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Wine 101 - The Making of Wines |
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The production of wines includes two
main steps. The first is called
viticulture which is the process of
growing the grapes. The second is
called vinification which is the
process of transforming the grapes
into wine. A description of the
process of producing wine must begin
with the rootstock and vine. Almost
all wine consumed is made from a
species of grape vine known as the
vitus vinifera, or wine vine. All
wine consumed is actually rain
recovered from the ground by the
vine that bears the grapes. For the
first few years of its life a young
vine is creating a root system and
building a strong woody stalk.
During the first few years it bears
no more than a few grapes. A vine
that is annually cut back to a small
number of buds will grow higher
quality grapes. The pruning is done
each year during mid-winter because
at this time the plant is dormant
and will not lose much sap from its
wounds. As a vine ages, its main
roots burrow deeper into the ground.
While the vine is young and its
roots are near the surface they are
susceptible to damage from flooding
and droughts. The prime age of a
vine is when it is between 12 and 40
years old. Because of this a young
vine is not as valuable as a much
more mature vine. The French often
use the term vieilles vignes, which
means old vines, so that the
consumer will know that the wine was
made from some of the most mature
vines in the vineyards. Some
California labels also have the term
"old vine." The highest quality
soils drain deeply and quickly which
draws the roots down to deeper
depths to discover a stable water
supply. Also, the vine is
continuously growing new feeder
roots close to the surface.
Each vine has several basic parts.
The visible part of the vine is
called the vitus vinifera. The scion
produces the shoots. During the
winter the shoots will mature and
transform into canes. Each cane will
have about a dozen buds and each of
these will form a shoot. Flowers
will grow on shoots formed in the
springtime of the year. These
flowers will later become fruit. A
spur is a cane that has been pruned
very short. It has only a few buds.
By the close of the following year,
the spurs and canes are old wood and
are frequently removed at pruning
with replacement spurs or canes
having been allowed to form.
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Dear Friends,
We have the following new wines available
for tasting at Englebardt's for
the next two weeks starting
today:
1.
San Giuseppe Pinot Grigio
San
Giuseppe is the fastest growing
Pinot Grigio in the eastern U.S. It
has a light-bodied and delicate
taste and is a fine complement to
salads, seafood, white meats,
risottos and young cheeses.
Pinot
Grigio Veneto is created from 100%
Pinot Grigio grapes grown on San
Giuseppe's own estates. As Pinot
Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir,
the fruit ranges in color from
golden yellow to a dark pinkish hue,
some showing an entire rainbow of
colors on their skins. The grapes
impart plenty of crisp, delicious
flavor into the finished wine.
San
Giuseppe Pinot Grigio grapes are
grown on the left bank of the river
Piave in Northern Italy. By
harvesting these grapes at their
peak maturity, winemakers take
advantage of the natural gifts of
the fruit. Vinified "white" by
removing the skins from the juice,
the wine of these carefully picked
grapes are destined to become a
favorite at the dinner table.
Delicately fragrant and mildly
floral, San Giuseppe Pinot Grigio
boasts a pale, straw-like yellow
color with a hint of reflective
gold. Its silk-like texture,
combined with a light-bodied and
delicate taste, awakens the palate
with intense fruit flavor that is
instantly refreshing. This white
wine best displays its unique bounty
when well chilled.
2.
Concha Y Toro Frontera Pinot Grigio
Pinot
Grigio is one of the world's most
popular wines. Also known under the
French moniker "Pinot Gris," and
even the German "Ruländer" among
others, Pinot Grigio is a chameleon
of a grape. It is produced in a
range of styles, from the light
fruity Italian style that has gained
popularity, to a more mineral,
flinty rich wine favored by the
French - particularly in Alsace -
and emulated by many in the new
world.
3.
Monte Antico 2006 Toscana
#61 on
Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of
2009. The wine is 75 percent
Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 10
percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It is
produced from 25-year-old vines
minimum, mainly from Pisa, Maremma
and Chianti Classico areas. The
quality of the 2006 vintage in
Tuscany is noticeable on this wine.
This is an excellent Sangiovese
year. The aromatic quality of
Sangiovese is amazing for most wines
from Tuscany. The 2006 Monte Antico
has lovely plums, berries and fresh
acidity.
4. Casillero del Diablo
Collection & Valleys Reserva
Inicio
A Premium wine line
elaborated with selected
grapes from the richest
Chilean valleys. Each
creation expresses all the
essence and core features of
its variety, in a blend of
bouquets, flavors and style
worked on with delicacy.
Casillero del Diablo Reserva
has developed a magnificent
variety that consolidated as
the Chilean Brand with the
Widest Range of Premium
Wines.
