Why specific grape varietals are used for wine.
02/23/2021
Why certain grape varietals are used for wine.
There are many different grape species and varieties within each species. However, very few are actually bottled as wine. Vitis vinifera (V. Vinefera) is the main species used for enology(winemaking). Also within V. Vinefera are thousands of varieties of grapes, and even so only a small number are used for wine. Wine grapes are just like every other fruit, although they just happened to have specific characteristics that allow us to create beautiful wines. For reasons I will present, there there are high levels of selectivity among grape varietals in the wine industry. I will highlight three main reasons why we choose to grow the grape varietals that we do.
Reason One
Characteristics and market response:
Some wines are tannic, some wines are bold. Everyone has their personal preference. Intense varietals such as Carmenere and Sauvignon Blanc have been shown to be less popular than Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the general American market. More approachable varietals get better market response. "More approachable" Just means that the wines have less complex characteristics. I have found the people that are new to drinking red wine fall in this category as sort of a discovery period. Usually people evolve to searching for more complex flavors in red wine.
Reason Two
Affinity for oak:
There are certain wines that go better in oak than others, which is referred to as "affinity" or "a liking for." Since oak is delicious and comes at a high price, wines with high affinity for oak are typically oak aged and are usually more expensive. But why oak?
Reason Three :
Historical significance:
Oak was originally used as a vessel for transporting wine during the Roman Empire. Up until that point, clay vessels called amphora were used to store wine. Barrels were stronger and more likely to make the trip along the rocky road. The complex flavours that oak provided were a happy accident, and it has since become a staple in the wine industry.
Post By:
Branden Seymour