Wine Glossary N - S

Natural wine. The product of the juice or must of sound, ripe grapes or other sound, ripe fruit (including berries) made with any cellar treatment authorized by subparts F and L of this part and containing not more than 21 percent by weight (21 degrees Brix dealcoholized wine) of total solids.

Nonbeverage wine. Wine, or wine products made from wine, rendered unfit for beverage use in accordance with §24.215.

Standard wine. Natural wine, specially sweetened natural wine, special natural wine, and standard agricultural wine, produced in accordance with subparts F, H, and I of this part.

Still wine. Wine containing not more than 0.392 gram of carbon dioxide per 100 milliliters.

Wine Terms

Foreign wine. Wine produced outside the United States.

Formula wine. Special natural wine, agricultural wine, and other than standard wine (except for distilling material and vinegar stock) produced on bonded wine premises under an approved formula.

Fruit wine. Wine made from the juice of sound, ripe fruit (other than grapes). Fruit wine also includes wine made from berries or wine made from a combination of grapes and other fruit (including berries).

Under-vine management - Herbicides

The main reason for managing the under-vine area is to reduce weeds, which take important water and nutrients from the vines. This is especially important in times of drought. Most growers spray herbicides, but there are other options.

Herbicides
Herbicides are a relatively inexpensive option and have the advantage of keeping the soil structure intact. Generally, a strip of broad-spectrum herbicide is periodically sprayed under the vines to about 0.5-0.75 m on either side of the vine row. Weeds should be sprayed before they seed to reduce the seed bank.

Take special care if systemic herbicides such as glyphosate (Roundup) are used during the growing season, as they may damage the vines. Remove all suckers and spray only in very calm conditions using a spray guard to prevent drift. Glyphosate is safe to spray in the vine dormant season, but only effective when weeds are actively growing.

Non-systemic herbicides such as Spray.Seed (paraquat + diquat) or Basta (glufosinate-ammonium) are safer for grape vines during the growing season. Be aware though that Spray.Seed is poisonous and special care is needed in handling and spraying operations.
If particular weeds are a problem, other options include Amitrole (amitrole + ammonium thioscyanate) and Illico (amitrole + glyphosate + ammonium thioscyanate). Additives such as Hammer (cafentrazone-ethyl) can also improve the effectiveness of knockdown herbicides against weed species that are harder to kill, like marshmallow and woody weeds. Pre-emergent or residual herbicides such as simazine and diuron are another option to provide longer-term weed control. However, these are not recommended for sandy soils, like those in the Granite Belt, where they may damage vines.

To reduce the possibility of herbicide resistance, it is a good idea to alternate between herbicides with different activity groups or to rotate herbicides with alternative methods of weed control. A list of herbicides registered for use in vineyards, can be downloaded from the Australian Wine Research Institute. Always read labels carefully before using any herbicide or other chemical product.

Alcohol Reduction of Wine

When a bonded winery proprietor wishes to reduce the ethyl alcohol content of wine, certain processes are authorized by wine regulation 27 CFR 24.248, Processes Authorized for the Treatment of Wine, Juice, and Distilling Materials. The approved processes include Reverse Osmosis and the Spinning Cone Column.

Although these processes are used to facilitate the creation of a wine product, they must be conducted on Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) premises. The wine may be transferred in bond to a DSP for processing and returned to the winery, or the winery proprietor may wish to have the process conducted at the winery facility.

If the alcohol reduction is to take place at the winery facility, the proprietor of the bonded winery must first qualify to alternate the use of bonded wine premises as a DSP. Once qualified to alternate the premises as both a winery and DSP, the alcohol reduction may be conducted on DSP bonded premises. When the process is completed, the space and equipment can revert to winery use.

Witches Falls Winery - Winemaker

In turning a passion for drinking wine into a dedication to making it, Jon and his wife Kim have lived and worked in some of Australia's most well known wine districts, including the Hunter and Barossa Valleys. Jon and Kim now own Witches Falls Winery, a celebrated fixture in the Gold Coast's growing boutique wine district that offers visitors an educational experience through large windows that enable them to view all winemaking activities.

