Page 13 - Boca Exposure - March '24

Boca Exposure, Page 13
Grape Expectations: 10 Interesting

Wine Facts You May Not Know!

By Ed Wolfarth, who 3. If a California wine label says it’s Cabernet a higher resistance to pests. Clay soils usually produce
recently moved to South Sauvignon, it needs to be only 75 percent of that heavier wines with more color and extract. Spain’s Rioja
Florida after retiring grape. The other 25 percent can be anything else. Most and Burgundy’s Pinot Noir are good examples of fine
with his wife, Vicki, as of these Cabs are actually blends. The other grapes–i.e.; wines made from grapes with limestone-rich clay soils.
Professor of Sports Sciences Cab Franc, Merlot, Syrah—are included to add color, I wouldn’t grow vegetables on these soils, however.
& Physical Education at alcohol, viscosity or body to the final product. 9. The custom of “bumping” glasses with a
both Queens College and 4. White wines gain color as they age, while red wines “Cheers” greeting came from old Rome, where they
Hofstra University. He is lose color! The color of wine indicates age, grape variety, used this method to make sure no one was trying to
a nationally ranked senior flavor density and acidity. Color is often determined by the poison the other! This tradition started even earlier in
tennis player and longtime method of vinification and the time the must is in contact Greece, where the host was to drink the first cup of wine
USPTA Elite Teaching with the skins of the grapes. You can tell a lot by carefully to show his guests he didn’t intend to poison them.
Professional. Ed has written observing the color in a glass of wine. 10. Wines are fat-free and contain few calories.
many educational and tennis articles in the past. Over the 5. Two new studies have shown that polyphenols There are approximately 100 to 130 calories in a 5-ounce
past few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine collecting in wine and chocolate increase blood flow and oxygen glass of red wine. Of course, this varies with the amount of
into a way of continuing his passion for writing, and to the brain, boosting cognitive ability. The effect gets alcohol and type of grape. There are many health benefits
has written on the subject for publications. As a self- even more beneficial as you age since there is a natural to drinking a glass of red wine. You may have heard of
proclaimed “wine snob,” he has collaborated on many reduction in blood supply around the brain later in life. resveratrol; studies have shown that hearing loss was
wine lists for private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can All the more reason to have a glass of “medicine” and a greatly reduced by including this extract found in grape
be reached at wolfarthe@msn.com. little dessert every chance you get. skins. Many diseases are alleviated due to resveratrol’s
1. It takes exactly six turns to open a bottle 6. Putting salt in the ice bucket will chill white wine ability to reduce free radicals and bioinflammation, a
of sparkling wine. The wine pressure in a bottle of and sparkling wines faster. Ice melts faster in salty water, precursor to many health issues.
champagne can be as much as 90psi. That’s three times making for more freezing water in contact with the wine 11. And a bonus fact: Extra dry champagne or any
the pressure in your tires. In order to open it without any bottle. One of my pet peeves at restaurants is the improper sparkling wine is sweeter than Brut or dry. Go figure!
flying corks you need to hold the bottle on its side first. way waitstaffers present the bottle in an ice bucket. Trying If you have any questions or suggestions for future
Then remove the foil wrapping. Then untwist the metal to stuff a bottle on top of ice cubes does nothing to chill articles, please contact me at wolfarthe@msn.com.
cage using six half twists. Don’t ask me why six does wine; you need to add water! Duh! The proper way is half
the trick but try four or five. Of course, more may also ice and half water and drop the bottle into the icy water
work. I always wondered if Cava, Cremant or Prosecco with full contact. You can even add salt.
producers got together and agreed to make their cages 7. Women are actually better than men as tasters
open with a minimum of six turns!? of wine due to their superior sense of smell. Many
Or did this happen by chance? Anyway, six is the studies have shown that women have more taste buds on
answer. And yes, remove the cork gradually, holding it their tongues and 43 percent more cells and neurons in
away from you and your guests. the olfactory part of the brain that receives signals from
2. When in restaurants ordering a glass of wine, the nose. Go figure! These supertasters simply can detect
you only get 5 to 6 ounces. The industry standard used smells and tastes more readily.
to be an 8-ounce pour but obviously hard times prevail. 8. Poor quality soil tends to produce better wine.
With 25.4 ounces in a standard 750 ml bottles–well, do This is complicated. Soil affects drainage and root
the math. I have noticed, however, that at Happy Hour density. Sandy soil can produce elegant wines with
you may get an exuberant bartender filling your glass. high aromatics, pale color and low tannins. Sandy soils
Make sure you tip appropriately. drain well and retain heat. In addition, sandy soils have