Treh

Yep here it is folks the third installment of my outlines is here and what I like to callˆTrehˆ. Today we will explore the outer limits that only a limited amount of vines grow. Germany has some important wines the most popular being the Spatenburger. It is a powerful red that goes well with Germany's fridge conditions. it is the same as our pinot noir. The majority of wine however is white and makes up about 80% of production.

Alright enough gibber gabber- lets get to it. Here is the third outline, Germany!

Germany
1. Background Information/ History
a) The only major wine producing country in the world before the 20th century besides France.
b) Any type of wine can be made.
c) Continues to produces some of the world most majestic wines.
d) Considered a top producer of quality white wine that has a pronounced delicacy and simplicity to them.
e) Romans conquered the area around 100 B.C.
f) Monks during the middle ages planted and cultivated grapes which are now considered to be some of Germany’s most famous vineyards.



2. Combating Climate
a) Contains the world’s most precisely situated vineyards. The best of which are planted on south-facing slopes for maximum sun exposure.
b) Most vineyards are found in the Rhine and Mosel rivers valleys where the water helps combat the harsh climate.
c) Best vineyards are planted in soils that retain heat- slate and basalt.

3. German Winemaking Traditions
a) Grapes of low ripeness and high in acidity are common
b) Wines light in alcohol (only 7-11 percent)
c) Transparency
• A trait which describes the best German wines
• Has to do with the clarity of flavors the wine has to offer
• A notion rarely found in wines outside the country
d) Winemakers hope to attain precision and elegance
e) Bigger isn’t better- quality over quantity
f) Don’t do anything to alter the natural flavor of the grapes
• Germany does not
o Use commercial yeasts
o Play with the acidity levels
o Ferment or age in new oak
g) Late harvest: buds do not begin to form until June, harvest as late as November with some grapes not picked until January.

4. Production
a) Produces mostly white wines. But reds make up about 18% of production.
b) Riesling considered the most prestigious
c) Muller-Thurgan is the most produced blend however its makeup/history remains unsolved.
d) Most popular Reds (usually lean and light)
• Spatburgunder: pinot noir, spicy/earthy flavors present
• Blauer Portugieser
• Trollinger: same as Italian schiava
e) Small Estates: 77,000 exist yet only amount to 3% of world-wide production
f) Dated wineries no longer produce the wines that once made them legendary

5. Major Regions
a) Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
• One of Germany’s top wine regions
• Contains some of the country’s most transparent and vivid wines
• Riesling: the grape of the Mosel
o Considered the most complete wine of the region
o Produces wines of great elegance and grace
• Contains the steepest vineyard in the world with a slope of 76 degrees.
• Best vineyards are located in close proximity to the river where the reflection of light off the river helps ripen the sun deprived grapes.
• Wines are cherished because of their unique earth-like, wet-stone flavors
• Area of the densest amount of top notch producers in the world.
• Traditionally pack their wine in green bottles.

b) The Rheingau
• Gave Germany its reputation as the best white-wine producing country in the world
• However, some of the most famous vineyards now make wines of not so critically acclaimed reputation
• Still has the greatest history of excellent winemaking of any region in Germany
• Leading grape as Riesling with 80% of the regions land
o Richer, earthier and more luscious than those produced in the Mosel
• Mixed Soil of slate, loess, and quartzite.
• More sun exposure gives the wine a fuller more fruity appeal.
• Spatburgunder (pinot noir) as another important grape of the region
o Flavors are pale yet spicy with a bitter almond finish

c) The Pfalz
• Germany’s most exciting, spontaneous wine region
• Individuality and originality are highly prized
o Use of blends more readily and acceptingly
• Part of the Rhineland but does not take its climate from there
o Haardt mountain range as its dominant climatic influence
o South of Frances Vosges Mountains
o Sunnier climate: riper categories of wines are therefore produced such as: auslesen, beerenauslesen and trockenbeerenauslesen
o Little to no slate, instead limestone, loess and well-drained soils present
• Area with second most Riesling planted: flavors full of vanilla, exotic citrus, while others taste like fruit crème brulee or like gingery peppers.
• Top vineyards also make varietals including: gewürztraminer, weissburgunder (pinot blanc), rulander (pinot gris) and spatburgunder.
• Scheurebe: a unique cross between silvaner and reisling- has a tangy grapefruit/vanilla flavor that either you like it or you don’t
• Muller- Catoir: considered by some to be Germany’s best wine estate, some of the most brilliant wines come out of this estate that make you hit the floor- they are that good.

