The Wine Coterie

Knowing wine grapes is a crucial first step to making wine. It’s the first visible sign of the quality of a wine. Grapes have been revered as a winemaking fruit since centuries and the reasons are its perfect balance of sugar, acidity, tannins and phenolic compounds that produce this fine alcoholic beverage. Let us have a look at the physical components of the grape, The Skin The first important component is the skin. This membrane of a dozen cells thick is highly important in red wines as it contains a high concentration of tannins (explained later), colouring matter and compounds which determine the eventual flavours in wine. Less so for white wines as the juice spends little time in contact with the skins. Cuticle – the wax-like covering over the outer surface of the skin is called a cuticle. It acts like a waterproofing elements and protects the berries from outside influences Phenolic compounds - these refer to a group of compounds. Two noteworthy ones are, Anthocyanins - pigment ...

“The Wine Coterie means a group of people who have a shared interest of wine.”   It has been long since I wanted to start a wine page. And, finally it’s here! Let me introduce myself briefly, I am Madhura, a wine enthusiast. I have studied MSc in Wine Management from Burgundy School of Business and currently, I am a Wine and Spirits Education Trust diploma student. I am also a restaurateur by profession and run two health food brands Eden Goodness Café and Vitamin H in Mumbai.   Wine and food are the ultimate truth for me in this world full of distractions. It helps me stay engaged with the simple pleasures of life. They also remind me of nature’s generosity and experiencing them help me connect with Earth in a renewed way.   Wine is about sharing, the history and culture has witnessed it. It is has helped the humankind to waltz through our evolution. It reflects the human life where it comes from and embodies the truest picture.   So here I am with a platform where ...

The first joie d'écrire is the anatomy of a grapevine.  Wine is made from grapes and we have all seen a grape, but have you looked at a grapevine? Viticulture is a science of grape cultivation and is as important as Vinification (wine-making process). And the basic here is to have a fair idea of how a grapevine looks. All vines have a similar structure, the following are the explanations to the terms used in the picture. Vine Canopy - It includes every part of the vine visible above ground - trunk, shoots, leaves, fruit bunch, etc. Rootstock - Rooy system to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. They also anchor the vine. Graft - A technique of grafting is when a vine is fixed over a stronger rootstock that can resist diseases Scion - It is the upper part of the plant placed over sturdy rootstock Trunk - The permanent stem that supports the vegetative and reproductive structure of the vine Head - The part of the vine where the trunk is split into cordons Cordon - Arms of the gr...