Great Grape News

November 2001

"To arrive at the answer, let's look backwards. Each grape weighs about 2 grams, and there are, on an average, 75 grapes per cluster. Each cluster weighs about 150 grams, and each vine produces about 40 clusters, or 13.2 pounds of fruit. With 400 vines per acre, that's roughly 2.6 tons of fruit per acre.

Generally, a ton of grapes yields 1770 gallons of juice. Therefore, 2.6 tons yield 403 gallons or 160 cases or 2,034 bottles of wine. Divided by 2.38 gallons per case and you find that it takes 94.4 clusters to produce a 12-bottle case, which breaks down to 7.86 clusters, or 589.5 grapes per bottle." 

Of course, the answer depends on a number of variables. Size of the grape being the most important. Cabernet grapes are smaller (about 1.3 grams each) than Merlot grapes (1.5 grams each) for example. 

Many high-end wines use more grapes per bottle. Chateau Palmer, for example, estimates about 680-750 grapes per bottle. In addition, dessert wines that use shriveled grapes will use substantially more per bottle.
 

Wine Barrels
Why barrels? Barrels are used by a winemaker to: Change a wine's character by either fermenting or aging it in wooden barrels. Impart complementary flavors and aromas to a wine — these flavors can come directly from the toasted wood and/or from the complex interaction with yeast "lies" (yeast sediment). Store the wine in a convenient container. It's functional, suitably sized and allows for individual attention and care for the wine.

Effects of wood on wine:
Allow for gentle aging, helping a wine evolve from young and "green" to mature and complex. Barrels allow for very subtle exchanges of oxygen, moisture and alcohol to aid this aging process. Wine extracts tannins from the wood.

Types of wood for wine barrels: White Oak species are by far the most commonly used in wine making. White oak is well suited for wine barrels because of its aroma characteristics and its unique ability to hold liquids without leaking. Other less common woods include Chestnut in Italy or Redwood for standing tanks in California. 

Sources of Oak:
Just as the vines and grapes are distinctly different when grown under different conditions or in different areas, so too with oak trees. The considerations of climate, soil, age, and local growing conditions are all important in making quality barrels. French forests (from the center of France), such as Limousin, Allier, Vosges, Nevers, and Troncais.

North American forests in Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia/Ohio, Pennsylvania and Oregon.

Other important growing conditions: Shallow drained soils, mature forest conditions with partial shade.

Age: Typically trees 30 years and older are used. 

Climate: Relatively cool regions are typically preferred for slower growth and tighter grain.

 White Wines:
Most of our Chardonnay sees interaction with oak barrels - either fermentation, aging or both. This interaction gives richness, complexity and toasty flavors to the wines. 

Red Wines:
Barrels are the perfect vessel to age young red wines to maturity. Wines soak up vanilla and toast notes and have a chance to mature slowly. 

Glühwein - Wine for cold days
"Glühwein" or "hot spiced wine" is a tasty drink to have and enjoy when it is cold outside. In the U.S. it is also known as “Glow Wine”.

 Glühwein should be (but not always is) made using a full-bodied red wine, such as a red Bordeaux, or Burgundy and a number of spices blended in during the making of it.

Of course, you can make Glühwein yourself from scratch. It's easy and quick to make and almost always the homemade Glühwein tastes better.

Get a large bottle of some red wine. It does not have to be an expensive wine. A full-bodied red will do, but try to avoid a heavy oak’ed red. A simple Gallo Burgundy will do.

Pour the wine, or the number of servings you wish to make into a saucepan. For each cup add 3-4 cloves and a cinnamon stick. Not required, but if available add a shot of huckleberry

Heat the wine up on the stove to about 170 degrees. Do not let it boil (no bubbles), just heat up until it steams. You do not want to cook all the alcohol out of it. 

You may add a small piece of lemon and/or nutmeg to vary the taste. Serve hot. As a final note, Glühwein makes a refreshing beverage as well when consumed over ice.
 

What does " Reserve" mean?
There was a time when “Reserve”,  “Private Reserve”, or “Proprietor's Reserve” had a meaning and conveyed to the wine drinker to expect something “special” inside that wine bottle. Consumers were pre-pared to spend a little more to taste that special bottle of wine, created from extraordinary grapes and produced in a manner that sets it apart from the rest.

It seems to me times have changed and that too many wineries exploit the term by labeling every product in their inventory with that term. “Private Reserve” is not a legal classification and any winemaker can stamp their label with that designation. The misuse of the term is particularly prevalent in South American wines. This is not to say that these wines are of poor quality. Indeed, many South America produces some of the finest quality wines at a remarkable compatible price, but when all products from a winery have “Reserve” printed on their label, then what's the point?

One U.S. winemaker has come to the same conclusion. Presently Robert Mondavi is widely using the “Reserve” term in their product line. Recently the winery an-nounced that they would discon-tinue using the term for its top-of-the-line Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Let's hope others will follow this example.

So, what should we expect form a bottle that is termed “Private Reserve”?

I would hope for the winemaker to use his/her best quality grapes for a specific vintage. Producing two million cases a year of a Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is not something I would expect. The quantity produced should be in the hundreds and not thousands of bottles

Depending upon the type of material used to make the cask, for example oak, some vintages require longer periods of fermentation, thereby creating a new private vintage. Additionally, the wine may be aged in new oak for much longer periods, say 2-3 years, instead of the usual 6-12 months. Of course, I expect the wine to have all the right characteristics, such as tannins and body, for long term aging (10 years or more).

Merry Christmas – What to Give?
If you are like me we will run into each other at the mall a day or two before Christmas Day desperately searching for the last minute gift.

Did you know that Bay Country Liquors offers several gifts that are appropriate throughout the year? How about a fancy corkscrew for the wine loving friends? We also offer Riedel and Spiegelau wineglasses sets and matching decanters. And – for the person who has everything how about a Distilling Machine. Imported from Italy, it is a working*1 model of a distillery, made from all glass. These and many more gifts are available through our Website at www.baycountryliquors.com.

Of course, for the spirits con-noisseur we have gifts as well. From fine premium imported Vodka to thirty year old Scotch Whisky. Stop by and browse around. Take a look at the many different spirits and ask questions. We are sorry, but liquor laws prohibit us from shipping spirits..

*1 Please note that the Distilling Machine is sold for the purpose of display only. It is against Federal laws to produce spirits without properly being licensed.