Learning about wine: my recent research discoveries.

My favourite part of prepping for a wine club is researching the wines I’ve selected. I love learning about viticulture and viniculture. Some of the things I’ve discovered will be common knowledge to many wine enthusiasts. I was happy to find out that one of the most knowledgeable people I work with didn’t know about the translation of picpoul. I’m not embarrassed to admit what I don’t know and neither should you be. I’d like to share my new knowledge and will keep posting as I learn.

Things I learned from my most recent wine research:

• The Hungarian/Austrian word for Pinot Gris is Grauar Mőnch
• Picpoul  (piquepoul) translates to lipstinger referring to the acidity of the grape
• Picpoul  is also known as Vermentino
• Rolle is also known as Vermentino
• Terpenes are organic compounds produced by plants and the major components of resin and turpentine
• Terpenes are also found in Viognier, Muscat and Riesling wines
• Viognier was almost extinct in 1965
• Ehrenfeler was created by Dr. Heinrich Birk at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in 1929, by crossing the varieties Riesling and Silvaner
• In most wine-growing regions anything over 1000 meters above sea level is too cold to grow grapes
• The Adrianna vineyards in Argentina are 1450 meters above sea level and there are others in Argentina that are much higher
• The Tacuil vineyards in Argentina are 2597 meters above sea level

Cheers, Luisa