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Question: Are there adjoining USA states that share the use of the same specific winegrowing regions called AVAs – American Viticultural Areas?
Answer: Yes. Oregon & Washington State. Both states share the AVAs of Columbia Gorge, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla Valley. Fun educational idea to put a tasting together comparing the differences and the similarities of their wines.
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Question: I love Alsatian style Gewurztraminer. Local producers seem to have a sweeter richer style (perhaps from California clones.?) Who makes a nice dry perfumey, Gewurztraminer in BC?
Answer: The stylistic inspiration for Joie Farm “En Famille” Reserve Gewurztraminer from their Estate vineyards in Naramata BC is “exotically flavoured, unctuous Alsatian Grand Cru Gewurztraminer.” They use clones 643 & 47 to advantage by fermenting them at higher temperature of 23-24C for rose petal & lychee fruit aromas plus higher glycerol mouthfeel. Their 2016 had fermentation naturally halted at a fresh drier 3.4 g/l of residual sugar (think Trimbach) while the 2017 is at a sweeter 16 g/l (more spicy Zind-Humbrecht in style). Hoping that Olivier Humbrecht MW consulting at Phantom Creek Estates has some of this variety in mind for his newer plantings on those steep slopes of the new Similkameen Valley project.
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Question: Would you please advise me on some good references for learning more about Terroir?
Answer: Yes “terroir” is a hot topic becoming more and more commonly used in wine descriptions. This word includes a rather long list of contributing factors all rather complex. One of the important ones is soil and the geology of the place where the vines are planted. A new exciting website is roadsideterroir.com by geologist Brenna Quigley with three interesting free podcasts already posted and more on the way. Good site to follow. For more detailed scientific research check out these three books:
1) Wine and Place: A Terroir Reader by Tim Patterson & James Buechenstein
2) Vineyards, Rocks, & Soils: The Wine Lover’s Guide to Geology by Alex Maltman
3) Terroir: The Role of Geology, Climate and Culture in the Making of French Wines by James E. Wilson
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Question: Is the Malbec grape allowed in wine from the Loire Valley of France?
Answer: Yes but limited. The popular red grape in the Loire is cabernet franc used famously in Bourgueil & Chinon among other regions. Malbec is an important grape in Argentina plus in Bordeaux, Cahors and south-west France – often called Auxerrois. Malbec is a permitted grape for inclusion in the Loire Valley wines of Touraine roses & reds – where it goes under the original name of Cot.
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Question: I am a American who has been invited by some Aussie friends to attend an Australian wine tasting and want to fit in with them using some appropriate slang words. Any ideas?
Answer: That’s an unusual one. Words about wine can be pretty similar the world over. However off the top of my head a few I would throw in for fun at an appropriate moment would include these:
FAIR DINKUM – for some good real wine that seems genuine and true to the growing region.
RIPPER – the best wine of the evening!
AS at the end of a word for added emphasis – eg.Lovely AS or Sweet AS etc.
A SPLASH OF FRUIT – for a wine that is showing a lot of big fruit
CLEAN SKINS – with reference to buying a terrific value wine (often described just by variety & region) because it has no producer listed on the label – a really popular deal in Melbourne.
GOOD ONYA MATE – For someone who makes a great point about a wine at your tasting.Should be an interesting experience.
Get back to us with some more words you discovered.
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