Brandon Twp – It’s not anyone’s imagination, wine tasting is becoming a cultural phenomenon.
On Dec. 3 more than 55 Brandon residents joined the ranks of consumers seeking the newest wave in cultural expansion by attending the first of three wine tasting classes at the Brandon Township Library.
“I’m just thrilled at the turnout,” said Zoe Pierson, library coordinator of public relations and events.
“It’s the first time we’ve done this so you just don’t know what to anticipate.”
From its earliest development, wine has had a special place in customs and social gatherings, but Tom Fischer, a sales consultant for A.H.D. Vintners said wine tasting is booming because the drink is no longer exclusively for the rich.
Actually, according to Fisher wine consumption in the United States went up more than six percent in the last year.
An increased interest in wine education, collection and consumption stems from availability of good tasting wine at lower prices, according to Fischer.
The fact that more countries, worldwide, are producing wines, and California, which is a big wine producer, has a glut of grapes on the market has contributed to the increased availability of good tasting wine, according the distributer.
“It’s education,” Fischer explained “people are no longer afraid to ask questions about wine and it’s no longer looked upon as a ‘special occasion’ drink.”
In the first of the lecture series hosted by the Library Art Committee, to exploring wines of Germany, France, and Italy, Fischer took the group on a tour through the grape growing regions along Rhine River regions of Germany south from France to the Netherlands border.
“You don’t have to pay $80 a bottle for a good tasting wine anymore,” said Fischer. “There are many really good tasting wines for less than $10,” he said as he explained the aromatic plum taste of the popular Pinot Noir.
“Riesling is arguably the greatest wine in the world,” explained Fischer of the German white Riesling grapes. Grown in the chalky soil of the Mosel River, Fischer said wines from that region have a “cleaner” taste than the wines from grapes grown in areas along the Rhine River, which have a more “earthy” flavor.
While few regions of the world remain untouched by vineyards, Fischer said the ideal grape growing climate world wide is the areas that lie within 10 degrees from the 45th parallel.
Simply, the geography of the growing region impacts the flavor of the wine. Fischer explains the sort of grape, such as the Riesling grapes, the area growing season, material of aging barrels, and the cork all affect the style and taste of wine.
The cork, by the way, is actually bark of a tree from Portugal, which Fischer says is often the cause of wine going bad.
“Screw-on caps are no longer a bad thing,” said Fischer as he explains worldwide, vintners are beginning to use plastic caps to reduce profit loss.
Effecting more than 10 percent of the world’s wine every year, Fischer said the natural cork is the culprit for turning wine into vinegar, which is a big financial hit to the industry, yearly.
Another tidbit the class learned is that Germany, known for its white wines, also produces reds but in very low volume because the climate is not conducive to red grapes. Few Americans have had the pleasure of the delectable red nectar because the scarce bottles only make it to the German dinner table.
For those in the class who are fans of reds, the next lecture in the series will discuss the legendary tastes of the Burgundy and Bordeaux of France.
If European wines are not a favorite, all is not lost for homegrown wines. Event coordinator Zoe Pierson said the series has generated enough interest that she is considering having a Michigan wine presentation next fall.
Tom Fischer (left) warns Brandon residents that the after dinner wine Madonna is an extra sweet wine because it’s made of overripe, raisin-like grapes of the Liebfraumilch vineyard. Photo by Teri Stiles.