An introduction to Sweet wine and Dessert wine

August 26, 2011

I sat on the embankment of the Vienne, on the right bank to be precise, facing upriver. The air was still warm, as it had been all day, although the river brought a little cool air with it as it flowed, through Chinon, on its slow and lazy journey to the Atlantic. It was now 10 o’clock in the evening; it was quite dark, and yet the town was no less busy than it had been all day. What light there was glowed from the streetlamps overhead, and from the string of hotels and bars just a few yards across the street. Relaxed, with drink in hand, I reflected on the past few days.

It had certainly been a productive and exciting trip. A visit to Couly-Dutheil, tasting (and purchasing) wines from the Clos de l’Echo vineyard, followed by further tastings at Clos l’Abbaye and Audebert et Fils, two of the better estates of the many that are peppered around Bourgueil, comprising the Bourgueil and St-Nicolas de Bourgueil appellations. The preceding day I had been tasting in Saumur, taking in Filliatreau and Chateau de Villeneuve, each bringing out some superlative Saumur-Champigny; these impressive red wines of great freshness and flavour from what might be regarded as a ‘lesser’ appellation. Tomorrow I was to strike out for the Sancerrois, where I had an appointment with Domaine Vacheron, at that time my favourite estate in Sancerre.

There was something missing from that visit, back in 1993, although at that time I could not see it. And it was, sadly, several years before my blindfold was removed. Nowadays I would never dream of journeying through the Loire without visiting and tasting in Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon, especially the crus Quarts du Chaume and Bonnezeaux; for the sweet wines produced in these appellations are the real stars of the Loire Valley, greater than any Saumur or Sancerre produced further along the banks of the Loire.

Although the Loire vignerons enjoy great success producing world-class sweet wines from Chenin Blanc, sometimes with the help of Botrytis (the fungus behind Noble Rot) this is just one grape, and just one method of producing sweet wine. Look beyond the Loire, and beyond France’s borders, and you find a myriad of different sweet wine styles, using many different grapes, and with subtle – or sometimes not so subtle – differences in how the high sugar concentration, obviously an essential feature of these wines, is obtained. In this series of special features I’m going to take a look behind the scenes of the sweet wine styles of the world, getting to grips with the methods these winemakers use. It’s a worthwhile investigation; many sweet wines are very labour-intensive to produce, depend on the occurrence of certain local climactic conditions, or on manipulation of the whole crop in a drying house, or an enforced cessation of fermentation. Or they may require a nail-biting delay in harvest until October or November, or picking may even be delayed until the depths of winter, the workers plucking frozen berries from the vine, sometimes in the following January. This is not winemaking for the faint-hearted.

All sweet wines have a high sugar concentration, and whereas this might be achieved by adding sugar to the wine during or after fermentation, this is not the road that leads to a great wine. The high sugar concentration in the world’s best sweet wines is achieved, broadly, by one of two methods. Firstly, dehydration; a reduction in grape water content, thereby increasing the ratio of sugar to water, thus producing very sweet berries. The principle methods of dehydration are as follows:

• Noble Rot. This fungus punctures the skin of the grapes, allowing water to escape.
• Late Harvest. Allowing berries to gradually dehydrate on the vine.
• Eiswein. The ultimate late harvest; but freezing allows more water to be removed.
• Dried Grapes. The Italian way; dehydration after harvest.

Key points

Sweet wines are a trying labour of love for the vigneron

They are the finest examples of some grapes and terroirs

They are produced by either dehydration or mutage

Although some think them unfashionable, they deserve a place in any serious cellar

Secondly, in grapes where sugar content is normal, more of this sugar may be preserved in the wine, rather than converted to alcohol. This is achieved by killing the fermenting yeasts, thus arresting the fermentation, with the addition of spirit. Sweet wines produced by adding spirit to the fermenting must, a process known as mutage, are also commonly referred to as fortified wines, the reason being that the added spirit often results in higher alcohol levels, typically about 20% ABV, than would otherwise be achieved. It is an important process responsible for some excellent wines in a number of appellations around the Mediterranean, such as Banyuls and Rivesaltes (where they are known as vin doux naturel), although by far the most widely known and appreciated example is Port.

Over the coming weeks I’ll be looking at all these styles and getting to grips with the trials that face the winemaker who sets out to produce a sweet wine. This feature series examines, with more detail in coming weeks, the different styles of sweet wines that exist, looking in detail at the processes involved in transforming a handful of grapes into a sugary nectar. If this encourages just one more visitor to the Loire to stop off in Vouvray or Layon as they travel up the river, it will all be worthwhile. (24/8/05)

Source: http://www.thewinedoctor.com/author/sweet.shtml

This wine shop in Manila Philippines makes wine shopping a really rewarding and exciting exercise. Wine shops in Pampanga should always have an element of surprise so that customers and wine lovers can enjoy a little bit of thrill when they go to a wine shop in Manila to look for a good bottle of wine in Clark Pampanga.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Family outings, picnics, company outings and other events for up to 300 can be held in the picnic grounds of this wine shop. Events that have been successfully organized here include family fun days and BBQ picnics. These are some of the things that visitors to Clark Philippines particular look forward. Residents and tourists in Angeles City and Subic also come to Clark Freeport to partake in the fun at this Clark wine shop.

This wine shop’s vast selection of vintage wines makes it possible for Yats Wine Cellars to offer a unique line-up of wines for every private wine party, wine tasting or wine dinners. Guests of these private wine parties are treated to a rare experience of vintage wine not seen in wine shops in major cities in Philippines or even in Asia.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

A Well-known Restaurant in Pampnga, an interesting place to celebrate Birthday Party in Pampnga.
A best place to dine with friends in Pampanga

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com