Jon sources the finest grapes from Queensland's well-known Granite Belt, a region of rich soil, cold winters and the high altitudes of Australia's Great Dividing Range. From the pruning, water and picking of the fruit Jon applies the same special ingredient of 'attention to detail' to the grapes when they reach the Witches Falls Winery, where he uses the latest technology to create a mouth-watering collection of wines.

Winemaker's pick

In his almost 30 year career Mike Hayes has made award-winning wine at vineyards across Australia and New Zealand. A third generation viticulturalist and winemaker, Mike began his passion when chipping grapes for his father at the age of 15 years.

Mike blends traditional techniques with the O'Reilly Canungra Valley Vineyards' state-of-the-art technology. His invaluable experience in growing wine grapes in the Gold Coast's unique climate enables him to produce the best fruit in order to make the best wine.

The meticulous attention Mike pays to his grapes throughout each stage of the process may be in contrast to the vineyards' mission of 'celebrating the simple pleasures of life', but it seems to be working with O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards wines receiving a number of national and international awards since the vines were first planted in November 1998.

Regulation, structure and research

Australia maintains national standards for wine that are administered by state and territory governments. Federal regulations focus on quality control. The Australian federal government assists the industry by improving the trade environment (redressing barriers to trade) and by improving the domestic economic operating environment. Policy issues are the province of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation promotes and controls the export of wine and brandy. The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation is the body responsible for investing in grape and wine research and development, on behalf of the Australian wine industry and the Australian community.

Australia’s reputation as one of the most technologically advanced wine-producing nations owes much to the industry’s emphasis on research and development. Key research and development sources include the Australian Wine Research Institute, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, state departments of agriculture and universities. A number of Australian universities and other tertiary education institutions offer courses in viticulture and oenology.

The peak industry body representing winemakers’ interests is the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia. It develops policies and programs to increase net returns to Australian winemakers. The Wine Grape Growers of Australia is the peak industry body representing the interests of grape growers.

What is Wine Industry Fund

Industry funds have been established under the Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998 to support those sectors of primary industry that want to raise their own funds for their own industry development activities.

Six wine industry funds currently operate in the following South Australian wine regions:
Adelaide Hills Langhorne Creek McLaren Vale Riverland Barossa Clare Valley In addition the SA Grape Growers Industry Fund has been established for the SA grape growing industry.

For each of the funds, the wineries act as collection agents for voluntary contributions made by grape growers and/or winemakers. The contributions are paid into a fund that is administered by PIRSA ('the Minister') and then paid by way of a grant to a body representing the fund contributors.

The wine economy

In 2006–07, sales of Australian wine totalled approximately 1.23 billion litres: 449 million litres were sold domestically and 786 million litres were exported. Australian wine exports were worth $2.87 billion, which represented an increase of 4.4 per cent over the previous year.

Australia’s largest wine export market in 2006–07 was the United Kingdom (269 million litres, worth $977 million), closely followed by the United States (215 million litres, worth $856 million). Other leading destinations for Australian wines included Canada, Germany and New Zealand.

Wine production is a significant industry in Australia. It directly employs 28 000 people in both winemaking and grape growing (2006 Census) and generates related employment in the retail, wholesale and hospitality industries.

Tourism adds another dimension to wine’s importance in Australia. International and domestic tourism related to the wine industry accounts for an important share of Australia’s export earnings, employment and taxation income.

In 2006–07, the industry crushed 1.39 million tonnes of grapes to make 955 million litres of beverage wine. In 2007, the total wine grape vineyard area reached 163 951 hectares of bearing vines, and there were a further 9825 hectares of non-bearing vines. The area of bearing vines has more than doubled since 1996–97.

In 2006–07, the domestic market accounted for 36 per cent of total sales of Australian wine by volume. Table wines made up 84.9 per cent of local wine consumption, sparkling wines accounted for 8.8 per cent and fortified wines for 3.8 per cent.

The Australian wine story

The first vines arrived with the first European settlers in Australia in 1788. Initially wines were produced in the coastal region around the fledgling settlement of Sydney. John Macarthur established the earliest commercial vineyard.

In 1822, Gregory Blaxland shipped 136 litres of wine to London, where it was awarded the silver medal by the forerunner of the Royal Society of Arts. Five years later, a larger shipment of Blaxland’s wine won the gold Ceres medal.

