Decanters

Big red wines definitely benefit from aeration and the best way, other than just opening a bottle and letting stand, is to decant them. A decanter can be any vessel that has a substantially larger opening than a wine bottle. Ensure that it is made of glass or glazed ceramic only. Never use metal of any kind as this will leach. A decanter allows maximum air into a wine. It doesn’t have to be one that is fancy or specifically manufactured for wine either. It can be a pitcher or vase of sorts, as long it has more surface area at the opening. Decanters will allow a wine to breath and open up a lot quicker than simply letting an open bottle stand for a while. Generally, it can reduce the amount of aeration time required for most wines by about half. 

Wine Aerators

On the market these days are tools that will quickly aerate your red wine. They are usually small, hand-held devices that fit in the bottle, decanter or glass and mix air into the wine as it flows through or over it. They’re great for young, big reds that usually require a fair bit of breathing time before consumption. This method also softens the tannins somewhat, but is not a substitute for natural aging in the bottle that really does the job properly. I’ve noticed that these units don’t work well for mature wines though. The process speeds up their evolution and they seem to die in the glass. I’ve also found the process seems to make a particular varietal stand out in blended wines like red Bordeaux or Meritage. Interesting!

Crushing Grapes by Foot

Ancient man made wine by crushing grapes by foot and today there still may be some isolated communities or home winemakers who utilize this technique. Today, however, there are no commercial producers who do this, except for one part of the world, the Douro Valley in northern Portugal where world-famous Port is created. Teams of people, directed by a captain, walk bare-footed, back and forth, in a large granite tank called a “lagare” to crush grapes. Some producers use mechanical equipment that simulates foot trodding, while others stick to the old method. It’s labour intensive work, but Port wine made by foot-trodding is often better than those whose fruit has been crushed by mechanical means. 

Wine and the Tongue

The human tongue is an amazing tool, especially when it comes to tasting wine. It can experience 5 components: sweet, sour, bitter, salt and umami (the succulentness of a wine). However, taste buds are varied. The average adult has between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds. Folks who have more than 10,000 are considered "supertasters" because they experience more. Furthermore, taste buds are constantly changing. At any time we have buds that are developing, existing (the normal life cycle of a taste bud is about 10 – 14 days) and dying off. With this ever-changing landscape going in our mouths, it’s a wonder any of us can taste the exact same thing in the same wine at different times, let alone taste the same thing as someone else.

Washington State Syrah

Washington State on the west coast of the U.S. is a very prolific winegrowing region with over 850 wineries. Only California makes more wine in America. They do a great job with French varietals and Bordeaux-style blends are wonderful. However, if I had to pick one wine or varietal that is their forté, it would have to be Syrah. This varietal does extremely well and is very reminiscent of France’s northern Rhone in style. Definitely an “Old World” version! Earthy, peppery, dark fruited, firm, well-structured and age-worthy samples are delightful. Great with grilled or roasted red meat, game and aged cheese! So if you’re looking to try one wine that epitomizes Washington State, make it a Syrah. It’s a real showstopper.

Central Virginia Wine Country

There are around 275 wineries in Virginia and the central part of the state has some great ones. Here, the Blue Ridge Mountains play a huge part in this region’s terroir, especially in the Monticello and Shenandoah Valley viticultural areas. Here, it’s a bit warmer than further north in the state and it benefits from a longer growing season. Humidity overall is substantial making grape growing challenging resulting in an overall shortage of fruit and slightly higher pricing for the wines. If you’re looking for “New World”, California-type vinos here, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Styles definitely tend to lean to the “Old World” with great expressions of their terroir and understated oak-treatment. It’s well worth a visit.

Wine Labels

Many folks buy wine by what the label looks like, regardless of the contents. Of course labeling laws dictate exactly what information has to be displayed on a wine bottle. Beyond that, it’s all about art. Some labels depict floral, rural or animal subjects while others prefer historical figures, events, venues or acts. Some of my favourite labels are mystical, fantasy and humour-inspired. These add a touch of whimsy to a package and can imply many things about what’s inside. The truth of the matter is wine sales are often affected by label design, so a poor one can negatively affect a product’s movement. Therefore, creating one that is both eye-catching and informative is extremely important.