Page 16 - Boca Club News - October '24

Page 16, Boca Club News
Grape Expectations:

What’s Wrong with Sweet?

By Ed Wolfarth, who moved to course, the later the harvest the more sugar content…but Humbrecht. Alsatian Rieslings are, in my humble opinion,
South Florida after retiring with who’s quibbling. Let’s examine Rieslings from different some of the finest and most affordable white wines on the
his wife, Vicki, as Professor parts of the world. market today.
of Sports Sciences & Physical Germany–Basically, all you need to know are the U.S.A.–Washington State. Washington’s reputation for
Education at both Queens College levels of sugar and how to read the label. From less producing outstanding American Rieslings continues. They
and Hofstra University. He is a sweet to more, look for Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese and seem to have figured out what it takes to craft elegant and
nationally ranked senior tennis Late Harvest or Beerenauslese on the label. Personally, I “friendly” Rieslings in a slightly sweet and juicy fruit style.
player and long-time USPTA Elite love the Kabinett level and wines from the Mosel region. Producers such as Hogue, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia
Teaching Professional. Ed has The last four vintages have been superb. Rieslings have a Crest and Pacific Rim are making wonderful, food-friendly
written many educational and tennis articles in the past. wonderful balance of acidity and fruitiness (I prefer this wines. Considered by many, including myself, to be America’s
Over the past few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine term to sweetness) and pair perfectly with spicy foods. finest Riesling is Eroica, a collaboration between Dr. Loosen
collecting into a way of continuing his passion for writing There are 13 wine-producing regions in Germany but only (Germany’s finest producer) and Château Ste. Michelle. It
and has written on the subject for publications. As a self- three or four that are worth noting: sells for around $20 a bottle and is easily found in most wine
proclaimed “wine snob,” he has collaborated on many 1. Mosel. Produces light crisp wines. Look for producers shops. With its sharp acidity and Mandarin orange taste, it
wine lists for private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can Dr. Loosen and JJ Prum at the higher end. pairs perfectly with Asian cuisine.
be reached at wolfarthe@msn.com. 2. Pfalz. Germany’s largest wine-producing area. This area Australia–While Australia produces less than half the
All wines and grape varietals are not created equal. is drier and sunnier than Mosel, and while Pfalz Rieslings run volume of American wines, it has 8% of the global market,
Different wine-making techniques, time of harvest and the traditional gamut of sweetness the area is more renowned compared to the USA’s 6%. Its international success is
terroir (French term for climate, soil and typography) all for its reds. Ungstein and Forst may be available at local wine based on a “fruit forward” approach. “Fruit forward” is not
contribute to producing different wines from the same merchants. about sweetness but about the initial onset of the fruit taste.
grape. If you have followed my column you know that 3. Rheingau. The wines here are usually richer and more Australian wine labels are easy to read. They are labeled by
all Chardonnays are not over-oaked and taste of buttered full-bodied than Mosel wines. It is home to Germany’s most the grape varietal, not the region or Appellation.
popcorn. Let’s look at another misunderstood grape famous Riesling, Schloss Johannisberg. Look for the dry Rieslings of the Clare Valley. Grosset
varietal, Riesling. 4. Nahe. Some of its wines have recently received world- Polish Hills, Jim Barry, Leasingham and Petaluma should
I’m always somewhat surprised that the Coca-Cola wide acclaim. Rieslings here tend to be richer than those of be available on the American market and sell for $15 to
generation finds some Rieslings cloyingly sweet. Have you the Mosel. Look for villages on the label: Niederhausen, Bad $25 a bottle.
examined a Coke or Pepsi can recently? A 12-ounce can Munster and Norheim. While excellent Riesling is produced in many other areas,
contains 39 grams of sugar! A typical German Riesling, France–Alsace, in the northeast corner, is the only area including the Finger Lakes of New York, Canada, Oregon and
thought to be sweet, might contain 9-18 grams per liter. in France producing Rieslings. In general, Alsatian Rieslings Austria, to name but a few, wine consumers simply need to try
Contrary to popular belief, the labels Kabinett, Spatlese, tend to be dry with higher levels of alcohol, making wines these diverse Rieslings. Remember, they come in many different
Auslese and Beerenauslese are not levels of sweetness, with more aromatic intensity and palate power. Look styles, from the dry and powerful Alsatians to the fruitiest of
but instead denote times the grapes were harvested. Of for Trimbach, Lucien Albrecht, Hugel et Fils and Zind- German Rieslings. And not as sweet as a Coke or Pepsi!
Get Fresh!

