Ep 357: The Role of Alcohol in Wine

<p>It’s the first show of our 10th year! WOW! And for our double digit birthday, this time we bring you a super dorky one that is so important to understand in wine. I have already professed it the dorkiest show of 2021, and I’m pretty sure I can’t top this so – Voilà!</p> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/10_Years_of.png" alt= "" width="250" height="250" /></p> <p>First we have some fun, and challenge you to follow the three wine resolutions/challenges I’ve set forth! They are so easy, even I can keep them:</p> <ol> <li>Have a wine from a region you’ve never heard of or had before! Expand your palate, do a little research, and try something totally new. <br /> <br /></li> <li>Have wine from a region that you have hated in the past. Wine is constantly changing, especially with climate change so a region you may have thought was yucky in the past, may very well have turned into your next favorite wine hub!<br /> <br /></li> <li>Drink more of the wine you love but always forget about! We all have one of those. When you get it you say to yourself, “why don’t I drink more of this? It’s so great!”</li> </ol> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/tim-mossholder-I-_7kNyN-JE-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="167" /></p> <p>Here are the show notes on the role of alcohol in wine:</p> <p><strong>__________________________________________</strong></p> <p><strong>Alcohol levels are largely determined in the vineyard:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Sugar is converted to alcohol during fermentation, so sugar levels in a vineyard are essential to determining how much potential alcohol a wine can have. From <em>véraison</em> (when grapes start to get color) to ripening, grapes accumulate glucose and fructose. </li> <li><img style="float: right;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/pexels-julia-volk-5273010.jpg" alt="" width="207" height="311" />How