Recently, Midwest Wine Press spent time with Clara Orban, the author of Wine Lessons: Ten Questions to Guide Your Appreciation of Wine. Clara not only chairs the Department of Modern Languages at DePaul University in Chicago, she's also a Certified Sommelier. Much of Clara's book examines the intersections of wine, geography and history. Your book is an interesting study of the … [Read more...]
The warmest parts of Minnesota are in USDA climate zone 4b so wine grapes there have to withstand -25F from time to time. Rising to meet the challenge, The University of Minnesota has developed a cutting edge reputation for developing new varieties of cold climate grapes. Some of these new grape varietals, including LaCrescent, Frontenac and Frontenac Gris, are so new by wine grape … [Read more...]
Publisher's note: This article is the first in a four part series for winemakers by Nick Smith with the Enology Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. Future stories in the series include "Treatment of Wine to Reduce Hazing" and "Methods for Testing Heat Stability." Snow globes make a nice holiday present and collector item. Your wine however, should be purchased for drinking, not as … [Read more...]
How can a winemaker craft a white wine that does not have the unexciting vinous smell of white wine? According to Dr. Anna Katherine Mansfield of Cornell University, the winemaker's art is accentuating a quality already in the grape that will rise above the baseline aroma giving the wine sensory impact. Two well established characteristics of wine conspire to reduce aroma, Mansfield said at … [Read more...]
Katie Cook left the Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake after graduating from high school in 2000. What followed was a world-wide wine adventure that included a Masters of Enology degree from the University of Bourgogne in Dijon, France and stints as assistant winemaker at the award-winning Xabregas winery in remote Western Australia and at Quintessa in Rutherford, California. In August … [Read more...]
In this edition of Midwest Wine Press, wine production consultant Clark Smith presents a comprehensive overview of acid adjustment geared to Midwest winemakers. He first reviews the basic chemistry of wine acidity with humor and plain English. Then, groundwork is laid for making smart choices to lower acidity without letting pH get out of control. Next, the advantages and trade-offs of … [Read more...]
One of my favorite things about making wine is the constant interaction of art and science; the interplay of data and fact with style, aesthetic, and yes, even romance. Unfortunately, it seems like the promotion of wine to consumers relies pretty heavily on the aesthetic and romantic side of the equation. Old world wineries have become masters at this! Whether or not they truly believe in … [Read more...]
"Reds grow here!" exclaims Bernie Parker, Vineyard Manager at Creekbend Vineyards, the agricultural division of Oliver Winery of Bloomington, Indiana. And that’s not just his opinion; it’s his track record. From the grapes grown at Creekbend, Oliver Winery produces a full line of both hybrid and viniferia estate wines, including their award-winning reds. From estate grown … [Read more...]
As the Midwestern wine industry continues in its rapid growth and the production of high quality wines, it also continues to combat a long-held perception that the best U.S. wines come from California. Several Midwestern states, beginning in Ohio, developed, or are developing, quality wines programs that recognize state-grown wines and promote as an alternative to California. Christy … [Read more...]
New grape varieties can take more than 20 years to breed and evaluate, and much longer to reach commercial success. A $2.5 million grant will help a team of researchers from Nebraska to New York tackle obstacles in vineyard, winery, tasting room, and tourism to bring cold hardy grapes to a wider market. The focus of the grant is a group of extremely hardy cold climate grapes varieties, new to … [Read more...]
Recently, Midwest Wine Press spent time with Clara Orban, the author of Wine Lessons: Ten Questions to Guide Your Appreciation of Wine. Clara not only chairs the Department of Modern Languages at … [Read More...]
Publisher's note: This is the second in a three part series on how wineries structure successful events Lacking the dramatic backdrop of vineyards, urban wineries, such as family owned Easley … [Read More...]
