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"Wine is made from grapes alone." This is what most people believe, yet contrary to this assumption, some wine back labels include listings of additives. There are several types of additives, with antioxidants and stabilizers being among the most well-kno ...

Masato Nagasawa (Nagi) Winemaker / Viticulturist / Oenologist A winemaker with an unconventional background who first properly learned about wine after arriving in Germany. His catchphrase is "Wine is, after all, just alcohol and merely one of many luxury ...

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When storing wine, there's probably one question that everyone has wondered about at least once: how should the bottle be positioned? Should wine bottles be stored horizontally, or should they not be stored vertically? A quick search reveals many explanat ...

Have you ever encountered a red wine that tasted oddly flat yet somehow spicy, with aromas reminiscent of dust, mold, or sulfur compounds? Such wines may have been affected by film-forming yeasts during their aging period. While the term "film-forming yea ...

Grape berries undergo sunburn phenomena similar to human skin. This phenomenon introduces burnt-like flavors into wine, particularly affecting the quality of white wines where delicate aromas are crucial. Sunburned berries must be sorted and removed durin ...

With the arrival of summer, grapevines in vineyards continue their growth cycle. Currently, vineyard operations are proceeding simultaneously with lateral shoot removal, leaf removal, and shoot tip cutting. During this period, Germany experienced two days ...

There is one disease that grape growers particularly fear during rainy years: downy mildew. Whether dealing with wine grapes or any other cultivated plants, the battle against diseases is unavoidable. Vineyards encounter various diseases, but the most pro ...

Are you familiar with the term "petri notes"? This is a specialized term frequently used in wine tasting, particularly when evaluating aged Riesling wines. Experienced tasters can sometimes identify a wine's grape variety as Riesling the moment they detec ...

You open a bottle of wine you've been looking forward to and pour it into your glass. As you bring your nose close to enjoy the aromatic bouquet rising from the wine, something seems off. Many of you have probably had this experience. Wine that produces u ...

A chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction exists. This reaction is also called the amino-carbonyl reaction. The browning of meat when grilled, the appetizing golden color of baked cookies or toast, and the appealing color of fish teriyaki glazed ...

One of the most critical factors in winemaking is pH. Many people may recall learning about pH in middle school science or high school chemistry classes. However, understanding how pH relates to wine can be challenging. When researching the relationship b ...

Once bottled and shipped from wineries, wines are influenced by various environmental factors that alter their taste. We describe these taste changes as aging or deterioration. When we think of wine aging or deterioration, oxidation and heat damage are li ...

Overview In our previous article "Is Orange Wine Natural Wine?", we explored the definition, origins, and relationship between orange wine and natural wine. This article provides a detailed examination of orange wine from a winemaking perspective. This ar ...

In modern winemaking, yeast selection technology continues to evolve constantly. A recurring phenomenon is observed where specific yeasts gain attention due to outstanding performance in competitions or industry recommendations, leading to rapid expansion ...

Food should be hygienic. This seems like a given for those of us living in the modern era. However, Japan's Food Sanitation Law was actually enacted in 1948, just 75 years ago. In 2018, this law was partially revised, making it mandatory for all food busi ...

Many people who study wine have encountered the term "VA" at some point. Initially, the meaning of this abbreviation may not be immediately clear. VA stands for Volatile Acid, which translates to "volatile acidity" in Japanese. More precisely, volatile ac ...

The role of microorganisms in winemaking has been extensively studied throughout its history. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has long been the focus of attention as the primary agent of alcoholic fermentation, has become indispensable in modern winemakin ...

The terms "sulfur dioxide" or "sulfites" have become something of a dreaded unhealthy buzzword in Japan's wine industry today, treated with the same revulsion as a venomous snake. Meanwhile, sulfur dioxide-free wines—those made without adding these antiox ...

There is a wine defect that is currently attracting attention. It is smoke taint. Smoke taint is a defect that occurs when grapes are exposed to smoke. In tasting, it is described with nuances such as "smoky," "burnt rubber," "bacon," "disinfectant," and ...

What constitutes the world's finest wine? Would it be the red wines of Bordeaux or Burgundy? The cult wines centered in America? The beloved Champagne? Or perhaps the trendy natural wines of today? In Germany, the legally classified highest-grade wine is ...

Why are red wines red? Many people have probably wondered about this question at some point. When researching this question, you can generally find the following information: The cause of red wine's color is a substance called anthocyanins To extract more ...

