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🤯 Netflix predicts the future

🤯 Netflix predicts the future

In this week’s DECORKED digest you will read all about shocking vintage remedies, wine collectors’ tips, THC-infused drinks, the science of lees, Cava’s struggles, and more. Keep reading!

November 12, 2023

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Happy Sunday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful week! In this week’s issue, you will find all about shocking vintage remedies, wine collectors’ tips, THC-infused drinks, the science of lees, Cava’s struggles, and more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

🎄 This ‘excellent’ wine advent calendar sells out every year, and each bottle costs less than $4 apiece READ HERE

💥 Croatian wine design project gets a place in Singapore museum READ HERE

⚱️ 5,000-year-old unopened wine jars found in Queen’s tomb READ HERE

📝 Pesticide campaigner "defames" Bordeaux READ HERE

🍷 Morandé launches “extreme” Syrah READ HERE

🇮🇳 What is India drinking in 2023? READ HERE

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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.

WHY THE BEST CAVA ISN’T CALLED ‘CAVA’ ANYMORE

Cava, Spain's well-known sparkling wine, faces challenges as it often competes at lower price points globally, being associated more with cheap Prosecco than high-end Champagne. The issue lies in the lack of a distinct geographic identity for Cava, as it can be produced in over 20 regions in Spain. Two major wineries dominate over 75% of Cava production, leading to discontent among smaller artisan producers in Penedès, the spiritual home of Cava. In 2019, nine estates broke away to form Corpinnat, a trade group and alternative brand, highlighting the desire for independence from Big Cava's influence. However, some producers, like Pere Mata of Mata i Coloma, believe the real competition is with Prosecco, emphasizing the need for Cava to elevate its image and quality to compete effectively.

SHOCK OF THE OLD: TEN VINTAGE MEDICINES – FROM ASTHMA CIGARETTES TO COCAINE WINE

The confusion surrounding patent medicines, despite their name, arises from their infrequent patenting, as the terms were often chosen for their appeal. These concoctions, often containing water, alcohol, and herbs, emerged in the 17th century with extravagant claims and exotic stories. The 19th century, especially in the US, witnessed a surge in patent medicines, fueled by mass production and media. However, many of these remedies were hazardous, containing substances like opiates, cocaine, and high alcohol levels. Some notorious examples include Mrs Winslow’s soothing syrup with morphine, Asthma cigarettes with stramonium, and Vin Mariani, a Pope-approved cocaine wine. While some provided effective opiate analgesia, simpler formulations addressed issues like indigestion or iron deficiency, and the placebo effect likely contributed to perceived efficacy.

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THE SCIENCE OF LEES AGING

Lees aging, a common practice in winemaking, contributes attractive aromas and textures to both still and sparkling wines while preventing oxidation and structural instability. This process is particularly crucial in traditional-method sparkling wines and white Burgundy, where the time spent on lees is considered a quality indicator. Lees, a natural by-product of winemaking, consist of spent yeast cells, grape skin material, and other residues settling in the fermentation vessel. It's essential to distinguish between primary (gross) lees and fine lees, with the former generated in the initial 24 hours of fermentation. Lees aging is known for impacting the wine's nose, especially in traditional-method sparkling wines, which acquire toasty, brioche-like aromas from yeast autolysis. Additionally, lees aging enhances the textural qualities of traditional-method sparkling wines, contributing complexity, richness, and flavors to the final product.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN TO DRINK, HOLD, OR SELL YOUR MOST PRIZED WINES

Wine collectors often find themselves not drinking some of their finest bottles for various reasons, such as waiting for a special occasion or the right company. To maximize the enjoyment of a wine collection, it's essential to understand optimal drinking windows and periodically reassess the collection to align with personal preferences. Starting with the point of purchase, buyers should consider the purpose of acquiring wine and evaluate the potential drinking lifespan of the selected categories. For those beginning a collection, seeking professional advice on storage and wine selection is advisable. Reassessing the collection every once in a while ensures it aligns with preferences. Selling wines may be a complex process, so some collectors may hire firms experienced in managing collections and navigating markets. However, sometimes, the greatest satisfaction can come from simply opening and enjoying a bottle of wine, as we originally purchased them for this reason.