Through its Premium Line,
Casillero del Diablo offers
the discovery of the essence
of Chilean valleys together
with the best expressions of
most traditional varieties
as Cabernet Sauvignon,
emblematic, like Carmenere
or exotic ones as the fresh
and aromatic Viognier.
5. 2008 Santa
Florentina Malbec
Medium bodied juicy red with
soft fruit aromas and flavors.
A delicious glass of smooth
juicy pleasure.
6. Smoking Loon Syrah 2007
·Light & Fruity: Red wines that
are more fruit-forward and
lighter in tannin and body.
·Smooth & Supple: Medium bodied
reds that go down easy, with
smooth tannins and supple fruit.
·Earthy & Spicy: Wines where
earthy and/or spicy dominate the
flavors - typically medium to
full body.
·Big & Bold: Full bodied wines
that have concentrated fruit and
are higher in alcohol and/or
tannins. Some need age.
With inky purple color,this wine
reveals scents of wild
strawberry, mocha, and caramel
with touches of sage
and rosemary. The flavors burst
through with intense blueberry
and strawberry jam notes wrapped
around rich French oak and
finishing with touches f milk
chocolate, sweetened
cranberriesand savory herbs.
This wine would be great with a
number of intensely spiced
dishes such as Korean BBQ,
Teriyaki Beef, or your favorite
spicy BBQ sauce on grilled
chicken. Moussaka, or grilled
elk loin would also work well
for those a bit more daring. Our
Syrah can even stand up to a
dessert of wild berries over a
dark chocolate mousse.
7. Veramonte
When Veramonte
first introduced its
Sauvignon Blanc in the
1990s, restaurants were
progressive if they had even
one Sauvignon Blanc by the
glass. Today, Saivignon
Blanc is a favorite white
wine with salads, lighter
flare, sushi and all manner
of Asian foods. Chilean
Sauvignon Blanc is poised to
take center stage with its
racy and vibrant style.
Located alongside a creek
that runs from high in the
hills of El Mauco, Sauvignon
Blanc vineyards at Veramonte
are managed with air tunnels
through the canopy, to
preserve airflow and with
specific canopy adjustments
to manage sunlight all to
retain freshness and
aromatics. Carefully
controlled fermentations in
the winery also maintain the
wine's vibrant fruit and
aromas. The wine is
entirely fermented in
stainless steel, never
touching oak, so that it has
freshness and lively aromas
and flavors.
8. Concha y Toro
Casillero Del Diablo
Merlot 2007
Winemaker's notes:
Casillero del Diablo Merlot
is big in volume and smooth,
while exhibiting great
structure. Dark and deep red
color. Luscious fruit
flavors: cherries, currants,
berries and plums. On the
palate, hints of mocha and
herbs, generously framed by
toasty American oak. It has
a mouth filling texture and
is soft, but well
structured. This wine is an
excellent complement to a
variety of cheeses, meats
and pasta dishes.
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We will be hosting the
following tasting events at
Englebardt's:
Friday May 28, 2010
Hrs
5PM - 7PM
Tasting
Bacardi
Classic Cocktails
PINA
COLADA ---Infused with---
Coconut Water
FROM
THE RUM WHICH INSIRED THE
CREATION OF THE ORGINAL PINA COLADA,
EXPERIENCE THE CLASSIC HAND SHAKEN
PINA
COLADA COCKTAIL PREPARED
WITH
BACARDI SUPERIOR RUM,
PINEAPPLE AND COCONUT WATER
Bacardi
Classic Cocktails
---HAND SHAKEN---
STRAWBERRY
DAIQUIRI
FROM THE RUM WHICH INSIRED THE
CREATION OF THE ORGINAL DAIQUIRI,
EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE HAND SHAKEN
STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI COCKTAIL
PREPARED WITH BACARDI
SUPERIOR RUM, LIME, SUGAR
AND
STRAWBERRIES
Saturday May 29, 2010
Hrs
4PM - 6PM
Tasting
BACARDI
TORCHED
CHERRY
BARBADOS RUM
infused with TORCHED PLANT ALOE
Cherry Rum
BACARDI RUM
WITH NATURAL FLAVORS
The above are descriptions on
the labels of the three bottles
we'll be tasting.
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Special Offer!
Save $5.00 off your favorite Rum
from Friday May 21, 2010 through
Thursday June 3, 2010. Coupon Code
052110.
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About My Favorite Wine
Store:
Englebardt's Liquor /
myfavoritewinestore.com
511 Union St.
Schenectady, NY 12305
518-372-4788
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