Ever Wonder Why Wines Turn Brown?

Have you ever opened a bottle of red wine that had turned brown? Or, seen a bottle of white wine that’s turned brown? Well, this is a real issue with wines - as they age.

As wines age, they can become oxidized especially if the cork is not entirely sealed in the neck of the bottle. When the pigmentation in wine gets exposed to oxygen, it turns brown.

White wines can get darker and turn a golden brown.

Reds wines can turn slightly orange, brown or brick color as they age. The red wine on the left is young and the one on the right is showing some signs of aging and oxidation.

As a wine ages, you’ll often also see color variations along the edges of the glass as you look down into a slight tipped glass. You may see the red and purple hues of the wine in the middle of the glass but you’ll also see the secondary colors of orange, brown or brick along the edge.

This is a phenomenon that’s most easily seen with Pinot Noir. As Pinot Noir ages you’ll see more brick-like color around the edges.

So, always look at your wine. You can learn a lot about its age. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - McPrice Myers 'Beautiful Earth' Red Blend

2013 McPrice Myers ‘Beautiful Earth’ Red Blend ($42)

When I was looking for a good wine to accompany a recent meal, I noticed this Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre (GSM) from Paso Robles and grabbed it.

Upon pouring it, I immediately noticed that this GSM was a very deep purple color. I was expecting it to be a bit lighter, more like a medium ruby red. Then I took my first sip and again was surprised. It was full-bodied with lots of bold fruit flavors.

Once I turned the bottle around to the back label I realized why the color and taste did not match my expectations for a GSM. It turns out, this is a SGM (79% Syrah, 13% Grenache and 8% Mourvedre). Ah ha! It actually could be labeled as a Syrah!

This turned out to be a super bottle of wine! And, while it was a bit bolder than I would have paired with the meal, it was wonderful to drink. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Speyburn 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Speyburn 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($30)

I recently learned that on January 25th, Scotland and many throughout the world celebrate famed poet Robert Burns.

“Burns Night” began shortly after his death in 1796. If you haven’t heard of Robert Burns you’ve probably heard one of his more notable poems and songs "‘Auld Lang Syne.”

This Speyburn Single Malt gets its name from the fact that it is made from pure waters taken from the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey in Scotland.

Speyburn 10 Years Old offers a classic Speyside single malt experience with touches of fresh fruit, hints of toffee and butterscotch, and a long smooth, sweet finish attributable to being matured in a combination of American oak, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

I put this one up against several notable Scotch names and found it stands up well against the best. It’s smooth and balanced and just perfect for toasting Robert Burns on January 25th! Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster, Ten27 Communications

Ever Wonder? - What is Grappa?

Last time we looked at brandy. Brandy is made from distilling wine with or without the solid grape matter. Grappa, on the other hand, is made solely from distilling the ‘leftovers’ from making wine - the fermented skins, stems and seeds from the grapes (the pomace).

Producers of Grappa typically use the grape skins, seeds and stems that sat in the fermentation tank with the grape juice during the making of red wine. They may also make Grappa from the white wine by-products, but since the pomace isn’t fermented with the juice during white wine production, distillers must first ferment the skins and seeds.

The distillation process allows Grappa makers to separate the volatile parts of the fermented product, based on their different boiling points. In practice, the distillers heat the fermented product to allow the alcoholic vapors to evaporate together with the aromas. This way, the quantity of alcohol contained in the fermented product becomes quite concentrated. When these vapors are cooled, they condense into a liquid of high alcoholic content. And we call it Grappa.

Grappa is usually produced clear but color can be attained with aging in wood barrels.

Grappa is typically served neat from straight-sided shot glasses, but specialty flutes (as shown in the photo) and large tulip glasses have been designed to showcase a grappa’s bouquet.

Grappa isn’t for everyone. It too is an acquired taste. But, now you know - Grappa is a distilled product from the wine ‘leftovers.’ Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Tempest Bay Chardonnay

2018 Tempest Bay Chardonnay ($7.99)

The Carneros AVA in California includes an eastern half in Napa and a western half in Sonoma. It’s known for producing high-quality wines, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And that’s why this wine caught my eye.

This Tempest Bay Chardonnay is from the Napa side of Carneros. And it’s $7.99! So, I picked up this one up during my recent visit to Trader Joe’s. I went back the next day for a box of it!

This one seems to be a Trader Joe’s only wine. The back label states that it is “Vinted and Bottled by Tempest Bay Wines, Santa Rosa, California.” An on-line search didn’t find this winery that apparently is a label owned by another winery.

This is a rich, creamy and oaky Chardonnay. And, it also has some nice pear fruit flavor, vanilla, spices and very balanced acidity. It must have undergone a secondary Malolactic conversion to have such a rich and creamy mouth-feel.

This is a new one to Trader Joe’s. And, with Trader Joe’s wines, you never know if it’ll become a regular or if it’s a one-and-done feature. I’m hoping it become a regular but betting this one won’t be around for long. If you like a rich and oaky Chardonnay, pick this one up (or a box full!). Cheers!