d) The Rheinhessen
• Germanys largest wine area by volume covers 65,000 acres of land
• Flat, fertile farmland present
• Region which produces much Liebfraumilch- a mild easy to drink wine that is the best known German varietal in the world.
• Small amounts of Riesling are produced
• Soil unlike any other
o Red sandstone intertwined with slate
o Rieslings that are earthy and full of juice

Outline 2

Heyo here is the second of my fabulous outlines. It is of spain an interesting market indeed. When marketing to Spaniards the key is to localize to their way of life and to make sure you don't ethnocentrise their market. Understanding their culture is key to understanding their market. Again sorry for the formatting.


Spain
I. Old Traditions integrated with modern winemaking
1. Move from aging wine up to twenty five years to an appreciation for younger wines with distinct fruit flavors.
2. Nation with most land used for growing grapes, yet does not produce the most wine.
3. Low-yielding, old vines planted on dry infertile land is prominent.
4. Over six hundred varieties of indigenous grapes grown. Twenty are used to produce 80% of the country’s total production.
5. Most widely planted grape is white airén. Yet country is typically associated with red wines.
6. Most prized grape is Tempranillo
7. Five most important wine regions include: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Jerez, the Penedés, and the Rías Baixas.



II. Spanish Wine Laws- regulates amount of vines planted, types of grapes planted, the maximum yield, and the minimum amount of time wines have to be aged.
1. Decominacion de origen (DO)
• Enacted in 1932 they protect wines from specific regions.
• Total of fifty-four DO’s
2. Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOC)
• Means qualified denomination of Origin
• Rioja is the only region with this classification

III. Major Grape Growing Regions and Varietals grown
1. Rioja - although white and rosé whites are produced, the region is known for their excellent red wines. Referred to as “Spain’s Bordeaux.” Made through a slow aging process in oak barrels.
• Soil/Climatic Conditions
-Cantabrian Mountains isolate the area from the ocean breeze and harsh winds of the north
-Rests on an elevation of 1500 feet
-Three types of soil present: clay loam mixed with limestone/sandstone, soils are rich in iron, and soils of loamy texture with alluvial silt present.
• The Grapes- grapes of highest quality come from the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa region, which being farther North, benefit from a cooler climate. The drier region, Rioja Baja, produces wines higher in alcohol, lower in acidity and are considered more coarse than wines from the other two regions.
-Garnacha Blanca: Minor white used for blending.
-Malvasia: White usually added for its aromas.
-Viura: Major grape used in all Rioja whites. Contains good aromas, fruity flavors, and considered to have good acidity levels.
-Garnacha: Red grape used for seasoning. Adds alcohol and body. Known in France as Grenache.
-Mazuelo: full-bodied red grape used in other reds of the region. Known in France as Carignan.
-Tempranillo: Major red grape of the region. Made into wines that are considered elegant, earthy and delicate when aged. Tends to ripen early.
2. Ribera del Duero
- Until the 1980’s region known for cheap, gruff wines. Muscular vines prominent. Red wine region that, at their best, are considered deeply concentrated, well structured, fleshy and ripe. Major grape planted is Tinto Fino- a variation of Tempranillo. By the 1990’s some wines coming out of the region were so good that some Spaniards considered the area the finest in Spain.
• Soil/ Climatic Conditions
- Land of severe rough terrain and rocky plateaus.
-Land of extremes: 100 degree summers, 0 degree winters.
-Vines planted 2500 ft above sea level.
-Most vines are planted in the traditional manner, without posts, or wires.
-Best soil of sand, limestone, gravel and scattered with ancient riverbed stones.
-River protects spring and fall frost.
• The grapes: classified according the quality of the grape and time aged.
-Crianza: youngest, these wines are rarely ever exported. Considered good, early to drink wines prominent of earth, vanilla, cherry, and spice aromas and flavors. Aged no less than two years.
-Reserva: Made from superior grapes. Have heavier, fleshier textures, with good overall depth, concentration and strength. Aged no less than three years.
-Gran Reservas: Picked from the region’s best vineyards, they are the most polished and mature wines of all. Aged no less than five years which gives them harmony and a delicacy which only aged wines have.
-Tinto Fino: accounts for 85% of all vines in the region. Nearly all the top wines contain it.
3. Jerez
Spain’s southern most wine region which is synonymous with the varietal Sherry. Sherry is a wine classic that has seem to have lost its edge being underappreciated and thought to be drunk exclusively by old women. Carefully oxidized to preference, Sherry comes in styles which run from super dry to super sweet. Best vineyards in the heart of the region.
• Soil/ Climatic Conditions
-Small foothills present which arc north and west of the town of Jerez.
-Three soil types can be found: albariza, a bleak white mixture of clays, nutrient rich minerals, and sea fossils; barro, a clay which is more fertile and brown in color; and arena, where sand is the predominant soil type.
-Albariza soil is the most sought after since it actually reflects sunlight up to the vines which helps ripen the grapes.
• The grapes: made up solely of white varietals.
-Palomino: most planted grape that of which 95% of Sherry is made from. Tend to be resistant to diseases; however its aromas and flavors are nothing to ride home about as it is characteristically described as a bland grape.
-Moscatel: minor grape used to make sweet, blended wines and sometimes a well-appreciated dessert wine. Declining in production.
-Pedro Ximenéz: grape best known for making a dessert Sherry, used for blending. However the grape is prone to diseases and therefore gives low yields and is decreasing in use.