DOES NETFLIX DRAMA ‘BODIES’ SECRETLY PREDICT THE FUTURE OF WINE?

The popular drama series "Bodies" subtly hints at predictions and challenges facing the wine industry in 30 years, providing a fictional glimpse into 2058. Despite climate change impacting wine-producing regions, the show suggests a blueprint for the industry's longevity. In episode four, characters in 2058 share a bottle of French organic wine made from paper, hinting at a potential future trend in sustainable packaging. The series implies that an organic approach and alternative packaging strategies, like paper bottles, may become vital for producers. The show also explores the idea that external factors influence the enjoyment of wine, emphasizing the complex dynamics shaping our wine experiences.

SHIPWRECKED WINE BOTTLE FROM 1752 ON AUCTION FOR £300

An antique wine bottle salvaged from the 'Nanking Cargo,' a shipwreck in the South China Sea, was set to be auctioned in London on November 8th with an estimated selling price of £300-£500. The bottle was part of the cargo on the Dutch ship Geldermalsen, which sank in 1752 while transporting porcelain from China to Europe. Rediscovered in 1985 by British explorer Michael Hatcher, the cargo was initially auctioned at Christie's Amsterdam and has since dispersed globally. The wine bottle is being offered by Roseberys auctioneers in its Chinese, Japanese & South Eastern Asian Art sales. According to Bill Forrest, head of the department at Roseberys London, the bottle's value is primarily historical rather than monetary, as it is believed to have been enjoyed by the ship's crew.

TRENDS: THC-INFUSED DRINKS

A nationwide retailer with 260 stores in the United States is among the first to sell drinks containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. Some products on the retailer's website, like those from the brand Cantrip, contain 25mg and 50mg of THC per can in sodas. Recreational marijuana use is legal in 24 states, but there is no federal age requirement for purchasing THC-infused drinks, raising concerns, especially for teenagers. While some states have implemented their age restrictions, studies on THC-infused drinks are limited, though they are believed to be ingested similarly to edible THC products.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: CANELONES, URUGUAY

The Canelones administrative department, northeast of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, is home to most of Uruguay's vineyards and accounts for around 60 percent of all wine produced in the country. The wine towns of Juanico and Progreso are to be found on this route north out of the capital, separated from one another by just 10km. The densely planted viticultural area that surrounds these towns is arguably the epicenter of the Uruguayan wine industry. More Tannat vines are planted here than in any other place on Earth, including Madiran, Tannat's spiritual home. Wines from Canelones are made from more than just Tannat, however. A number of different international varieties are used, including light-skinned varieties of Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Among the red wine grapes popular here, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot figure strongly. The landscape in which most Canelones vineyards are planted is flat and relatively low-lying – far from the norm for iconic South American terroir, which typically conjures up images of cacti and rugged Andean backdrops.

GRAPE OF THE WEEK: TANNAT

Tannat is a red wine grape whose origins lie in the Basque country, on the border between France and Spain. Here, in the shadow of the Pyrenees Mountains, the terrain is rough and rugged, so it is only fitting that Tannat should create wines that are equally deep, dark, dry, and rustic. Further abroad, Tannat's success in the Americas (notably Uruguay), has made quite an impression. Indeed, Tannat has migrated with relative ease and is now planted in Argentina, Australia, the US (California, Oregon, and Virginia), Brazil, and even in southern Italy's Puglia region, where it is used as a blending grape. The Tannat vines growing in the Americas are subtly different from those found in modern-day French vineyards because the oldest of them are direct descendants of the pre-phylloxera cuttings taken across the Atlantic in the 19th Century. As local French appellation laws suggest, the more traditional approach is to blend Tannat with Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc. Some purists might suggest that it is Uruguay that has the "true" Tannat, as the style there is more akin to olden-day Madiran. Whatever the case, Tannat will most likely be adopted as the national grape of Uruguay, and its links with France will gradually fade.

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