile

Chile Wine Varieties

Whites:

• Chardonnay

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Sauvignon Vert

Reds:

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Carmenère

• Merlot

• Pais - Most widely planted

3 Chilean Appellations

Central Valley

• 80% of Chile's acreage

• Largely focused on red varieties (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon)

Coquimbo

• Northern most fine wine region

• Limarí Valley - Chardonnay

• Choapa Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah

Aconcagua

• Aconcagua Valley - white grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon

• San Antonio Valley - close to the ocean, very cool, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc

Argentina

• Has the largest viticultural land & produces the most wines in South America

• 5th largest wine producing country

• Large Spanish & Italian population influences wine consumption

• Focuses on 2 main varieties: Malbec & Torrentés

Andes Mountain Growing Areas

Exceptional wine growing area lies on the slopes of the Andes Mountain:

• Provides a significant rain shadow

• Blocks winds from the Pacific Ocean

• Plenty of water for irrigation from the snowmelt

Argentine Wine Laws

3-Level system, enacted in 1991

•DOC - Highest level

• IG - Quality wines level below DOC level

• IP - Table/regional wines

**Instituto Nacional de Viniviticultura also regulates the wine industry

• Controls the pricing on Argentina's best wines

• All varietal wines must contain a minimum of 80% of the stated grape variety

Top 5 Argentine Grape Varieties

1. Malbec - signature grape

2. Bonarda

3. Cabernet Sauvignon

4. Pedro Giménez

5. Moscatel

Mendoza (Argentina)

• Over 70% of Argentina's vineyard acreage

• Located on the foothills of the Andes, with most vineyards planted at high elevations

Salta (Argentina)

• Some of the country's highest vineyard areas, reaching up to 7,000 feet above sea level

• Known for Torrentés

• One of the most northerly wine regions in Argentina

Growing Grapes in High Elevation

Maximizes UV light allowing the grapes to have thick skins and higher levels of anthocyanins, phenolics and tannins (i.e. Chile, California)

History of American Wine

Began with the first colonist, little success

↳ Native American grapes were deemed

↳ First vineyards belonged to Catholic missionaries for sacramental wines

↳ Wine remained an imported luxury until the 1800s

↳ The Gold Rush in 1849 increased the demand for alcohol

↳ By the early 1900s, California's wine industry was thriving

↳ Phylloxera & prohibition killed the industry

↳1960's: drinking wine became fashionable

↳ ...

US Wine Industry

• US is the 7th largest exporter and the 3rd largest importer of wine

• California produces 88% of American wines

• Over 10,000 commercial wineries in the U.S.

American Viticultural Area (AVA)

The process of defining wine regions in the United States began in 1978, very different from the EU, starting with Augusta, MO

US Three-Tiered System Laws

1. Producers/Suppliers (Wineries)

2. Distributors

3. Retailers

U.S. Wine Label Laws

Must include:

• Brand name

• Class/type of alcohol

• Alcohol content

• Name and address of the bottler/importer

• Origin (country or more specific)

• Net contents

• Sulfite warning

• Health warning

Napa Valley

• Best-known wine region

• 3/4 of Napa is devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon

• Chardonnay is the top white grape

• 17 AVAs

• Charles Krug found Napa in 1830's

Sonoma Valley

• Strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean

• 18 AVAs

• Buena Vista - the 1st commercial winery in Sonoma, established in 1857

• Has cooler climates near the Russian River

• Warmer climates in the NE corner

Mendocino County

• North of Sanoma, one of the northern-most wine regions in California

• 10 AVAs, 2 pending

• First small wineries were established in the 1850s when the prospectors failed at becoming rich finding gold

Lake County

• Many of the vineyards are 1,500-3,000 ft above sea level

• High elevation = more UV = thick skin, high tannins

• Clear Lake helps buffer the temperatures permitting grape growing in the hot inland interior

• Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot are most widely planted

• Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Chardonnay are also planted

Central Coast AVA

• A cool-climate area along the Pacific Coast between San Francisco & Santa Barbara

• Well-known for Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and other well-structured, light- to medium-bodied wines

• Includes Monterrey, a top 5 producing county in California

Washington Wines

• 2nd largest producer of vinifera wines in the U.S.

• Known for outstanding Cabernets and Merlots

• Cascade Mountain range protects the majority of the vineyards from rain

• 14 AVAs

Oregon Wines

• 4th largest producer of wine in the U.S

• Known for Pinot Noir

• Most of the vineyards lie west of the Cascades

• Home to 17 AVAs

New York Wines

• Produces less than 5% of national wines

• High summer humidity makes grape growing difficult - mold & disease

• Home to 7 AVAs

Canadian Wines

• Entered the wine industry in 1974

• Mainly produces in Ontario and British Columbia

• Canada's Vintners Quality Alliance(VQA), government-sanctioned appellation system, certifies quality wines on the basis of standards set by VQA

