🍇 The revival of forgotten varieties

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Happy Sunday! Hope you’ve had a wonderful week! In this week’s DECORKED digest, you will read all about organic wines, Burgundy’s renaissance, tips for wine professionals, and more. Keep reading!

INTERESTING THIS WEEK

🔝 Alvarinho – rather than albariño – is one of the hottest things in wine right now READ HERE

🔎 Time to take a fresh look at bag-in-box, for a different reason READ HERE

🇦🇷 Argentina’s 2023 harvest: The year everyone wants to taste READ HERE

📉 France: Vineyard value is rising - and falling  READ HERE

🌏 Global bulk wine trade is increasing in value READ HERE

🍷 Fine wine prices take a hit READ HERE

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INSIDE THE MOVEMENT TO REVIVE FORGOTTEN GRAPE VARIETIES

In a climate-conscious and history-preserving endeavor, vintners across Europe are resurrecting previously unexplored grape varieties. The inception of this project, led by Torres winery, was a conservation mission focusing less on top-tier quality and more on varieties resilient to changing climates. These ancestral vines aren't just reviving the regional past, but potentially creating a sustainable future. Although the obscurity of these varieties makes marketing tricky, their captivating backstory is enticing sommeliers. Driven by a balance of heritage preservation and climate resilience, along with the production of standout wines, producers are starting to see these overlooked varieties as a forward-looking solution.

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HOW WINE PROFESSIONALS CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF WINERY VISITS

For wine enthusiasts, first-hand vineyard experiences and interactions with the creators behind the wines can be invaluable, offering insights that surpass textbook knowledge. It's essential to have a solid understanding of the region, the specific winery, and the people there to maximize the benefit of these visits. One can delve into the backstory of each winery on their websites, while regional specifics and grape details are accessible through regional portals, guides, and wine encyclopedias like The World Atlas of Wine and The Oxford Companion to Wine. The most rewarding wine country excursions grant broader perspectives into the producer's world, making it worthwhile to set clear objectives to maximize the returns of each journey. Your goal might be to study a particular soil type, grape variety, or winemaking technique.

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COULD CABERNET SAUVIGNON BE THE FUTURE OF THE BAROSSA?

Known globally for its Shiraz, the Barossa Valley, a region comprising 10.5% of Australia's vineyards, is witnessing a remarkable transformation in the quality of its Cabernet. Although the region boasts over 170 wineries, many renowned for their exceptional Shiraz, Cabernet is beginning to make its mark. For years, winemakers attempted to mold Cabernet to mimic Shiraz's traits, often blending the two, resulting in subpar red wines. However, a fresh generation of winemakers, passionate about Cabernet, has catalyzed a shift towards the production of distinct single-varietal Cab. It's evident that Barossa is gradually morphing into a significant Cabernet region.

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WHY ORGANIC WINE TASTES BETTER

Organic and biodynamic farming is often discussed for its benefits to the planet, field workers' health, and surrounding communities. Also, research suggests that organic and biodynamically grown food and drinks, including wine, provide superior nutritional content with higher levels of antioxidants and polyphenols.

However, when it comes to wine, flavor rules above all. Interestingly, wine cultivated through these methods not only exhibits an enhanced taste profile but is chemically superior too. With healthier soils and disease-resistant plants, the produced grapes and wine itself benefit. A wine devoid of harmful additives naturally tastes better. While it's unrealistic to expect an immediate switch to these farming practices due to ingrained habits, costs, and challenging terrains, it's also short-sighted for producers to overlook the long-term advantages of organic and biodynamic farming.

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BURGUNDY REVEALS ITSELF TO VISITORS

Burgundy's rich wine heritage finds a home at the newly opened Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne, with its grandest site nestled within Beaune's environmentally conscious 10-hectare Parc de la Chartreuse. Two additional sites grace the small town of Chablis and the bustling Mâcon, providing interactive explorations into the complex world of Bourgogne wines. Visitors often find themselves overwhelmed by the array of grand crus, premiers crus, and the "lieux-dits" or place names on the labels of non-grand or premier cru vineyards. The new Cité aims to simplify this maze, potentially alleviating the burden on winemakers by serving as an educational resource.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: NINGXIA, CHINA

Ningxia, located in China's central north, is a crucial wine region flourishing between the Yellow River and the foot of Helan Mountain. The area showcases a continental climate, amplified by vineyards situated high above sea level, creating an optimal winemaking environment. Grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt, and Chardonnay thrive here.

The region's short growing season transitions into a prolonged, frigid winter, necessitating protection for the vines from freezing temperatures. The Helan Mountain's base presents unique soils composed of river deposits and mountain runoff. These pebbly, sandy, and well-draining soils are low in fertility, restricting vine vigor and yield, but consequently producing smaller, flavor-concentrated berries.

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GRAPE OF THE WEEK: CABERNET GERNISCHT

Cabernet Gernischt, a red wine grape variety extensively cultivated in China's Shandong and Ningxia provinces, likely originates from Bordeaux, despite its German-sounding name. Introduced in the late 19th century, it has gained prominence as one of China's key varieties, earning notable recognition in 2009 at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Its exact identity remains a subject of debate, with studies suggesting that some Cabernet Gernischt vines may actually be Cabernet Franc. Typically blended with other Cabernet types, there are also pure varietal examples. The quintessential Cabernet Gernischt wine shares structural characteristics with Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon but stands out with its unique hint of black pepper spiciness.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT?

🏆 Wine competitions and awards, such as the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge, recognize excellence in winemaking.

🍾 The process of disgorgement is used in sparkling wine production.

📜 Wine has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals throughout history, symbolizing spiritual and cultural significance.

🍇 The harvest season, also known as "vendange," typically takes place in autumn, varying depending on the region and grape variety.

🗝 The wine bottle's shape can influence the aging process, with Bordeaux-style bottles being ideal for long-term cellaring.

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