From Medieval Times To Today
Before the era of Charlemagne, Germanic viticulture was practiced primarily, although not exclusively, on the western side of Rhine. Charlemagne is supposed to have brought viticulture to Rheingau. The eastward spread of viticulture coincided with the spread of Christianity, which was supported by Charlemagne. Thus, in Medieval Germany, churches and monasteries played the most important role in viticulture, and especially in the production of quality wine. Two Rheingau examples illustrate this: archbishop Ruthard of Mainz founded a Benedictine abbey on slopes above Geisenheim, the ground of which later became Schloss Johannisberg. His successor Adalbert of Mainz donated land above Hattenheim in 1135 to Cistercians, sent out from Clairvaux in Champagne, who founded Kloster Eberbach.
Many grape varieties commonly associated with German wines have been documented back to the 14th or 15th century. Riesling has been documented from 1435 , and Pinot noir from 1318 on Lake Constance under the name Klebroth, from 1335 in Affenthal in Baden and from 1470 in Rheingau, where the monks kept a Clebroit-Wyngart in Hattenheim. The most grown variety in medieval Germany was however Elbling, with Silvaner also being common, and Muscat, Räuschling and Traminer also being recorded.
Common White Wine Grapes
White grape varieties account for 66% of the area planted in Germany. Principal varieties are listed below there are larger numbers of less important varieties too.
- Riesling is the benchmark grape in Germany and covers the most area in German vineyards. It is an aromatic variety with a high level of acidity that can be used for dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling wines. The drawback to Riesling is that it takes 130 days to ripen and, in marginal years, the Riesling crop tends to be poor.
- Müller-Thurgau is an alternative grape to Riesling that growers have been using, and is one of the so-called new crossings. Unlike the long ripening time of Riesling, this grape variety only requires 100 days to ripen, can be planted on more sites, and is higher yielding. However, this grape has a more neutral flavour than Riesling, and as the main ingredient of Liebfraumilch its reputation has taken a beating together with that wine variety. Germany’s most planted variety from the 1970s to the mid-1990s, it has been losing ground for a number of years. Dry Müller-Thurgau is usually labeled Rivaner.
What Is The Famous Wine Region Featured In The Movie Sideways
Thats Santa Barbara.
The greatest attribute of Sideways is that it promoted Pinot Noir, which became very popular because of the movie.
The region of Santa Barbara offers a great variety of unique tasting options with over 120 different wineries to choose from. This region is off-the-beaten-track, but should not be underestimated. Sideways drew much-needed attention to this region and all that it has to offer.
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Where In California Is The Wine Country
The Californian wine country is in the North San Francisco Bay area, with over 800 wineries located all along this scenic route. The Bay area encompasses some of the world’s most famous wine regions, including Napa Valley and Sonoma.
The success of these famous regions within the Bay area is largely to do with the sound soil composition and ideal climatic conditions. Each region is fortunate to have a wide range of temperatures and soil types, allowing the brilliant variety of grapes to thrive here.
Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search
Best Books of the Year
Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world & dash a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.
The Financial Times of London
There are very few people in the wine world who “get it” and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.
Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV
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Which Wine Regions Are In California
From North to South, the main regions are Mendocino, Lake, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Livermore Valley, Lodi, Sierra Foothills, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.
California is a vast region that consists of several smaller wine-producing areas. Although Napa Valley and Sonoma are what California is most known for, the states other regions produce equally outstanding wines.
Napa Valley and Paso Robles are renowned for the bold reds of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, as well as the scenic wine route which offers unique experiences to wine lovers. On the contrary, Santa Barbara and The Russian River Valley, with conditions more suited to delicate grapes, produce outstanding expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Each of these regions offers a unique take on the wines of California allowing for a greater expression and experience of what the Golden State can truly offer.
Platinum: The 97 Point Wines Of Dwwa 2022
The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal.
Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. Platinum is like the stratospheric level she commented, so its really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.
Making up just 0.89% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 competition, Platinum medal winners alongside the Best in Show represent the best of the best wines at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Scroll down to discover the full list of DWWA 2022 Platinum medal winners well worth seeking out, all of which have been awarded 97 points and tasted at least four times across the competitions meticulous judging process.