• Ice wine = Canadian specialty

Ontario Wine Production

• 85% of Ontario wineries are along the Great Lakes

• Known for Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Franc

Spain

• 3rd largest producer after Italy and France

• Over 2.5 million acres under vine, largest in the world

• Famous regions: Rioja, Sherry, Cava

Spanish Wine Laws

Spanish wine laws conform with the EU

• Vinos de Mesa/Wine - Table wine

• Vinos de la Tierra/PGI - Country wine

Spanish Grape Varieties

• Airén - *Most widely planted (white) grape, mostly used for brandy

• Tempranillo - Most important red variety

• Garnacha - Red

• Monastrell - Red

• Macabeo - White

Rioja (Spain)

• Most famous wine region is Spain

Varieties:

• Tempranillo (red) covers over 90% of vineyard area

• Tempranillo = backbone of the Spanish reds

• Viura is the most important white variety

Sherry Do (AKA Jerez or Xerez)

• One of the best-known fortified wines of the world

Grapes from this region: (all whites)

• Palomino

• Pedro Ximenez PX

• Moscatel

Flor

A floating yeast that survives in the presence of oxygen and helps protect the Sherry, characteristic flavor

2 Styles of Sherry

ALL SHERRY BEGINS DRY

1. Fino Sherry

• Manzanilla - produced seaside

• Fino - pale, low alcohol

• Amontillado

2. Oloroso Sherry

• Oloroso - Sherry that ages without flor

• Cream - a sweetened Oloroso

Pendes (Spain)

• Main production areas for Cava

• Focus is on white wines

• First region to use stainless steel equipment and temperature controlled fermentation techniques

Cava

Spain's sparkling wine made in the traditional (Champagne) method

Portugal

• Well known for their fortified wines, Port and Madeira

• Successful with white Vinho Verde wines exported to the U.S.

3 Climates in Portugal

• Maritime - in the northwestern corner

• Mediterranean - along the coasts

• Continental - the interior sections

Portuguese Wine Laws

Conforms with EU standards

Classification pyramid contains 3 levels:

1. Vinho de Portugal - Basic table wine

2. Vinho regional (VR) - country wines from 1 of the 14 VR regions

3. Denominacaco de origem controllada (DOC) - the primary category for quality wines, currently 29 DOCs

Port Wine Styles

Produced by stopping the fermentation through fortification and adding a high-alcohol spirit during the fermentation process

• Most ports are wood aged - ready to drink after being bottled & shipped

Madeira (Portugal)

• Small volcanic island home to Portugal's 2nd fortified wine

• All fortified wines produced in Madeira fall under the Madeira DOC

• Comes in both dry and sweet styles

The "Noble" Grapes of Madeira

• Tinta Negra Mole - Most widely planted grape on the island

• Sercial - Dries; grows half-way up the mountain side

• Verdelho (Gouveio) - Planted slightly lower

• Malvasia - Planted near sea level

Aromatic White Wines

Contains higher levels of aroma compounds. Best served in a slightly warm aroma collector

Types of Aromatic White Wines

Range in taste, from light body to intense, from dry to sweet

Terpenes

Diverse family of compounds with carbon skeletons composed of five-carbon isopentyl (isoprene) units; Associated with odor

Monoterpenes

• Terpene with 10 carbon atoms (two isoprene subunits)

• More linalool and geraniol = stronger flavor intensity of the grape

• Involved in plant communication

Monoterpenes in Grapes

• Free monoterpenes produced during ripening, post-veraison

• Found in both skins and flesh

• Sensitive to viticultural practices, soil type, sunlight exposure, water deficit, basal leaf removal, crop thinning

• Increasing terpene concentration doesn't increase sensory perception

Oak Barrels Effects on Wine

• Adds flavor complexity and depth

• Slight oxidation (favorable)

• Plays up varietal aromas

• Enhances character & texture

Cooperage

Factory that makes barrels

Stave

Long pieces of wood that come together to make up the body of a barrel

Preferred Woods for Cooperage

White oak family: Quercus alba, Quercus robur, Quercus sessilis, and American Oaks

- French oak is less dense than American oak

Oak benefits wines:

• Color

• Flavor

• Tannin profile

• Mouthfeel

Terroir

The characteristic aroma/taste of a wine imparted by the environment it was produced

4 Influences of Terroir Wines

1. Climate: cool/warm

2. Soil: rocky/clay

3. Tradition: old world/new world

4. Terrain: valley/slope or high/low elevation

Blending Wines

• Owe characteristics to winemaking practice

• Hard to trace grape origin

• Produced through blending grapes from a large geographic area and a variety of sources

• Branded wines

Soil

• Best quality wines are generally produced on vines grown on poor soils

• Soil impacts a vines mineral nutrition and water uptake

Terrain

• Slopes favor cold air drainage

• Growing on slopes increases sunlight interception by vines

• Higher altitude growing areas delay maturity

Malolactic Fermentation

Tart malic acid in wine is converted to softer, creamier lactic acid to reduce acidity and releases carbon dioxide