Love4Wine

Are wines vegan friendly Consumers are becoming increasingly aware and are often making more considered choices. This is also reflected in wine, where organic, biodynamic or vegan are becoming increasingly popular. Approximately 0.4% of the Dutch population is vegan. Now that veganism is on the rise, we would like to ask the question whether wines are vegan friendly and how this relates to quality. Back to wine But what about wine? It is a natural plant product. Yes, that is what it seems like at first glance. To start with, animals may not be used in the vineyard for ploughing or carrying picking baskets. In addition, wine is made with the help of yeasts, which makes the wine impure. That is to say cloudy. And to “clarify” wine, or make it clear, animal products can be used. This also applies to stabilizing wine. Wine stabilization contributes to protecting the wine against various changes after bottling. See also this article about vegan friendly wines. Our wine that is suitable for vegans For our full range, please visit our webshop. But we would like to highlight a few wines. These wines are all vegan-friendly and will surprise you. Order one of our vegan-friendly wines now with code veganactie and enjoy a 5% discount on an order of 6 bottles.

Microplastics in vineyards It suddenly hit the news. The universities of Trier and Darmstadt have investigated the origins of microplastics found in the vineyards of the Mosel. This was the first real investigation into microplastics in vineyards worldwide. And the result is shocking. Now, finding microplastics may not be surprising, because plastic is omnipresent, also in viticulture. Just think of the many crates, nets, ties, you name it. But finding these in the middle of the vineyards in very high concentrations raised eyebrows. The researchers investigated eight vineyards. Four of these are organically managed and four are conventionally managed. All eight are located in the Mosel and Saar wine region in Germany. Shocking finding The shocking finding is that the microplastic concentration in some areas is even higher than surrounding agricultural land. Although it is not yet entirely clear where the microplastics come from, it is cautiously assumed that they are caused by plastic tarpaulins, used ropes/nets but also the quality of used compost. However, how these microplastics have penetrated deeper into the soil is still a mystery. The poor slate soils are rarely or not at all ploughed. A reason could be found by rainfall in combination with erosion that contributes to the deeper precipitation in the soil. But earthworms could also play a role. https://lnkd.in/eYSf8dRV

Exciting 2024 Margaret River Margaret River is a renowned wine region in Australia, especially known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. Now that the harvest in May was completed, it appears that the year 2024 offers exciting potential from Margaret River. Remember that the growing period in Australia is the opposite of what we know here in the northern hemisphere. Growing period 2024 The 2024 vintage is characterised by a long, warm and dry period after considerable rainfall in the winter. As a result, bud break occurred early. And veraison already started at the end of December. Partly because the drought continued in January, bunches were smaller and there was therefore a lower yield expectation. From mid-September 2023 to early May 2024, temperatures were higher than normal, partly due to three heat waves. The conditions contributed to few reports of mould pressure. The prolonged drought contributed to a slightly higher yield and promoted an even and early ripening. The harvest started historically early in mid-January and was already in before Easter. Another added benefit was that marri blossom was abundant and long-lasting. This is known as the “mast year”. This means that there is little loss of harvest thanks to the native silver-eye birds. Read the conclusion of the harvest year here https://lnkd.in/e_Y9j_HU

Does tannin give you a headache? Many people will recognize it. After a night of wine, being confronted with a headache. But does tannin really give you a headache or is there more to it? Some people like tannin in wine while others do not. Tannin in wine can be subtle, but also coarse and dominant. What is tannin actually? Tannin, or tannic acid, is a collective name for substances that make an important contribution to the appearance and taste of wine. The chemical name is polyphenols. These are found in many plants and fruits in nature. In particular, the grape skin, grape seeds and stems contain tannin, but also tea leaves (especially earl grey tea), dark chocolate and wood. But tannin is tasteless in itself and therefore does not add bitterness. However, it does something to your taste perception. What to do with a lot of tannin If a wine contains (too) much tannin, there is fortunately something you can do. By exposing the wine to oxygen, or decanting, the wine becomes rounder and can open up more. With very old wines you have to be careful when decanting, because the tannin is already more integrated into the wine. https://lnkd.in/eJzRs2TF

Modern grape varieties in the Midwest We are looking at the eastern part of the Midwest in America. The Midwest has a very cold climate in the north and very humid in the south, with the Mississippi River as a guideline. Viticulture is already very challenging due to the climatic influences. But there are still a number of pioneers who persevere. That is why this part of the Midwest is mainly planted with modern grape varieties. Modern grape varieties in the Midwest Cheeseland Wisconsin To the west of Lake Michigan lies the state of Wisconsin. Although the wine industry has been active since the mid-19th century, it is still very small. The focus in this part of the Midwest is on the cold-resistant hybrid or modern grape varieties. Valiant, Edelweiss, La Crosse and Frontenac are particularly popular. But also wine made from fruit, such as blueberries, blackberries and cherries. An interesting fact is that Wisconsin is known as the undisputed number 1 cheese country of America. And what goes better with cheese than wine? Fast-Growing Illinois Illinois is possibly the fastest growing wine state in America. It is sandwiched between Missouri to the west and Idaho to the east. With Wisconsin to the north and Tennessee to the south. Although Illinois is at the same latitude as Northern California, the unpredictable and harsh winters of the Midwest mean that wine growing is not as widespread as in Napa Valley or Sonoma County. For the same reason, most wineries are found in the southern part of the state, where it is warmer. https://lnkd.in/grUgDS29

