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Leslie Cramer

Wine Examiner
Leslie Cramer has worked in the fine wine industry for twenty- something years. Known in some circles as "The Wine Wizardess," she'll cover topics from wine education, to trends o' the day and how to properly propose a toast, to health benefits of the grape.

The best wine/food match-up for Thanksgiving day
2008 Beaujolais Nouveau arrives
Beaujolais Nouveau the recipe for Thanksgiving success
Beaujolais Nouveau's arrival- 4 days and counting! Facinating Facts!
Beaujolais Nouveau- throw a party!
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    Wine word Wednesday: varietals, phylloxera and vitis vinifera- yikes!

    July 16, 1:08 PM
    by Leslie Cramer, Wine Examiner
     
     

    Scenic varietal vineyards (source)http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/9/1/6/6/ar120735604866196.jpg
    Welcome back to wine word Wednesday.  Don't say you haven't done it:  at a seminar or tasting, the host spouts out some unfamilair jargon, you shake your head like you totally get it, all the while thinking to yourself what in the world can this person possibly mean?  Read on, oenophiles, here are a few more not-so-random terms you'll probably hear at a tasting.

    Varietal-  Wine named after the principle grape variety from which it is made.  In the United States, after 1982, the named grape variety must constitute at least 75% of the wine's volume, while in Europe the proportion is usually 100%.

    Phylloxera-  The bug--an aphid--that attacks grape vine roots.  Most European varieties are susceptible and the only known 'cure' is to graft  these roots to resistant American root-stocks.

    Negociant-  (French) A wine merchant or shipper who buys wine in bulk from different sources and prepares it to sell, by treating, sometimes blending, maturing and finally bottling the wine.

    Vitis Vinifera-  The species of grape from which California and European grapes are made.  As most European vinifera vines are susceptible to  phylloxera (see above) the vines are grafted to the resistant American root-stocks.

    Must-  Unfermented crushed grapes; or unfermented grape juice.

     

     

    For more info: Many wine guides and books on wine have glossaries in the back.  Read up on some of the terms you find perplexing.
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