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Vista Point Chardonnay Wine Chateau
- https://winechateau.com/products/vista-point-chardonnay
- It is sought after by novice wine drinkers and collectors alike, and significant acres are devoted to it in every major win … Home Vista Point Chardonnay . Vista Point Chardonnay. SKU: 1590806-1. Regular price $3.97 $4.97 Sale price $3.97 Regular price. Sale Sold out. Unit price / per . Instant Savings: $1.0.
Sta Rita Hills California
Arguably the top Chardonnay region on California’s Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills is unusual in that it is an east-west-facing valley. That orientation funnels in cool wind off the Pacific, leading to beautifully focused, minerally wines. Seek out producers such as The Hilt, Sandhi, Liquid Farm, Brewer-Clifton, Melville, and Chanin.
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Vista Point Chardonnay Triangle Wine Co Fine Wine And
- https://www.trianglewineco.com/catalog/product/2085/vista-point-chardonnay.html
- Buy wine and craft beer from our online store and retail locations in Cary, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and Southern Pines North Carolina. Choose shipping, home delivery, or store pick up. Import wine, domestic wine, organic wine, highly-rated wines.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
What are people saying about beer, wine & spirits in Chula Vista, CA?
This is a review for beer, wine & spirits in Chula Vista, CA:
“Ahhh Bevmo–where the classy alcoholics stock up on exotic libations. It’s like a museum of bottled goods everywhere you turn. I get giddy as I make my way over to all that is hiding behind locked up glass. Look at all those expensive spirits! And don’t get me started on the artsy catharsis that transcends me when I catch glimpses of wine bottle labels and glass art. It’s like looking at weed bongs. I don’t even smoke weed but I can appreciate the various ways glass can be blown. In fact, the way a bottle at Bevmo looks is largely the reason why I shell out the big bucks. This Otay location is on the smaller side and in my experience, if you’ve seen one Bevmo, you’ve seen them all. To me, that’s kind of a good thing as far as brand consistency is concerned, so good for you Bevvy!”
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Vista Point Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 Winecom
- https://www.wine.com/product/vista-point-vineyards-chardonnay-2007/494046
- Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
Grape Variety Trends Over Time
During the last century several changes have taken place with respect to the most planted varieties. Until the early 20th century, Elbling was Germany’s most planted variety, after which it was eclipsed by Silvaner during the middle of the 20th century. After a few decades in the top spot, in the late 1960s Silvaner was overtaken by the high-yielding Müller-Thurgau, which in turn started to lose ground in the 1980s. From the mid-1990s, Riesling became the most planted variety, a position it probably had never enjoyed before on a national level. Red grapes in Germany have experienced several ups and downs. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, there was a downward trend, which was reversed around 1980. From mid-1990s and during the next decade, there was an almost explosive growth of plantation of red varieties. Plantings was shared between traditional Spätburgunder and a number of new crossings, led by Dornfelder, while other traditional German red varieties such as Portugieser only held their ground. From around 2005, the proportion of red varieties has stabilized around 37%, about three times the 1980 level.
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Stony Steely And Crisp
2020 Vins Auvigue Saint-Véran
Brothers Jean-Pierre and Michel Auvigue, the fifth-generation winemakers at this family property, use only stainless steel tanks for this Mâcon white. The tart, crisp flavors suggest tangerine peel and Meyer lemons, with a chalky finish.
2020 Matthiasson Linda Vista Vineyard Chardonnay
No new oak plus harvesting the grapes on the early sidethe wine is only 12% alcoholgive winemaker Steve Matthiasson a pristine, stony white that is, among many other qualities, great with raw oysters.
2019 Frog’s Leap Shale and Stone Chardonnay
This aptly named Chardonnay, made from biodynamically farmed grapes, ferments in oak barrels but is then aged for a year in concrete vats it’s crisp and bright, with white peach notes and a mouthwatering, stony finish.
2019 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin
Laroche owns vineyards throughout Chablis, which allows winemaker Grégory Viennois enormous latitude when choosing grapes for this taut, steely white. It’s precise and focused, exactly as a village Chablis should be.
2018 Oceano Chardonnay
A blast of passion fruit lifts from the glass when you pick up this vibrant Central Coast Chardonnay from the new San Luis Obispo AVA. It’s crisp and energetic, with a lightly saline end.
