Tag: Wine

A Wine Taster’s Guide to Environmental Wines – A Look at Lageder Reds

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With today’s global attention focused on environmental health, entrepreneurs, citizen groups, and national governments attempt cooperation to improve air, water, and soil quality, to safeguard oceans and forests and especially to control climate change.

You can join the effort at your next wine tasting party by choosing wines from an eco-friendly winery like Alois Lageder. As you pour your guests a glass of these planet conscious wines, you can pass on knowledge that shows this historic Italian winery is no newcomer to environmentalism. This article looks at the aspects of eco-friendly winemaking including how winemakers create a natural balance to increase the vitality and pest and disease resistance of vines with a focus on one of the long time advocates of environmentalism in wine.

Alois Lageder

Winemaker Alois Lageder is one of many with environmental concerns, but for him, they are not recent. Born in 1950, Alois Lageder owns family vineyards located on steep Alpine slopes far from any beaten path in Alto Adige. The region borders Austria where residents speak both Italian and German and the past still dominates viticulture and winemaking. However, Alois Lageder’s visionary plan has always embraced modern technology. Instead of operating at cross-purposes, he sees nature, humans, and technology as cooperative forces with art as an expression of nature that informs people, an outlook that sends him to the top of any eco-friendly red wine club list.

Alois Lageder was named after his great grandfather who founded a winery in Bolzano in 1855. In 1934, the family acquired the Lowengang estate in Magre’ now planted with 77 acres of grapes and subsequently acquired other vineyards in prime locations in Alto Adige including the Cason’ Hirschprunn estate in 1991 planted with 79 acres.

Aspects Of Biodynamic Winemaking

Lageder grows vineyards on steep slopes from 750 to 3,250 elevations above the Adige Valley. All have been organically farmed, and the Lowengang estate is now farmed biodynamically, an even more rigorous and sustainable farming method than organic. Rather than unnatural single crop planting, Lageder cultivates multiple varieties in any given vineyard together with other plants, uses compost instead of artificial fertilizers, and fights parasites with natural predators. Lageder’s goal is to imitate the balance in nature and increase the health and vitality of the vines so they are resistant to parasites and disease.

Completed in 1996, the winery at the Tor Lowengang estate is a marvel of new technology, entirely eliminating the consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels. The winery employs solar energy, geo-thermic warmth, and natural convection currents. The building leans into a cliff that cools and warms fresh air for ventilation. A photoelectric system makes use of solar energy, delivering most of the winery’s electrical needs. And solar collectors heat water. The 50 feet tall vinification tower harnesses the force of gravity in such a way that pumps or other mechanical means for moving the grapes and must are unnecessary. The grapes and must flow down from one vinification phase to the next and end in fermentation vats arranged in a circle around this central axis. After fermentation, the wines rest in vaulted cellars until picked up by red wine club associations and distributors.

By sharing this information at your next eco-friendly wine tasting party, you can help Lageder’s wines and other environmental wines taste a little sweeter to your guests.

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Wine Investment In Egypt

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Wine investment can be divided into two guidelines: the domestication of grapevines and the trade of wine. The history of wine dates back to the Early Bronze Ages. Investing in wine derives from the time of Greece and Rome. It is still not known, the place from where the original grape vine was delivered. It was discovered that man has been drinking for over 5,000 years. There is a lot of archeological evidence that proves that wine was used as a tribute to the pagan gods and was considered a beverage of the gods. It is the oldest known agricultural product, which has passed through the whole development of civilization.

The first evidence of wine investing dates back seventy centuries ago, to the time of an unknown Egyptian Pharaoh. In the bare tomb was placed several statuettes which represented slaves who served their dead Royal Master. One of the servants on the figure stumbled upon a wine jar. It is thought that the birth of the human civilization came along with the wine. The Egyptian shaman attributed wine in honor of their gods and especially of their noble god Osiris, the son of Heaven and Earth.

