Monday, March 7, 2022

Dan Berger: Wine's Many Paths

 The complications arising in the production of wine can be so voluminous that it takes a multi-year college degree to master the basics, and after that it takes years to become an expert in all of its manifestations.

    Those who love chardonnay (or any grape variety, for that matter) will have a hard time processing the stratagems involved in its production -- and that says virtually nothing about the complications that take place before that variety is even planted in the soil, takes root, finally is harvested, and is brought to a production facility.

    Grapes arriving at the winery typically come loaded into 30-pound lug boxes, or maybe in large trucks that may be dumped into a large stainless-steel bin containing a massive auger, usually with a plastic guard that helps to protect tearing the grape skins.

    It is at this stage that the winemaker typically adds some sulfur dioxide to protect the fruit from oxidation as it goes through the auger to a de-stemming device that removes the stems and assorted other material other than grapes (winemakers call this MOG). Then it is sent on to a press, which helps to turn the grapes into juice and removes the skins for other uses.

    The winemaker then has a crucial decision to make: how many gallons of juice from each ton of fruit does he or she hope to get? The average amount is about 160 gallons, and it is well known that to get much more than that requires significantly heavier pressure, which can produce bitterness and/or produce flavors that are probably risky in terms of quality.

    If the winemaker chooses to get fewer gallons out of a ton, the result could possibly make a better wine, but fewer gallons make less wine, which results in lower overall profits.

    Once the juice has been moved to a fermentation tank, time is expended to allow solids to settle to the bottom of the tank. Meanwhile, the winemaker is doing important technical analysis to ascertain what exactly is in that juice, such as acid, pH, sugar and many other constituents, to determine how best to proceed.

 

    Here the winemaker probably has already decided whether to use a prepared yeast strain, sold by specialty suppliers. Some yeasts are chosen because they improve the overall aromatics of the wine to accentuate special characteristics, such as terpenes or other elements that will be part of the wine's signature.

    Many winemakers today are pleased to use so-called "wild yeasts," which typically are on grape skins when they arrive at the winery. In most cases, they are little more than prepared yeasts the winery had used in past years that continue to propagate themselves in the vineyards.

    The choice of yeast determines much about the way the fermentation will continue.

    Starting a fermentation can be tricky, forcing winemakers to take extra measures. Winemakers then also decide on what temperature should be used for the fermentation. Too warm or cool a fermentation can have detrimental effects.
    Once the fermentation has begun, the winemaking team must monitor it to make certain that it continues according to plan, because if it should slow down or stop, measures must quickly be taken to restart it or deal with its sluggishness.

    Chardonnay is an extremely light-flavored wine grape, so after fermentation, it is often transferred to a wooden cask for maturity and to pick up some nuances imparted by the barrel, giving the wine a slightly richer, more complex flavor profile and likely adding to its longevity.

    Winemakers then must decide how long the wine spends in the barrel. Too little or too long both entail risks.
    Once it is time for the wine to be bottled, numerous other decisions must be made that involve bottles, corks, any treatments the wine needs and many other factors.

    This scenario is complicated, includes at least 50 or 75 different decisions that we did not mention here and includes several other processes that most wineries add to the mix.

    Multiply this by many different grapes processed by most wineries, and taking into consideration the different volumes of each, it is a dynamic process that takes a long time to master.

    And just imagine that most wines selling for a few dollars per bottle all go through a similar regime.    

To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It must be pretty tiresome to get all wrapped around the axle over fermented fruit juice.


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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