Ssshhhhhh, don’t tell anyone…
Wine has secrets. I feel bad sharing them, but…ok not that bad. Not bad enough not to do it. So here they are, but let’s not share these with everyone – OK?
- Wine is good for you. OK so not really a secret – something many of us have known for ages. Antioxidants, resveratrol, nice taste – all good for you (in moderation, of course)!
- Red wine grapes have white-coloured juice. The colour only comes from the pigments in the grape skins! ‘Ahhhh…’ I hear you murmur – ‘Now I know!’ You will undoubtedly sleep better tonight with this information!
- Only red wines and some white wines undergo malolactic fermentation! Phew – a biggie… This is a secondary ferment (well, bacterial exchange) that transforms the harsher, more eye-watering malic acid (like you get in green apples) to yep, you’ve guessed it, the softer, creamier lactic acid you find in dairy products. Described in a more physical way – the lactic acid bacteria consume the malic acid bacteria in a kind of battle – which they always win. Gives richness, creaminess and a more weighty mouth-feel. Nice!
- All wine contains S02. If it didn’t you’d be drinking slightly fizzy, vinegary brown stuff that smells of old socks. OK, I know someone will say not all wine contains S02. They maybe make a couple of bottles from pristine grapes with perfect pH’s…all very lovely and idealistic but highly unlikely in today’s commercial world where quality and consistency are king
- Screwcaps not only mean your wine can’t potentially be spoiled by a piece of tree bark (‘corked’) but also you can store your bottles standing up as you don’t have to keep the cork wet, to stop it shrinking!
So there you go, five secrets about wine that you may or may not have known before. Pour yourself a glass, sit back and contemplate just how much you learned today.