The planting of vines accompanied the spread of European settlement across the Australian continent, and by the beginning of the 20th century Australia was exporting some 4.5 million litres of mainly full-bodied dry red wines to the United Kingdom.

The end of the Second World War saw a rapid influx of migrants from Europe, who brought with them a strong culture related to wine. This provided an important impetus to the Australian wine industry.

However, it was the period from 1996 to 2007 that saw spectacular growth in exports, following rapidly increasing appreciation of Australian wines overseas. Major wine producers from abroad have invested in Australian wineries, and Australian companies have taken controlling interests in wineries in countries such as France and Chile.

Australia has some of the oldest grapevines in the world. Many of Europe’s established vineyards were destroyed by disease in the 1800s, and only the vines brought to Australia survived. In order to preserve these, Australian viticulturalists developed new vine management techniques, some of which are now used throughout the world. Australians have also invented ways to produce wines using fewer chemicals, and Australia is the home of the wine cask.

Hamiltons Wines

Alongside the Marion Swimming Centre on Oaklands Road, the vines are older than all the vines in Paris. Frank Hamilton planted the Marion Vineyard there in 1905. Magill Estate in the east didn't come along until 1935. The Parisians replanted in 1947 after the original vines became a casualty of Nazi occupation during World War II. A small vineyard appeared in Melbourne in 1952.

Those dates make the vineyard in the middle of Marion almost certainly the oldest urban vineyard in the world. That’s the way it should be for three reasons:· Henry Hamilton planted the first vineyards in South Australia just down the road in the winter of 1838.· Marion was known as the garden of Adelaide before the postwar building boom took its toll. Almonds, fruit, vegetables and olives for export and city tables grew alongside the vines.· Heritage preserved. The Marion Vineyard was heading for the fast food wasteland before the residents stepped in to save it in the early '90s, and a modern day Hamilton was only too happy to help. The Council-owned, four-hectare vineyard is a living, wine-producing reminder of Marion's proud agricultural past.

Each year under the guidance of Dr. Richard Hamilton of Richard Hamilton Wines at McLaren Vale, it produces up to 300 cases of Hamilton Ewell Reserve Marion Vineyard Grenache/Shiraz in totally organic conditions. It is no token vintage, and is also sold in England and Singapore. It was named among Australia's top 100 Wines by Adelaide wine critic, Phillip White several years ago. The wine is only a small part of the company's business but Richard Hamilton is very keen to keep it going because it maintains the Hamilton family's relationship with their origins in Marion.

A fine drop

In the spectacular Gold Coast hinterland, wine pioneers discovered a cluster of mesoclimates among the mountainous elevation that delivered the ideal conditions for Australian vineyards. Since its beginnings in the 1860s the Gold Coast's boutique wine region has been acclaimed with both national and international awards and is the wine of choice for some of Australia's most influential political leaders.

The Gold Coast's hinterland wine region offers the thrill of discovery to visitors who explore this growing industry. Wineries present educational experiences in wine making and the opportunity to purchase boutique wines, some of which are sold exclusively at cellar doors.

Some of the Gold Coast's wineries are housed in Queensland's oldest heritage buildings or in buildings that were transformed from grand old churches and nunneries. All of which are just a part of the unique experience offered.

Selection of Wine Cellar

We have excellent wine buys to help us celebrate the coming summer season. This month we are having our American Wine Sale, there is no better time to stock up and save on your favorite wines with exceptional savings. Step outside into the sun, then you can step into one of our conveniently located NH Liquor and Wine Outlet Store locations and see what a collection of wine and spirits we have to offer you.

Our Cellar Select program is here! If you've ever felt overwhelmed with the amount of wine selections in our stores and have a difficult time choosing a wine, our highly successful Cellar Select Program is for you. Nicole Brassard and myself represent the wine buying team here at the NH Liquor Commission and we have created this exciting program for people just like you.

Our selections are always great values in whatever price echelon they are in. We think they are always delicious and well made wines, which typically, are from smaller boutique-like producers. This can mean the wines are interesting and somewhat rare, yet they remain affordable.