Various factors are considered important elements that contribute to the taste of wine. Among these, how significant would you position yeast as an element? In wine production, yeast plays an extremely important role. This is universally acknowledged. How ...

Wine aging is a crucial element that deepens the wine's flavor profile. While wines generally evolve through oxidative aging, an alternative method called "biological aging" is sometimes employed during the winemaking process. Biological aging is a matura ...

Wine occasionally develops unpleasant odors, defects, or off-flavors—unwelcome, sometimes distinctly repulsive aromas. Among the various unpleasant odors found in wine, "reduction" stands out as one of the most representative. Without fear of misunderstan ...

Wine contains protein. Many people are surprisingly unaware of this fact. Some might say, "I know about that. Proteins are added as fining agents, right?" That's correct. However, wine also contains proteins that don't originate from fining agents. One mi ...

Did you know that wine may contain surprisingly many potential allergens? Acetaldehyde and biogenic amines, which can potentially cause headaches, may be present in any wine regardless of type or production method. On the other hand, casein and egg whites ...

Wine terminology related to production processes is often difficult to understand and unfamiliar due to the extensive borrowing from French. However, among such terms, "carbonic maceration" is a name that many people may have heard of at some point. Carbo ...

Maceration is one of the winemaking techniques used in wine production. In Japan, this technique is also called "kamoshi" (醸し), and it refers to the process of soaking grape skins and seeds in grape juice or wine for periods ranging from several hours to ...

The tasting method of comparing wines from different harvest years made from the same grape variety harvested from the same vineyard is called "vertical tasting." This vertical tasting serves two purposes. The first purpose is to compare wines from new an ...

Before writing this article, there is something I must clarify first. The author does not belong to any faction that could be called "anti-natural wine," nor do I have an extreme dislike for "natural wine." I hope you will read this article with this unde ...

While it seems to be mentioned somewhat less frequently these days, there is a persistent claim that antioxidants contained in wine—specifically additives called sulfites or sulfurous acid—are the cause of headaches that occur when drinking wine. This the ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zcrR39d8Q In recent years, the concept of "diversity" has become a frequent topic of discussion within the wine industry. However, this diversity does not merely refer to variations within traditional frameworks such as d ...

Aroma is one of the essential elements that cannot be overlooked when enjoying wine. When we pour wine into a glass, we don't immediately put it to our lips. First, we bring the glass close to our nose and enjoy the aromas that rise from it. Sometimes we ...

On March 5, 2019, news emerged of fresh phylloxera damage in vineyards in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. Phylloxera represents one of the most devastating pests in viticulture, capable of causing catastrophic damage to grapevines. In the past, thi ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9hVTlhyZDc Among wine enthusiasts, the belief that "good vineyards" produce quality wines is widely accepted. Wines from vineyards with classifications such as Grand Cru or Premier Cru are often perceived as "distinctly di ...

Acids are indispensable elements in wine. However, acids are inappropriate whether they are too abundant or too scarce. The overall balance is extremely important. Wine contains multiple acids, but from a winemaking perspective, tartaric acid and malic ac ...

When people begin studying wine, many learners are taught that "wine grape cultivation takes place between 30° and 50° North latitude and 30° and 40° South latitude," aren't they? Then, when they move on to the chapter dealing with German wines, they like ...

Attention is returning to wines that are fermented and aged in concrete vessels. Concrete is a building material very familiar to modern people. While concrete is strongly associated with building exteriors and walls, in winemaking it serves as a material ...

Have you ever found a wine to taste "bitter"? How about sake—have you ever experienced bitterness when drinking it? When drinking alcoholic beverages, we occasionally encounter bitterness. Have you ever wondered why this happens? What would you think if t ...

Minerals and tannins. Can anyone truly claim they have never used these terms? That's how established minerals and tannins have become as tasting expressions in wine. However, few people can properly explain the specific meanings these expressions refer t ...

Recently, I had the opportunity to taste wines at a winery located in Enzan, Yamanashi Prefecture. During the tasting of several wines from their lineup, one particular characteristic struck me strongly: the taste of iron. When I asked the winemaker about ...

When introducing wines in Japan, it seems that reference to the type of soil in which the grapes were cultivated is frequently made as one of the elements expressing a wine's character. While this tendency is not limited to Japan alone, it appears particu ...