Luxurious wine bottle shapes Last week we looked at the anatomy of the wine bottle. And now we ask ourselves, what do wine bottles and people have in common? Yes, they are both different, have a tough exterior, come in different colours and are difficult to open. But inside is the nectar. History Why there are so many different luxurious shapes for the wine bottle is actually no longer known. The most likely answer lies in the fact that in the past people only travelled limited distances, and therefore within a certain wine region it is obvious that the same bottle shape is used. Roughly speaking, you can define bottles in 3 shapes; the Burgundy bottle, the Bordeaux bottle and the Rhône bottle. It is no coincidence that we find the same bottles worldwide for the same grape varieties. In Bordeaux this is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In Burgundy the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and for Rhône the Grenache, Syrah and Mouvèrdre. Why there are different colours for wine bottles The colour of wine bottles also plays a role. You may have noticed that wine bottles are mostly dark in colour. A dark bottle protects the wine better from light, as light can damage the wine. This is of course especially true for wines that are stored for a long time. Find the full article here https://lnkd.in/em-3gzi3

Wine bottle anatomy Last week we discussed the many bottle sizes in detail. And to anticipate the wine bottle shapes, it might be a good idea to take a moment to consider the anatomy of the wine bottle. Because there is more to the shape of the bottle than meets the eye. The anatomy of a wine bottle The wine bottle has a number of features. The ring, stopper, capsule, body, bottom and recess. The end of the bottle is the ring and is linked to the closure system. This consists of the stopper, such as a cork or screw cap and the capsule. The stopper can be made of cork, plastic, glass or metal in the case of a screw cap. This closes the bottle. While the capsule, also called cap, protects both the cork and the neck of the bottle. This prevents the cork from coming off its place so that the wine cannot dry out or evaporate. Bottom part of the bottle To continue with the anatomy of a wine bottle, we come to the neck. This is the upper, narrow part of the bottle, just below the ring. The bottle then widens and this is called the shoulder. This serves as a connection between the neck and the body of the bottle. With very old wines, it is said whether the bottle is still filled to the top of the neck, halfway up the neck or to the shoulder. In principle, the lower the liquid is (so more at the height of the shoulder), the more likely the wine is no longer good. https://lnkd.in/en2tk3Ks

What is the use of large wine bottles Wine bottles, why do they come in so many shapes and sizes? What do all these different types of bottles and sizes do. And what is the use of large wine bottles? What types of bottles are there? Let's first take a look at what types of bottles are on the market. At the moment, yes because that is also subject to change, the content varies from 187ml (piccolo) to 18lt. However, within the EU there is a limit of 10lt for wine and 9lt for sparkling wine. Let's step into the wonderful world of wine bottles https://lnkd.in/eMqtUTJN

Challenge for Spanish winegrowing Recently, northern Spain experienced a new challenge, such as very extreme weather for Spanish winegrowing. Hailstones as big as ping-pong balls fell from the sky and caused major damage in DO Bierzo and DO Valdeorras. Earlier, Spanish Catalonia also experienced extreme weather with disastrous consequences for winegrowing. Challenge for Spanish winegrowing Source: Demencia Wines On 25 June, a storm hit the area around Valtuille de Abajo. Approximately 500 to 600 hectares of the best located vineyards of DO Bierzo were hit by hailstones. As a result, grapes were crushed, leaves were torn off vines and even canes and permanent wood were damaged. This is the second hailstorm for the region. On 18 June, another storm passed over nearby Cacabelos, affecting approximately 250 hectares of vineyards around the town. The event also affected the nearby province of Ourense, wiping out vineyards in DO Valdeorras. __ Preserving old vines Another major challenge is also being faced by Spanish wine growing in the northeast. As part of an EU programme to restructure vineyards, the Spanish government and local authorities want to replace old vines with more productive vines. Now, there is a deeper problem lurking beneath this. In DO Bierzo, many vineyards are owned by small families. Read the full articles here https://lnkd.in/e4-SNpfU

Divided Wachau In the Wachau DAC, the Vinea Wachau, an association of winegrowers in the region, determines the rules around wine classification. However, this classification is mainly focused on the sugar content of the wine. And that, in this time of warming, is increasingly criticized. Now that more renowned winegrowers seem to be leaving the Wachau DAC, the region is becoming increasingly divided. We have of course previously discussed Wachau in our Gru-Ve’s blog. The name Vinea Wachau goes back to Leuthold I von Kuenring in the 13th century, as the heart of his estates correspond to the current Wachau DAC. What came before The winegrowing tradition goes back to the time when Wachau was a Roman settlement. Under the Carolingians, the wine industry flourished, as testified by a document from 830 AD. Wachau Codex Wachau wine is independent and reflects its origins. The winegrowers of Vinea Wachau have guaranteed this since 1983 by voluntarily refraining from buying grapes or wine from other areas or cultivating vineyards elsewhere. The small farm structures that have been preserved as a result have shaped winegrowing in the Wachau to this day. In addition, origin plays an important role. The more specific the origin, the more unique the wine. That is why the use of vineyard names is very common. It tells something about the origin, but also the character of the wine. This coincides with the fact that the stone terraces for which the area is known are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These terraces make it possible to grow wine on the steep and impassable terrain. However, this terroir is not reflected in the wine styles that Vinea Wachau strives for, as we read below. Finally, Vinea Wachau, like many wine regions, imposes a restriction on the grape varieties used. Only Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Neuburger, Muscat and Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are permitted. Read here further to understand what divides Wachau wine region https://lnkd.in/eKjrZ4x3