Tips from The Produce Maven…Corn

Irving Swedko and his wife, iron and manganese, contributing to its nutritional value. blanching, place the corn in a bowl of ice water to help
Beverly, are members of Broken When selecting fresh corn, choose ears with green retain its texture.
Sound Club. He hails from Ottawa, husks that are tightly wrapped around the cob. The corn Once cooled, you can either cut the kernels off the cob
the capital of Canada, where he silk poking out of the end should be moist and silky; if it or flash freeze the whole ears or kernels on a baking sheet
spent more than 50 years in the is dry the corn is too old. before transferring them to a plastic bag. Remove as much
produce business that included The corn should also feel firm, with no soft spots. Keep air as possible from the freezer bags before sealing. Frozen
taking a small fruit and vegetable the husk on the corn to seal in moisture and prevent it from corn can last up to a year in the freezer.
retail store and expanding it across drying out in the refrigerator. Place the corn in a plastic bag Ten years ago farmers across the United States
the city and into other areas to in the vegetable crisper, keeping the bag slightly open to harvested 14 billion bushels of corn, with a total value
include wholesale, food service and importing, bringing promote air circulation. Corn stays fresh in the refrigerator of $51 billion. Corn is the number one crop grown in the
trucks of fresh produce from across the U.S. directly into for up to a week. country, and the United States leads the world in both the
Ottawa. His experience made him an expert on all things To freeze corn on the cob, remove the husks from the production and consumption of this vital grain, according
produce-related, from how to select the perfect melon to ears and blanch them in a large pot of boiling water. After to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
the best way to store fruits and veggies. After retiring,
Irving and his wife Beverly became snowbirds and have
been enjoying life at Broken Sound for 20 seasons. He is
the proud father of three daughters and looks forward to
family time with his seven grandchildren.
Corn as we know it today is a human invention that ARCHIVE GALLERIES
wouldn’t exist without the efforts of those who cultivated
and developed it. Originating from a wild grass called
teosinte, which looked very different from modern corn,
it was first developed by people living in central Mexico PAYS HIGHER PRICES FOR FINE ART AND ANTIQUES
at least 7,000 years ago.
Teosinte had small kernels that were not placed closely
together like those on the husked ears of modern corn. It may • Oil Paintings • Sterling Silver • Collectibles
surprise you that the majority of corn grown today does not • Oriental Rugs • Objects of Art • Fine Crystal
go directly to food production. Instead, it is used to make • Tapestries • Sculptures • Orientalia
a wide range of products, including ethanol gas, batteries,
plastic, crayons, whiskey, glue, and even cough drops. • Fine Furniture • Bronzes • Tiffany Items
Corn is also a common ingredient in hygiene products, • Service Plates • Porcelain • Clocks
matchsticks, and many medications and vitamins.
Popcorn, a popular snack, was domesticated about
10,000 years ago in what is now Mexico. Archaeologists We Also Purchase Men’s And Ladies’ Items Including:
have found evidence that people have known about and
enjoyed popcorn for thousands of years. Fossil evidence • Old Watches • Cufflinks • Smoking Items • Coins • Antique Jewelry
from Peru suggests that corn was present there as early as • Designer Handbags • Fine Modern Jewelry • Vintage Costume Jewelry
4,700 BCE and was popped over 1,000 years ago.
A typical corn plant can range anywhere from five to
12 feet tall, sometimes towering over a story high. In good One Piece Or Entire Contents Purchased
growing conditions, such as those found in Iowa, plants
are often about eight feet tall by midsummer. A healthy CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, NO OBLIGATION
corn plant’s root system will also reach about six-and-a-
half feet into the ground, ensuring its stability and access
to vital nutrients.
Nutritionally, corn consists primarily of insoluble CASH 561-498-7536 COURTEOUS
fiber, making it a low glycaemic index food. This means PAYMENTS IN HOME
it is digested slowly and doesn’t cause unhealthy spikes UPON REQUEST SERVICE
in blood sugar levels. Corn also contains many essential
vitamins and minerals, including zinc, magnesium, copper,