Grosslage

One of approximately 167 collections of vineyards. Germany’s 13 wine regions are officially broken down into 39 BEREICHE, which in turn are broken down into 167 grosslagen (the plural of grosslage), which are broken down into more than 2,658 EINZELLAGEN.

A barnyard, horse blanket, or sweat-soaked leather aroma in a wine may be a sign of:

A. Sulfites

B. TCA

C. Volatile Acidity

D. Brettanomyces

Brettanomyces (aka Brett) is a type of yeast that causes aromas and flavors politely known as “barnyard.” Brettanomyces can exist in cellars, barrels, and hoses, and from there, migrate into wine. Because it is a yeast, Brettanomyces can grow in the wine, causing a more severe barnyard character with time. Critics of brettanomyces say it robs a wine of its true flavors and has no place in winemaking. But supporters find that small amounts add a certain complexity to wine, and can give it an aged flavor.

Back to the Future

While it’s tempting to think of California as a new wine region, the state has dozens of historic vineyards with gnarled vines that are 50 to 100 years-old—or even more. Preserving these oldsters is the… Continue reading

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