The Egyptians domesticated white and red sweet grapes. The best vineyards were situated along the river valley of the Nile. The papyri which were historical manuscripts tell us about the celebrated wine of Anthylla, sought near the Lake Mare Otis. Cleopatra herself used to drink this kind of wine when she was with Antony. No one knows whether Cleopatra or the perfect taste of her wine bewitched him. The Egyptian court was well known for the great amounts of wine that were consumed. Investing in wine became a necessity to satisfy their needs. Later on wines were imported from Ethiopia, Syria and Palestine.

The plants were cultivated like creepers up the trees. This method is still used in some parts of Italy. The great problem was with the irrigation. It was done by hand. The other problem was the pruning. In these times it wasn’t well known. The vineyards were pruned by goats, tied to the vines. Those days the wine was made in a simple way. The gathered grape was trodden by feet. After that the marc was pressed in sacks. The wine was stored in earthenware amphorae, which were large vases, for fermentation. Then the beverage was filtered. Each amphora was painted with resin in order to make it smooth.

The ordinary Egyptians didn’t have the opportunity to drink wine. The beverage intended for the public was a kind of mix of palm wine and beer. Only the Pharaoh, the shaman and the soldiers had the honor of drinking the beverage of the gods. Through all these centuries the wine was the best of all beverages. Investing in wine in Egypt proves that it was highly appreciated, even by the Pharaoh. There are a lot of founded paintings that represent scenes about the wine showing a part of the Pharaoh’s daily life. Wine investment has continued through all these years as an undying thirst for not only the gods but for all mankind.

Biodynamic Wine Regions

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Biodynamics may be described as being the science of the earth’s life forces. At just once, the planet was designed to heal and sustain itself. But, humans and also the pollution that accompanies them have managed to break this earth to such an extent that it’s no longer in a position to renew itself at a rate faster than that at that it’s being destroyed. Biodynamism acknowledges the basic agricultural principles in nature and makes an attempt to figure together with these principles rather than against them. By promoting them during this means, the biodynamic farmer seeks to permit the earth to regain a number of its unique ability to heal and restore itself. By its very nature, biodynamism continues to develop and evolve, rather than being a set formula.

One in every of the strategies that set biodynamic agriculture apart is that of operating according to a calendar that respects the earth and its many intricate systems and unspoken laws. This calendar takes cognizance of the magnetic fields of the world, yet as the way the sun, moon, stars and planets interact with ours.

The preparations for this sort of agriculture, whether or not for cultivating grapes for wines or alternative crops, are usually rather unsophisticated and even rudimentary. Herbs and minerals are infused into the soil in keeping with the farmer’s experience and knowledge and primarily based on what the soil would, under ideal circumstances, receive and generate. Packing these herbs et al into the horn of a dead cow, which is then buried within the soil for slow infusion, is a common practice on biodynamic farms, each in South Africa and around the world.

Most of the original supporters and developers of biodynamic farming are from the generation born within the 1960’s and 1970’s. They were the generation that lived through the movement towards environmental sustainability, recycling, etc… Such is the good thing about their efforts towards biodynamism that even the skeptics are reconsidering their stance on this different agricultural method. Wine farmers all over the globe are included during this movement. As a key player within the wine market, South Africa displays a firm determination to explore and implement such effective initiatives. However, despite even the foremost wholehearted support, many of these biodynamic supporters will confess to not understanding the total intricacies of the process or why it has proven to be so successful. What they do apprehend is that their love, respect and commitment to the land is yielding tasty, healthy grapes, ideal for wonderful wines.

A Wine Lover’s Weekly Guide to $10 Wines – A Red From Montenegro

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This is our first review of a wine from Montenegro, a small country in southeastern Europe that was part of Yugoslavia. Montenegro has been producing wine for more than two thousand years, so perhaps it’s time to take a look at one of their products. This particular wine is produced from the red Vranac grape whose name means black stallion. So let’s guess that we are looking at a powerful wine. The company’s vineyard is one of the largest in Europe, containing over 10 million vines.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Palntaze Monte Cheval Vranac, 2006 11.5% alcohol about $ 8.00

Let’s start with the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Medium garnet; leather and earth with a hint of plum and spice; earthy dried fruit flavor with a hint of spice. Serving Suggestion: Stew and casseroles. And now for my review.