Please consult the list of stores which feature this program and visit one in your area soon. Cellar Select takes the guesswork out of buying a great wine. Whether you have just a budding interest or are an expert, we believe our Cellect Select wines will appeal to all. Try One Today!

Training Offered to Law Enforcement Agencies

The Bureau of Enforcement's mission is to prevent underage people from acquiring age restricted products such as alcohol and tobacco, and to encourage the responsible sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages by adults thereby reducing the number of alcohol related incidents on our highways.

The Bureau of Enforcement is committed to providing superior education and training programs to the holders of liquor licenses, law enforcement personnel, parents, students and the general public. It is through our education and training efforts we move ever closer to achieving the Bureau's goals and serving the citizens of New Hampshire.

RED WINE AND PASTA SECRETS TO LONG LIFE

“The key to a long happy life is red wine and pasta,” said 81-year-old Tina Langford, who retired Wed August 4 after 16 years as a cleaner with Herefordshire Council. Tina has been a cleaner at the Council’s Bath Street offices for the last 12 years and was the first cleaner there when the Council took over the building. She was presented with gifts and flowers as well wishers filled the conference room to wish her a happy retirement. “I’ve really enjoyed working here and will miss all the people I have come to know over the years,” she said.

“I’m not even sure I really want to retire yet,” she added. Tina was born in Italy and, after marrying a British Serviceman during the Second World War, she arrived by train with other war brides without being able to speak a word of English. After arriving in England Tina and her husband moved to Hereford where they settled and raised a family.

Wine grape production up despite drought

Total Australian wine grape production is forecast to increase by 19 per cent to 1.67 million tonnes in 2007-08, as a result of improved growing conditions in key production areas, according to a new ABARE report Australian Wine Grape Production Projections to 2009-10 released today.

“Forecast production in 2007-08 is higher than early-season estimates because of greater than expected resilience of vines suffering from drought stress, and water purchasing by growers in drought-affected irrigation areas,” said Phillip Glyde, Executive Director of ABARE,

“Despite the better than previously expected outcomes, production will be well below the record 1.9 million tonnes achieved in 2004-05,” Mr Glyde added.

The greatest increase in production in 2007-08 is expected to occur in the cool-climate grape growing regions. Production increases in warm climate areas are forecast to be minimal because of ongoing scarcity of water for irrigation. In 2008-09, wine grape production is projected to increase further, to 1.78 million tonnes, but to remain constrained by water availability. Wine grape production is projected to reach 2.0 million tonnes in 2009-10, assuming a return to average seasonal conditions.

Brunello di Montalcino wine

Brunello di Montalcino wine is a controlled appellation (DOCG) Italian wine that under Italian rules must be produced exclusively from Sangiovese grapes. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has learned that some of the wine labeled as Brunello di Montalcino was produced from a blend of Sangiovese and other grape varieties and is therefore not entitled to the Brunello di Montalcino designation. This wine is mislabeled under both Italian and U.S. rules.

In order to ensure compliance with the provisions of section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act, 27 U.S.C. section 205(e), CBP officials have the authority to withhold release from, or demand the return to, CBP custody of imported wine not covered by a proper certificate of label approval (COLA). Brunello di Montalcino is a foreign nongeneric name that is a distinctive designation of specific grape wines under TTB regulations at 27 CFR sections 4.24(c)(1) and 12.31(c). Brunello di Montalcino wine not made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes does not conform to the current requirements of Italy and is therefore also in conflict with TTB regulations at 27 CFR section 4.25(a)(2)(iii) and (e)(3)(iii). Thus, it is not covered by the COLAs that are currently issued.

Wine garden and farmer’s market offer alternative fair foods and beverages

Wine and air conditioning create a relaxing combination, making the Illinois Wine Tent, located in the Heartland area at the Illinois State Fair, a popular location for fairgoers old enough to partake. On display in the tent are roughly 10 rotating wineries from around the state, each with glasses and bottles of wine available for purchase. Fairgoers also have the option of buying tickets for $1 each, which will allow them to taste a wine of their choice. Samples are roughly one ounce, said Brenda Logan, part-owner of Baxter’s Vineyards & Winery in Nauvoo, Illinois’ oldest winery, established after the Prohibition. Fairgoers who buy five tickets get a free complementary Illinois Wine glass.

