Cable Wine Systems (www.CableWineSystems.com), creators of the most versatile and sophisticated wine racking system on the market, is weighing in on the benefits of cooler climates when creating spring wines.
The consumer demand for more full-bodied wine, coupled with the warming of certain wine regions around the world has made it more difficult to find lighter-bodied wine. (Source: Hammond, C,E., “Spring is all about crisp wine and restrained roses,” March 19, 2016; http://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2016/03/19/spring-is-all-about-crisp-white-wines-and-restrained-ross.html)
“As the weather begins to warm up for spring and eventually for summer, wine drinkers are going to be looking for a more crisp tasting, lighter wine,” says Janice Bednarz, general manager of Cable Wine Systems. “But for different reasons, including what some would classify as global warming, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to find lighter-bodied wines, compared to full-bodied wines in stores.”
Experts say the solution to finding lighter wines is to look for bottles coming from cooler climates. Ontario, New Zealand, Northern France, and North Italy all are regions which see less sunshine. This results in less grape sugar, which lessens the amount of alcohol during fermentation.
“It might sound complicated, but it’s actually fairly straightforward,” says Bednarz. “The level of alcohol is closely related to the body type of the wine. That’s why these regions with less sunshine can still produce lighter-bodied wine at a higher rate than other regions, such as Southern France for instance, where there is generally more sunshine year round.”
Wines with 13.5% alcohol or more tend to be fuller-bodied. Bottles with 12.5% alcohol or less are regarded as lighter-bodied.
“We’re actually pretty lucky here in Ontario because we get to see a broad range of wines,” says Bednarz. “Our seasonal climate gives us an advantage in producing all types of wines, such as Chardonnay, Gamay, and Riesling. All three of these wines can be made in Ontario are considered light-bodied for spring drinking.”
Cable Wine Systems is the creator of one of the most sophisticated wine racking systems on the market. They accommodate this generation of wine drinkers with a rack design that can suit their design preferences. More information can be found on their web site at www.CableWineSystems.com