Wine and Wine Tasting November 15, 2005 Eugene N. Losey Elmhurst College

Why Wine? It's natural.

Budbreak

Harvest

Why Wine? It's natural. It's living.

Red Wine

Why Wine? It's natural. It's living. It's social. It's aesthetic.

Aesthetic

Why Wine? It's natural. It's living. It's social. It's aesthetic. It's unique and varied.

California Chardonnay

Washington Chardonnay

German Riesling

Napa Valley Merlot

Ho Ho Ho

Why Wine? It's natural. It's living. It's social. It's aesthetic. It's unique and varied. It’s healthful (in moderation).

Wine Making - White Wines

Riesling

Merlot

Grapes Arriving

Crusher / Destemmer

Press

Stainless Steel Fermenters

Wine Making - Red Wines

Fermentation - Small Batch

Pumping Over

Free Run Juice

Barrels

Bottling

Chemical Substances in Grapes Water Grape Sugars Natural Acids Phenolics

Chemical Substances in Grapes Pectins Organic Molecules (flavor components) Esters Carboxylic Acids Aldehydes Alcohols Terpenes Biochemicals

Water

Grape Sugars

Natural Acids

Phenolics

Pectins Nature’s thickening agents. Lost in Fermentation Or ‘removed’ with pectic enzymes

Organic Molecules (flavor)

Biochemicals Enzymes Amino Acids Proteins Vitamins Glycerin Inorganic Ions

Fermentation Biochemistry yeast’s enzymes C 6 H 12 O > 2 C 2 H 5 OH + 2 CO 2 + (ethyl alcohol) heat

Malolactic Fermentation bacteria Malic Acid > Lactic Acid (more acidic) (less acidic)

Analysis of Must and Wines

Goals of Analysis Determining Grape Maturity Improving Yield and Processing Efficiency Detecting and Reducing Spoilage Improving Quality Analysis for Blending Meeting Specifications (govt, export)

Analysis Methods Soluble Solids (Sugar) –Refractometer –Hydrometer –HPLC Acidity –TA (total, titratable) - Wet Chemistry –Volatile (acetic acid) - Wet Chemistry –Individual Acids - HPLC

Analysis Methods, contd Alcohol and Alcohols –Ethanol - ebulliometer, GC, NIR –Individual Alcohols - GC, GC/MS Phenolics –Total - colorimetric/enzymatic methods –Individual Phenolics - HPLC

Analysis Methods, contd Carbonyl Compounds –Acetaldehyde - GC –Di-acetyl - GC Esters –Ethyl acetate - GC Additives –SO 2

Analysis Methods, contd Metals –Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Pb - AA N-Compounds –Amino Acids - HPLC, GC-MS –Proteins - Biochemical Methods

Chemistry vs. Organoleptic Impressions (Sugars)

Chemistry vs. Organoleptic Impressions (Acids)

Chemistry vs. Organoleptic Impressions (Phenolics)

Chemistry vs. Organoleptic Impressions (Organic Molecules)

Chemistry vs. Organoleptic Impressions (Alcohol) Preservative Hot taste Moderates acidity

Vineyard Practices vs. Organoleptic Properties Crop Thinning Leaf Pulling Terroir

Winemaking Practices vs. Organoleptic Properties Maceration Techniques Hard and Soft Tannins Unfiltered Wines Low Sulfite Wines

Wine Tasting - the senses SIGHT SMELL TASTE TOUCH

Wine and Health Wine and Total Mortality –The J - Curve Wine and Cardiac Heart Disease –The French Connection and the Mediterranean Diet –Platelet aggregation

Wine and Health Quercetin –a flavanoid –antioxidant –onions, broccoli, squash and red grapes

Wine and Health Resveratrol –skins of red grapes, peanuts, mulberries, plants –heart disease –antioxidant –anticancer –phytoestrogen

Resveratrol Heart Disease –reduced platelet aggregation –inhibition of COX-1 (thromboxane biosynthesis) Antioxidant –oxidation of LDL and cells –related to platelet aggregation compounds

Resveratrol Cancer –affects tumor initiation, promotion, progression –inhibition of free radical formation –COX-1 enzyme (pro-inflammatory compounds) Cautions –short term studies –in-vitro and animal studies –absorption, liver effects, etc.

What’s Hot?  ABC (Syrah, Viognier) Chilean wines -  Australian wines - $ Vineyard designation wines Italian wines and varietals Cult cabernets - $$$$ Oregon Pinot noirs 1997, 1999, 2001 CA Cabernets 2001, 2002, 2003 German Wines Two-Buck Chuck

Getting Serious Begin a wine cellar - $ to $$$ Vacation in wine country - $ to $$$ Construct wine/food dinners - $ Become a serious collector - $ to  Buy wine at wine auction - $ to $$$

Learning More Read wine books -  Attend wine store tastings -  Join wine-store "wine club" - free Take a wine class -  to $ Have a structured wine tasting - $ Attend a wine maker dinner - $$ Subscribe to Wine Spectator

The End