“It’s a great opportunity to sample a lot of Illinois wines in one place,” she added. Baxter’s, which has been on display for over 10 years at the state fair, offers 11 wines from sweet and semi-sweet to dry and semi-dry. Bottles range from $10 to $16, and a glass of wine is $4. Logan said the most popular wines are the sweet wines, the Concord Wine and the White Sweet. She said the grapes used for their wine is grown in the Midwest and carefully selected as it is one of the most important steps in making good wine.

“The grapes determine the wine. If you have not-so-good grapes, then you don’t have good wine,” she said. “It starts with the grower.” Bruce Morgenstern, part-owner of Pheasant Hollow Winery, said that this sense of Illinois pride also applies to the wine business as a whole for him, which he calls a “cooperation.” “I have the entrepreneur drive: I want to be the best and sell the most,” he said. “But if the wines I’m selling are not your taste, I just assume that you go to another Illinois winery and find one that does.”

And, apparently, that attitude has worked. In a 2000 MKF economic impact survey, Illinois wineries made $20,000. Now they make nearly $230,000, Morgenstern said. That’s not all. In July 1999, Pheasant Hollow was the 16th winery to open in Illinois. Now, there are roughly 75 wineries in Illinois.“What other industry in Illinois has that kind of exponential growth?” he asked. “It’s just exploding.” At the Pheasant Hollow Winery exhibit, 11 wines are on sale, ranging from $11 to $16. Morgenstern offers a number of fruit-blended wines, one of which, the Midnight Medley, won the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association’s Governor’s cup for best fruit-blended wine.

Pheasant Hollow Winery also offers the only sparkling wine in the tent, the Muscat de Canelli. The wine is also one of the only sparkling wines in Illinois, with Morgenstern adding that his company is the only winery that has the machinery to make sparkling wine. There may be another winery in the state that still does it by hand. “We are the only winery in the state capable of producing sparkling wine the way we do,” he said. “And we do it on purpose.”

Fairgoers visiting the Wine Tent will also find brochures and other hand-outs detailing other activities and tourist attractions located near the wineries. Located next door to the Illinois Wine tent is the Farmer’s Market, which features some of the finest produce from around the state, and, in the mean time, proves that fairgoers don’t have to go out of state to get the freshest fruit. “Local producers are just as good as anybody else,” said Harry Alten, chairman for the Illinois Specialty Growers.” If they’re in season, they may be even better.”

All the fruits for sale, except the peaches which came from a producer in Virginia, are produced in state. For example, the apple cider came from Tanner’s Orchard in Speer and Curtis Orchard in Champaign-Urbana and the sweet corn is produced at Twin Gardens Farms in Harvard. Also for sale is Illinois-produced cantaloupe and watermelon and healthier snack options including popcorn, the popular egg-on-a-stick, garden salads and vanilla ice cream. Apple cider slushes are also available, which Alten said is the most popular item because of the heat.

Needless to say, the Farmer’s Market’s produce is also some of the healthiest of food options at the fair and a great alternative for both the young and old. Alten relayed a story of a lady who came in with her 7-year-old son, who tried watermelon for the first time at the Farmer’s Market, a fruit he had previously didn’t like. “He thought it was fair food,” he said. “Now he likes watermelon. ‘I can’t believe it, he ate the whole thing!’ she told me.” All sugars in the produce are natural and the produce is not processed. Besides selling Illinois-produced food, the Farmer’s Market also informs the fairgoers about fresh produce in their area. The Prairie Bounty of Illinois, a handout that lists farmer’s markets throughout Illinois, offers fairgoers a chance to purchase fresh produce outside of the fair. Brochures are also available on local orchards as well.

Oenology: red wine procyanidins and vascular health.

Regular, moderate consumption of red wine is linked to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and to lower overall mortality, but the relative contribution of wine's alcohol and polyphenol components to these effects is unclear. Here we identify procyanidins as the principal vasoactive polyphenols in red wine and show that they are present at higher concentrations in wines from areas of southwestern France and Sardinia, where traditional production methods ensure that these compounds are efficiently extracted during vinification. These regions also happen to be associated with increased longevity in the population.