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Notes From the
Vintner
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Welcome
to our column. We hope that you will return to
learn interesting notes on wine, and related
subjects. Wine is a great gift from God to be used
for the enjoyment of man. It is a food, and should
be treated as such. It is meant to lift up the body
and lighten the soul. 8/1/02
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Where are
the grapes??? Where
do the new grape varieties come from? Are there any new
grapes? We are used to the good old standby grapes from the
East like Concord, Niagara, Ives, and Campbell Early - and
the native Arkansas grape, Cynthiana; but are any others
being developed? And if so, where can a person obtain
them?
Well, there is good news; and news that is not so good.
There is a program at the University of Arkansas that
develops grapes that can be used for wine. Now this program
is not a short-time program that lasts a year or so. NO,
this is a program that can take a dozen years to cross breed
a grape that is new and great for wine. The bad news is that
they will not be on the market for several years.
The grapes are planted in the experimental station farms
around the state to test the growing habits within Arkansas.
Records are kept on the growth of the vine and the
development of the grape. Information as to pH, sugar, acid,
color, ripening, cluster, and splitting of skins are kept on
each grape being developed. All this information is recorded
and then analyzed by the staff.
So now are we ready
to pick the winners???
No the job
is only half finished at this point. You can have the
greatest grape, but that is not enough. It also has to be
the greatest wine grape. In short, the grape must produce a
wine that is very good and a wine that can be marketed.
This is the reason the University of Arkansas invited all
the wine makers of Arkansas to attend a tasting of breeding
lines this month. The University wanted to know what the
wine makers thought of the grapes -- should they be
developed for wine or should they be cut. It was a very hard
job. Most were very good… but you only want to keep the
very best. It was a interesting day, and we offered some
suggestions for the university. What a job, tasting wine all
day. But someone has to do it. Lucky
ME.
If you
want a bit more information about the Enology Program at the
University of Arkansas, please email: vintner@cowiewinecellars.com
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