Vinifera? I hardly even know ya!

Vinifera vs. Hybrids

(and other basic stuff)

While touring the lovely fall countryside here in Chester County (or anywhere really except Siberia), you find yourself intrigued by a sign for a local winery and decide to stop in.

Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by the smell of aging wine and a few friendly fruit flies. Passing the racks on your way through the tasting room you notice a few unpronouncable names (we will leave THAT tutorial for another day) and a few wines that are priced about the same as your minimum credit card payment, or the emergency room co-pay if you have kids. Still, don't be discouraged and try to slink back to your car unnoticed. Belly up to the bar and get comfortable!

Where to start? A tasting, yes, that will do. Most wineries charge a fee, and at most, you certainly get your money's worth in not only wine and information, but if you are lucky enough to go in on a day when we are sampling sugar concentrations - some more wine and some more great info served with a side of humor. If thrust into this situation, again don't be discouraged to speak your mind, my final vote has occasionally been "I like this one - I don't know why, I just like it!"

So, getting back on track here - in the grand scheme of things, an evening out at your favorite eatery you will pay on average $8 for a 5oz. glass of wine from a member of the waitstaff who doesn't even remotely like wine and has absolutely no clue of what you should have with your chicken parmesan. At your local winery, you can pay an average of $1 per ounce (at Twin Brook, you will get a one ounce pour each of 7 different wines for $5) and some even pair wines with a cheese, chocolate, or specialty bread. Currently, we have released our Chardonnay Reserve, and are pairing it with a raspberry ale infused cheese. Mmmmm, heavenly! Also, some wineries offer tours for free! Just ask. Locally, about half of the tasting rooms are located on the growing and production premesis. As I said before, we love wine, and we LOVE to tell you about it!

What Now?

You are asked, dry or sweet? Well, what makes a dry dry and a sweet sweet? A dry wine has no sugar added before bottling, an off dry has a little bit, and a sweet has more sugar added to it. It is highly recommended to start with your driest selection first and work your way down to the sweetest so you can better taste each wine for what it is.

Oaked or not?

This is another thing you might hear from your tasting tour guide. I have found people who say they don't like chardonnay try our Naked Chard ("naked" because it is aged in a steel tank, not an oak barrel - and not personally accosted by the wine maker in the nude) only to find out they really like the chard, and that it is the oak they do not prefer. Steel tank aging will allow the true nature of the grape variety to come out. Oak will give a little deeper color, added flavor, and intensity to the wine. More on the different oak characteristics and a little science behind it another day. I don't want to steer you off course again.

Red or White?

Red wine is red because, after we brutalilize the poor little things, the crushed grapes and their juice are fermented together for about 2 weeks. The juice is then pressed out. The red color comes from the skins, not the juice. If you eat red grapes, you will notice the juice is clear.

White wine is white because immediately after crushing, every last drop of juice is pressed out and pumped into a tank.

Vinifera or Hybrid?

Wait, what? In a nutshell, vinifera wines are from grapes that are or are directly related to the European variety Vitis Vinifera; the chief source of Old World wine. Merlot, Cabernets, Chardonnays, etc. are labeled as such, are often oaked, and tend to be more expensive. Hybrids are just that - a cross breed. Not exactly the Heinz 57 of wine, we know their parents and who set them up on their fateful blind date, just that they are further out on the 'family vine'. These are wines that will usually be less expensive. Traminette, Vidal, and Vignoles are among the more common hybrids you will find.

Growing the grapes and making the wine - well that is pretty much equal to rocket science. Knowing what you like, and trying something new shouldn't be.

Drop on in, we have a glass waiting for you!