At first tasting the wine was dark and oaky with round tannins. It was mouth filling and chewy but relatively short. The initial meal involved slow-cooked beef ribs and potatoes. I tasted cherries and chocolate. Its palate cleansing acidity was good because the meat was fat but this Vranac seemed to fade away. It did not pick up when I added spicy green jalapeno pepper sauce to the meat.

The second meal consisted of commercially barbecued chicken thighs in a light herb sauce and deli potato salad. The wine was powerful, but perhaps a bit too acidic. It showed dark fruit but didn’t overpower this lightly flavored dish.

The final meal was based on Merguez, North African spicy lamb sausage. The wine was mouth filling and I tasted stewed fruits. It cut the grease and, believe me, this meal was greasy. The deli potato salad muted the wine. When I added spicy green jalapeno pepper sauce this time the wine stepped into the background and its fruit was gone.

I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first cheese was a marbled cheddar. The wine was dark and tasted of cherries and plums. It seemed well balanced. With a sheep’s milk feta cheese the wine lost a lot of its character. This cheese was too much for this wine.

Final verdict. I won’t buy this wine again. It is better than many $ 8 wines but with all the cheap wines out there, I won’t hold the presses for this one.

Health Benefits Of Wine

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Will it give us an increase in longevity? Some very impressive statistics are coming out from Researchers who have found red wines rich in flavonoids are actually good for our health. These flavonoids are known for their antioxidant properties which work with the body to resist viruses and carcinogens among other perks, such as helping your body to resist cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Almost every year there are headlines touting the health benefits related to drinking wine. The good news is there really are health benefits to wine consumption. These benefits are based on moderate consumption. The American Heart Association classifies “moderate consumption” as one to two four-ounce glasses of wine per day. Here’s a list of benefits that should make you very happy to be a wine lover.

Resveratrol is produced by grapes to act as its defense, when it detects some kind of a fungal infection starting to develop in its skin, and when the skin is exposed to yeast during the process of fermentation. Other substances present in wine that have tremendous health benefits to our body are other types of polyphenols, antioxidants, and flavonoids.

Some studies in women regarding the consumption of alcohol and risk of breast cancer found an increase of this type of cancer in women who consume at least one drink daily. According to a report by the American Cancer Society in 2004 there was an increase of 30% in the death rate from breast cancer in women who would drink alcohol daily.

Many believe red wine is better for you than white wine, because that is what early studies found. Skin from red grapes contained a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol, which was transferred into red wine during manufacturing. However, nowadays manufacturers are altering their winemaking processes for both red and white wine to boost health benefits.

However, to get enough of the anti-oxidant for an immediate health supplement would require drinking a lot of wine at once, and of course that would be harmful. Chemists figured out how to get the beneficial antioxidants of red wine without the alcohol – the red wine pill. Resveratrol in pill form contains no alcohol, has no calories, and delivers more antioxidants than a glass of wine.

Also they have found that you can reduce your risk of getting heart disease as well so you may want to drink you daily dose of Resveratrol laced red wine. If are not a wine drinker and are looking to start then you may want to go to a wine tasting because it is the best way to find out what type of wine that you like. Also you will be able to taste a variety of wine without having to purchase a bottle that you may not like.

Extreme Weight Problems: While the term “beer belly” may have given alcohol a bad rap when it comes to weight, wine is actually proven to help the severely overweight. In order for this to be true, dry wine, wine that does not contain sugar, needs to be ingested: four or five ounces are taken at dinnertime or bedtime. In one study, the average weight loss of those who ingested this wine was twice that of those who didn’t.

Of course, the health benefits of wine are working only with a moderate consumption of this wonderful multi-use drink. Any abuse of alcohol which is contained in wine will not only eliminate all its benefits, but add to other health problems. So, always remember that like just about everything else, moderation is the key to take full advantage of wine.

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