Author Archive

Question: What is an example of a Single Estate Appellation in France?

Answer: Just that – a single estate that has a monopoly on the wine produced from that appellation. Pretty unique n’est pas? A few examples that come immediately to mind are these:

1. Chateau-Grillet a small 3.8 hectare property of the Neyret-Gachet family in the Northern Rhone producing a small production white from Viognier grapes purchased in 2011 by Francois Pinault (Chateau Latour).

2. Clos De La Coulee de Serrant of the Joly family in the Appellation Savennieres-Coulee De Serrant Controlee in the Loire using Chenin Blanc grapes for a special white.

3. Societe Civile du Domaine de la Romanee Conti in Burgundy with two AOC monopole red wines of both Romanee-Conti & La Tache.

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Question: What is the difference in the total number of wineries between Washington State and neighboring British Columbia in Canada?

Answer: Quite a big difference as Washington State (WS) now has about 970 licensed wineries compared to British Columbia (BC) with about 280 licensed grape wineries (and 370 overall). Both are thriving helped by global warming while growing 70-80 different grape varieties but Cabernet Sauvignon is #1 with double the acreage of Merlot in WS while the latter is the main red grape planted in BC. Chardonnay is now #2 and increasing as it has recently overtaken Riesling in WS for white grape production while in BC Pinot Gris is still tops. WS already has evolved to 14 AVAs (American Viticultural Area) while BC is presently establishing their sub-regions with 4 named so far (Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Falls, Naramata Bench and Skaha Bench) and expanding. Both WS & BC are producing many fine wines that need discovering.

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Question: I noticed that red wine producer Moon Curser who were voted best small winery in Canada also make a white Arneis. What is that?

Answer: Yes the innovative Moon Curser Vineyards in Osoyoos BC were just awarded Best Small Winery at the 2019 National Wine Awards of Canada. They are growing lots of interesting different red grape varieties that are performing well in the heat of this region with global warming – like Tannat, Tempranillo, and Touriga Nacional. Also do two whites with the underrated “Afraid of the Dark” Rhone-blend of Viognier, Roussanne & Marsanne and Arneis. This latter one is primarily grown in the Roero hills of Piedmont Italy on their sandy chalky soils with DOCG status since 2006. It varies in style there from the usual dry fresh citric apricot-tangerine notes to a riper richer creamy more fleshy textured version. Moon Curser describe their Arneis as “elegant, crisp with floral, citrus and mineral notes.” Check it out.

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Question: When could the word “lychee” be appropriately used in wine tasting?

Answer: Whenever you experience that small tropical fruit commonly found in China showing up in your wine. Lychee (or Litchi) has unique very aromatic special perfumes of spicy sweet roses mixed with a somewhat similar fruitiness of fresh Muscat grapes.  You often find it prominent in the aromas of a Gewurztraminer wine – so may be appropriately used when tasting that grape variety.

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Question: What is the most well-known red grape in Hungary?

Answer: It is the grape variety Kadarka (Gamza in Bulgaria). It gives a rich full spicy quite tannic red wine and was the mainstay for many years in Egri Bikaver “Bull’s Blood” from Eger. Subsequently more earlier ripening Kekfrankos (or Blaufrankisch) has been used in it but Kadarka is coming back again now. Check it out.

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