Smaragd

Austrian term used in the Wachau region of Lower Austria for the ripest grapes and hence fullest bodied wines. Smaragd wines must have a minimum of 12.5 percent alcohol, but most have considerably more. The word smaragd is also the name of a bright green lizard that suns itself in the Wachau vineyards.

The words “Napa Valley” can appear on the label of a wine if which of the below is true?

A. 100% of the grapes were grown in Napa Valley and the grapes were vinified in the Napa Valley

B. 75% of the grapes were grown in the Napa Valley and the winery is located in the Napa Valley

C. 85% of the grapes were grown in the Napa Valley

D. 100% of the grapes were grown in the Napa Valley; all of those were vinified in the Napa Valley and the winery is located in the Napa Valley

The Napa Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) was established in 1981 and was the first AVA in California. Like all AVAs, it is governed by federal regulations set forth by the Tax & Trade Bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. Those regulations stipulate that if an AVA is listed on a wine label, 85% of the grapes used for that wine must come from that AVA.

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Years ago this month WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) was founded in London. Today the educational institute is international. More than 100,000 people in 75 countries and in 18 different languages have studied with WSET. When… Continue reading

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