Posts by michael as admin

          History of Port (part 2) Which grape varieties are used to make Port? There are a bunch of grape varieties used in true Port (from Portugal’s Douro Valley), most of which are little known outside of Portugal. Several other countries — including Australia, South Africa and the United States — make fortified sweet red wines and even whites that are labeled as “port,”...

            History of Port (part 1) Port wine traditionally comes from the Douro Valley in beautiful Northern Portugal. The wineries are called Quintas and they line the terraced hills rising up from the mighty Douro, east of Oporto nearly reaching the border of Spain. The name Port Wine is protected by the Appellation system (Denomination of Origin), just as Champagne can only be placed on a bottle if...

Oak Barrel Aging…     Hi There… You know that the majority of fine wines are aged in oak barrels… But why? What are the advantages? Are there different types of oak? What do these differences mean? Aging Wine Before It is Bottled… After fermentation is completed and wine is racked several times to remove the largest solids, the young wine is usually rough, raw and green and needs to settle for a...

? A question from an eWine Member… “Sometimes the back label of a wine bottle mentions ‘cool’ fermentation. What differences does the fermentation temperature make?” Answer… Fermentation temperatures affect the style and flavor of a wine. Cooler temperatures encourage a gentle, gradual fermentation that maintains the freshness of fruit. On the other hand, just a touch of warmth can add a richer,...