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Refers to a wine with a level of ALCOHOL that is out of BALANCE with its ACID and FRUIT. The impression of excessive alcohol produces a slight burning “hit” at the top of the nasal passages and on the palate.

What is Constantia?

A. The name given to the wine districts north of Vienna during the Austro-Hungarian Empire

B. An ancient Greek settlement along the coast of Turkey which was an important center for the production of amphoras

C. A sweet South African wine that was once a favorite among European nobility

D. A place in historic Constantinople renowned as one of the ancient world’s top winegrowing districts

Constantia is a sweet, muscat-based South African wine that was at one time the most sought-after dessert wine in all of Europe. The small district of Constantia, situated just south of present-day Cape Town in South Africa, was settled by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. The wine district was so established that by the 1700s, Constantia wine had become renowned among the nobility throughout Europe. It was reportedly never absent from the table of King Frederick the Great of Germany, and even Napoleon Bonaparte ordered Constantia by the case.

Bota

The Spanish name for “butts”–600-liter (160-gallon) American-oak casks used in Jerez for aging Sherry. Botas are usually painted with a water-based, jet-black matte paint, which is not only aesthetically striking, but makes it easier to… Continue reading

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