Happenings at TWC
Rhône White Grapes in Texas
Texas grape growers and wine makers are planting and vinifyingt more white grapes that originate in hotter climates, such as the southern regions of France near the Mediterranean Sea coast. The best-known of these include Viognier, the key grape in the northern Rhône appellation of Condrieu; Roussanne, an important component of white blends in the southern Rhône appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Marsanne, a primary grape in white blends from the famed northern Rhône appellation of Hermitage. Continue »
May 25, 2017 at 1:37 PM
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Aging Wine – Some Guidelines
How long will a wine age? Don’t wines get better with age? There are no simple answers to these questions, but the following guidelines should help you understand the topic of aging wine – all wines, not just Texas wines. Continue »
May 10, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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How Many Calories Are In My Wine?
Calories in wine are often a concern, especially for folks who are watching their calorie intake. Although wines are naturally very low in carbohydrates, calories in wine can come from two sources: 1) ethyl alcohol, the conversion product of sugar in the original grapes (or other fruit) and 2) any residual sugar left in or added to the wine before bottling. In general, dry wines, in which all grape sugar has been fermented to alcohol, tend to have a slightly lower calorie count. Wines that have been sweetened with addition of sugar or fruit syrup tend to have more calories. And, fortified wines with more alcohol, especially those like port which have significant residual sugar, will have the most calories. So, how does one determine how many calories are in that glass of wine. Continue »
Apr 27, 2017 at 8:42 AM
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Frost Protection for Texas Grapes
During a recent trip to the Texas High Plains, a major topic of conversation with grape growers was the concern over spring frosts and the methods available to mitigate freeze damage to young vine tissue and grapes. Texas in general, especially the High Plains, is noted for turbulent and unpredictable weather that often brings frigid temperatures soon after bud break when grapevines are most susceptible to frost damage. Four methods of commonly used frost protection are described below. Please note that none of these are fool-proof, and all are expensive, unfortunately adding cost to Texas grapes, and therefore to Texas wines. Continue »
Apr 14, 2017 at 8:00 AM
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Thoughts on Using a Waiter’s Corkscrew
A recent question and series of replies on Facebook prompted me to write about the use of a standard waiter’s corkscrew when opening a wine. The question that was asked related to whether users tended to pull the cork out of the bottle with the hand on top of the corkscrew handle, versus lifting the cork out with the hand underneath the corkscrew handle. I have a fairly strong opinion on this matter, but there are extenuating circumstances that should be addressed before making a final pronouncement. Continue »
Mar 29, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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Roussanne – Richness from the Mediterranean
Roussanne (roos-ahn or roos-ann) is believed to be native to the Rhône Valley near the Mediterranean Sea in Southern France. Although most of the world’s Roussanne is today grown in the Rhône Valley, other regions, especially Texas, are beginning to show interest in the variety. In the Southern Rhône, Roussanne is one of six white grape varieties permitted in the famous wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (blanc & rouge). It is often blended with Grenache Blanc, which adds richness and crisp acidity to Roussanne’s pear and honey flavors. In the Northern Rhône, Roussanne is frequently blended with Marsanne to provide acidity, minerality and richness. Limited plantings have been made in Australia, Italy, and the U.S., particularly in CA’s Central Coast, WA’s Yakima Valley and Texas. Continue »
Mar 15, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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Oak Barrels for Wine – Part Four
Oak barrels are most often used for aging wines after the initial fermentation that is usually done in stainless steel tanks or plastic tanks/bins. However, actual fermentation in barrels is also a time-honored process. Chardonnay is the varietal most often fermented in oak. Common characteristics for barrel fermented chardonnay include coconut, cinnamon and cloves, and an overall toasted, silky texture with notes of bread dough, caramel and butter cream. Because of the toasted inner surface of the barrel, the wine will usually be darker gold in color than similar wine fermented in tank. Fermentation of red wines in barrel will bring out a toasty, smokiness with notes of mocha and dark toffee. Continue »
Comments (1)Oak Barrels for Wine – Part Three
Different barrels from different oak sources and cooperages are often called the “winemakers’ spice rack.” From experience, a winemaker learns what barrel types best impart desired aromas and flavors into different varieties and styles of wine. New barrels impart far more flavor into a wine than a used barrel. Typically a new barrel gives up 55-65% of its flavoring components during the first use. Second use can impart 20-35% flavoring while third and fourth use impart 15-25% and 10-15%, respectively. Over time oak flavoring properties are "leached" out of the barrel and less wood flavoring is available for the vintage of wine stored in the barrel. Continue »
Feb 15, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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Oak Barrels for Wine – Part Two
A cooper, or barrel maker, has the time-honored task of creating a liquid tight container (an oak wine barrel) from a pile of wooden staves. The staves are heated, traditionally over an open fire but more frequently now with infrared radiant heaters or steam, until they become pliable. The staves are then bent into the desired shape and bound together with iron rings. The heating process “toasts” the barrel which creates a number of flavor components from wood chemicals and brings them to the surface for eventual contact with the wine. The toasting can be light, medium, medium-plus or heavy, even charred (think Jack Daniels Whiskey barrel). Following the traditional, hand-worked style, a cooper is typically able to construct one-to-two oak barrels per day. Continue »
Oak Barrels for Wine – Part One
Oak is an important winemaking tool that can have significant impact: influencing color, flavor, tannin profile and even the texture of wine. Oak treatment normally occurs when wine is fermented and/or aged in barrels, but increasingly oak alternatives, chips, pellets, staves, etc., are used to add oak influence to wine in other vessels, e.g., stainless steel or plastic tanks. Continue »
Jan 18, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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