Whats About to happen

So I think I need an overall theme for my site. Im gonna make it a wine blog with sick pictures because those are like the two of the best things combined!

Plus Im a wine major and wine is awesome.

Ok so heres the deal, over the next five days I will be covering wine regions of the world. They will contain inform on several topics ranging from history and climate to important wineries in the country. Basically, things that I think are important to that region. This Industry is diverse I am excited about wine and what it can bring for me after I graduate, and I want to continue to learn and taste wine whether that be here or some other country. I always will be interested in wine and its unique relationship with man and each of us who consumes it in this dynamic industr.

I want to start sharing ideas and start a network somehow with people in the industry and just talk about wine and ideas that we have. If you are reading this and are interested in learning about wine or just like drinking it and want to share something feel free to drop a comment or an email. I don't mind. Really.

Starting today I will be posting these outlines of selected wine regions around the world. The first will be South Africa who is emerging as a major player in the industry and in holiday of them hosting the World Cup in 2010 they will go first. Credit the pic goes to Wine Country Maps on Rick's WineSite™.




South Africa
1. History/Background information
One of only eight nations in Africa who produce wine.
B. Seventh in world production
C. Half of the wine produced is made into spirits and brandy, not wine.
D. First wines made over three hundred years ago by Dutch migrants.
E. Wineries are known and called by South African as wine farms.
F. United States and trade barriers until 1991

2. Production
A. Traditionally sold their wine to Europeans
B. By the mid 1990’s South African wines started to show up in US markets.
C. All the top wine districts are located strategically around Cape Town, which is located near a major port.

3. Wine Regions
A. Constantia
i. Small Region well established by the middle of the 16th century
ii. Sweet Muscat wine named after the region. It was known throughout Europe and may have been a personal favorite of Napoleon himself.
B. Paarl
i. Major Wineries
o Boschendal Estate
o Nederburg Wines
C. Stellenbosch
ii. Major Wineries
o The Bergkelder
o Kanonkop Estate
o Neethlingshof Estate
o Saxenburg

Please Note: this is by far my shortest one, they can only get better from here!

-ShaunJohn

Wine Consumption (3/18/09)

So I took this off a couple weeks ago because I was kinda over this whole blogging thing but alas I have returned bigger and better! My roommate suggested I talk about my drunken endeavors on this. I have some pretty crazy times downtown and I think you all will enjoy. For now I leave you with this paper I wrote for my Wine Trends class. Here it is.

In today’s wine market we are currently seeing a positive growth in wine consumption in the United States. This is due, largely in part, by the millennial generation and their attitudes toward wine. In 2006, wine consumption rose in this group to an impressive 7% from 2004. Part of this increase can be attributed to the current marketing trends directed towards this group, their preference for imported wine, and the overall attitudes and roles wine plays which I will go in depth with later.

