The next time you take a sip of your favourite Chenin or Chardonnay, take a moment to taste its unique character, style and flavour. Apart from the same batches of wine in a particular vintage, no wine – including different harvests of the same label – is the same thanks to its distinctive terroir; a powerful recipe of geography, weather and Mother Nature.
With more than 2 000 types of wine grapes and a dozen farming methods, the world of wine is extensive and is the inspiration for The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show – an annual consumer exhibition of the mystery, history and alchemy of wine. Presenting an array of labels, cultivars, blends and vintages at Emnotweni between the 24th and 26th of November, the event seeks to introduce wine lovers to the magical and diverse world of wine.
Here Editor of Wine Extra magazine and consultant to The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show, Maryna Strachan, explains the role that nature plays in the success of a wine and why it’s more often the result of a miracle, more than it is a science.
The basic process of wine-making: Viticulturists spend many years studying the science of wine-making. They know exactly what type of clone of grape will grow successfully in a particular soil type. They decide which slope of the hill is best and the ideal direction the vines should face, utilising sunlight, sea breezes or wind shelter. Throughout the vine’s lifecycle they monitor pest control, irrigation (if any) and also pruning. Once the grapes are harvested the viniculturist takes over.
The grapes are pressed to extract the juice and yeast is added to begin the fermentation process. This is officially when grape juice becomes wine. It is then transferred to oak barrels, stainless steel tanks or all kinds of amphorae, where it is left to further ferment. In conventional vinicultural methods, sulphur dioxide is added once the wine is bottled, to help prolong its shelf life.
At which point does the magic happen? According to Maryna, the true magic occurs in the vineyards.
Wine grown in the same soil, using the same techniques, can taste completely different year on year. Mother Nature plays a significant role here, so the temperature, rainfall, hail and other weather conditions both before, during and after each growing season affect the end-product quite dramatically.
Grapes are generally harvested at certain sugar levels, also referred to as balling or brix. The higher the balling upon harvesting, the higher the alcohol levels tend to be, but harvesting a wine too early can lead to unwanted green and unripe flavours.
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The taste illusion: One of wine’s best tricks is the illusion that you’re tasting elements not actually found in the wine. Grass and green peppers or coffee and cassis were not mixed with the soil or wine at all. These are the result of terroir meets varietal.
Just the right amount of minerals in the soil, heat, wind, sun and rain can enhance the properties of wine. Inside the barrel, more flavour is infused into the wine and is influenced by the choice in cooper, the drying process of the wood, and how toasted the inside of the barrel was. Other elements such as harvest date, maceration time (a.k.a. ‘skin contact’), fermentation temperature, oak vs. steel tanks, and corks vs. screw caps also contribute to a wine’s unique flavour.
Mother Nature’s role in wine-making. Wine is a manifestation of love from both nature and science. Our ecosystem is extremely sensitive and prone to environmental changes. All of this affects the quality of wine. It is also why different methods of growing vines are being used around the world to create less of an impact on the environment and encourage a more natural approach to viticulture.
To learn more about the magic of wine – its provenance, art and science – visit The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show this November. Pop into The Lowvelder Wine Theatre for tutored tastings, meet the wine-makers to learn more about their signature style or simply taste and buy fine wines direct from exhibitors.
Tickets can be purchased pre-show for R120 from our events page or at the door for R140. Price includes a tasting glass, all tastings, access to The Lowvelder Wine Theatre and a map to help navigate the show.
