Behind the Cork™ - Organic Wines of Veramonte

In anticipation of Earth Day 2023 on April 22nd, here’s a great trio of organic, vegan wines to celebrate with!

The wines from Veramonte are from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. Veramonte follows organic practices in all their vineyards to ensure the best conditions for the development of the vine thus achieving vineyards that are sustainable. Through cultivating healthy, living soils and maintaining a natural balance in their vineyards and winemaking process, Veramonte obtains quality grapes that express the full potential of the terroir, leading to wines with character and authenticity.

2020 Veramonte Pinot Noir ($13.99)

Produced from 100% Organic Pinot Noir, 15% of the grapes underwent whole cluster maceration and fermentation with natural yeasts. It then spent 8 months aging in oak. It is pale ruby in color with red fruit aromas of raspberry and cherry. One the palate it has juicy fruit flavors of cherry and cranberry and finishes light. (13.5% ABV, 1.3 g/L RS, 5.8 g/L acidity)

2022 Veramonte Chardonnay ($13.99)

Produced from 100% Organic Chardonnay, the grapes are whole cluster pressed and sit for 24 hours before being racked off. Part of the wine is barrel fermented in neutral oak with wild yeasts while the rest is fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain its bright flavors. Then, 30% of the wine undergoes malolactic conversion. Finally, 15% of the wine is aged in neutral oak for 8 months. It is medium gold in color with citrus and apple aromas. On the palate it is bright and refreshing. (14% ABV, 3.33 g/L RS, 7.35 g/L acidity)

2022 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99)

This wine is composed of 100% Organic Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are fermented in stainless steel tanks. It is medium gold in color with subtle citrus aromas. On the palate it has bright citrus flavors of grapefruit and lime with a refreshing finish. (13.5% ABV, 0.78 g/L RS, 7.73 g/L acidity)

Each of these sustainably-made wines is organic and vegan which make them not only a perfect fit for Earth Day 2023 but also most any day that you’re looking for an affordable wine that pairs well with a variety of foods. Cheers!

---

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Veramonte Wines, González Byass (via Donna White Communications)

Ever Wonder? What's the Difference Between American and French Oak Barrels?

In winemaking, wood barrels impart textures, aromas and flavors into the final product.

Wines can be fermented and/or aged in oak barrels anywhere from six months to two years or longer.

Many red wines are aged in some type of oak barrels while few white wines are fermented or aged in oak (Chardonnay is the biggest exception).

Wine barrels are made from oak trees grown in many parts of the world. While French and American oak are most commonly used, there is also oak from places such as Hungary and Romania.

Oak barrels can be classified as ‘new,’ ‘used’ or ‘neutral.’ New oak is used to impart bold flavors. Lightly-used barrels, having been used for only one or two wines vintages, impart somewhat less flavor. And, neutral oak generally imparts no discernible flavor.

The primary difference between French and American oak is the different flavor characteristics they impart. French oak barrels are said to impart flavors of dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and subtle smoke and spice notes, and produce wines with silkier textures. American oak is said to impart flavors of coconut, vanilla extract, cream soda and sweeter spices. They are also said to be more assertive in the imparted flavors while resulting in wines with a creamier texture.

But, like most things, it greatly depends on how the oak is prepared (i.e., toasted) and how the different types are used by each winemaker. Cheers!

Ever Wonder? Why Do Wine Makers Produce Blended Wines?

In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as "Red Wine" or "Table Wine."  These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. This history has led to some people believing that blends are of lesser-quality than just pure varietals.

But we only need to look to France, home of some of the world’s best wines, to see that blends of high quality are very common.  France's famous region of Bordeaux produces red blends almost exclusively.  Depending on which bank the wine is from in Bordeaux, it will be a different blend. The Left Bank is known for its blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon while the Right Bank blends are Merlot based. These blends may also include Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec.

Other famous regions known for their blends include the Rhône Valley that uses Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre and the so-called Super Tuscans from Italy that may include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and others.

The main reason that winemakers produce blends is to make the best wine possible. Blending different grape varieties is useful in accentuating a particular grape's virtues. But winemakers have also learned never to blend an inferior wine with a good wine because the result is usually an inferior wine. Again, the goal is to produce a wine that is actually better than the sum of its parts. And blending allows for wines that are well balanced and complex in their aromas, flavors, colors and textures. The blended grapes can add layers of flavor that will change through the process of taking the first sip, letting it sit on your tongue and then as you swallow.

Another thing you may not realize is that most wines labeled in the U.S. as single varietals are actually blends.  The laws state that for a wine to be labeled as a single varietal, it must contain at least 75% of the noted grape. But that leaves the other 25% for the winemaker to be creative and generally to blend in other grapes that results in their best possible wine.

So don't turn up your nose at red wine blends.  These can actually be some of the best wines in the world. Cheers!

Ever Wonder? Why Are Some Wines are Produced in Concrete?

You may have noticed that making wine in concrete tanks seems like something new or a current fashion, but the practice actually dates back to the ceramic amphorae of ancient Greek and Roman times.

Typically, wines are fermented and aged in either stainless steel tanks and/or oak barrels.

Stainless steel tanks are the choice when a winemaker wants a ‘neutral’ vessel that does not react or impart their own flavors to the wine. But, what the stainless steel tanks don’t offer is the aspect of breathing the air, allowing air in and out of the container and having it interact with the wine over time.

Oak barrels are porous, allowing some small amount of oxygen into them and, in newer barrels, impart flavor to the wine.

What winemakers have found in concrete is that it is a semi-porous substance and allows for oxygenation like oak, it is a neutral material that does not impart flavor and it is a natural insulator that stabilizes the temperature of the wine during fermentation and aging. This allows winemakers to produce wines that tend to preserve the bright and fruit-forward flavors while still allowing for the important process of allowing the wine to ‘breathe’ during production.

Turns out the ancient Greeks and Romans were way ahead of their times by using ceramic vessels to produce wine. So, if you see a wine that was produced in concrete tanks, give it a try and see what you think. Cheers!

Ever Wonder? Why Are Some Wine Bottles Sealed with Wax?

Occasionally, you may come across a wine bottle that has a wax seal over the top of the cork that somewhat covers the neck of the bottle. You may have wondered “Why is it sealed in wax?” and “How do I remove the wax so that I can get to the cork?” These are a couple of great questions to explore.

Most wine bottles today have a capsule cover the cork that goes part-way down the neck of the bottle. In the not so distant past, these were made from lead but are now manufactured from aluminum or a heat-shrinkable plastic.

Whatever the material, these wine bottle capsules serve several purposes. Originally, a capsule was used to protect the cork from insects and varmints when being transported by ship or being stored in caves. And, wax was sometime used as a seal over the cork to keep it from leaking.

With today’s availability of good quality cork, plastic corks and twist-off caps, it’s generally not necessary to add a wax seal. But, some wine producers do use it. Today the wax is used to either provide an air-tight seal for wines that are meant to be aged for long periods of time or they are used as ‘high-end’ decoration for otherwise ordinary wines.

So, these wax seals can either be functional or decorative. But, how do you get through the wax to be able to pull the cork? We’ll address that next time. Until then, Cheers!