The United States is currently the third highest consumer of wine trailing only Italy and France, respectively. If U.S. wine consumption trends continue to rise the way they are we may see the U.S. at the top of this “consumption race” in a reasonably short amount of time. So who can we give credit to this positive trend you say? In part, it is thanks to the wine companies and their unique marketing schemes directed toward the second largest group of U.S. wine consumers-the millennial generation. Before this group came of age and decided to play a big role in the wine market, wine companies stuck with their traditional marketing plans and stagnant group of consumers. They targeted middle to old aged winos who didn’t leave them with many options or room for experimentation. However, this traditional way to market wine has all but gone dead and a different kind of approach has emerged. Now wine companies are specifically targeting millennial’s with unique eye catching labels with such names like Fat Bastard, Smoking Loon, and Twin Fin. To some this may seem to be “dumbing down” or an insult to the once prestigious wine industry, to me I think it is an innovative way for wine companies to reach out to people who may be turned off by traditional somewhat boring labels and it’s a smart way to expand the ever growing wine industry, and it’s working.

A second reason why I believe the wine industry is seeing a positive growth is based on the correlation between millenial’s and imported wine. Patrick Merrill a market researcher in San Mateo stated "They [millennial’s] are learning about the quality of wine from New Zealand and Chile, South Africa and Argentina, for example -- wines that we as Baby Boomers were not aware of.'' The article then goes on to say that the millennial generation is not afraid to explore wines from all around the world that they are more sophisticated than previous generations and willing to take a chance and buy online from any region they choose. Although this may not be particularly good for local producers (aka our Californian industry) I still believe that millenial’s are intrigued by this availability to buy unique wines from all around the world and that because of this they are encouraged to purchase more wine. Being part of the millennial generation I can relate to this sense of wanting to explore and taste wine from around the world and why shouldn’t we? John Gillespie the wine market council president said in that same article “The millennial’s grew up with the assumption they could access just about anything at any price from anywhere and the only question was what suits their personal needs and choices as consumers.'' I agree with this if it’s out there, culturally sound, and reasonably priced you can bet your sweet ass the millennial’s can and will go out and find it.

The last and final point I want to make has to do with the current attitudes and characteristics the millennial generation share that will offer evidence of the current rise in consumption. As current research shows millenialls are geographically challenged which although bad for the validity of the education system is actually good for the wine industry because there is no regional bias to overcome. Millennials will buy whatever wine from wherever as long as the price is right and the varietal sounds good to them. I believe this freedom to buy is linked to the increase in wine consumption because there is more offered to them then say the boomer generation who mostly buy traditional domestic type wines. If this market oversees didn’t exist I don’t think the millennial generation would be as enthusiastic about wine because they view the wines in the U.S. as “ordinary” wines and therefore have less of a reason to buy in the U.S. market.

Another interesting characteristic of the millennial generation is that they are willing to try new wines. They aren’t tied down to a single bottle of chardonnay they like, they are willing to experiment and buy a bottle they’ve never even knew existed. In an article by Jim Clarke, a freelance writer in New York he stated “Millennials often go for a mixed case; 85% of those surveyed by the Wine Market Council said they regularly purchase a wine they've never seen before.” This is good for the wine industry because lesser know labels are becoming more main stream and its expanding the industry.

A third characteristic of millennials is that for the first time in history we have a generation that isn’t intimidated by wine. As Jim Clarke put it “They like it, they drink it, they don't worry about it.” Millennials are revolutionizing the industry and how we should feel about the product. It’s not some extreme status symbol of the rich like it used to be. Millennials don’t feel the need to buy an aged wine or pick wine over beer as a status symbol. And although it still has a classy image attached to it, I feel like the millennial generation is pushing the idea that wine can be a drink for the average Joe, the guy who just wants to sit down and enjoy a nice glass of vino without all the nonsense attached to it. And I believe this, among other ideas stated previously, is why the industry is prospering today. It’s not a matter of ideals or sophisticated mumbo-jumbo anymore, it’s about wine being integrated into everyday life and enjoying something like you’d enjoy any other commodity and thats the way it should be and should continue to be.

-ShaunJohn

Works Cited
http://www.winereviewonline.com/clarke_on_milennials.cfm
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/02/08/features/food_and_wine/doc45cb2cbf0297f266374068.txt
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/20/BUGQ8O5SRO1.DTL