High alcohol volume not a problem for Washington wines _ yet

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Washington winemakers haven't really had to deal with rising alcohol volumes in their wines, but that doesn't mean they won't have to in the future.

Warm temperatures increase the chances that sugar levels will increase in grapes, thereby increasing the alcohol volume. Rising alcohol volumes already are being seen in some places as growers allow the grapes to hang on the vines longer to achieve a desired effect.

Some critics say vintners should take care to address the issue in California, where wines have been creeping past 14 percent alcohol and even into the 15 percent to 16 percent range.

Washington state hasn't had to address the issue just yet, but may in the future if temperatures continue to warm, said Shayn Bjornholm, education director for the Washington Wine Commission, a promotional state agency funded by fees on member wineries and growers.

Washington wines have seen about a half-percent increase in alcohol volume on average in the past 10 years, he said.

"That's very, very indicative. The whole world has done this - California, France, Spain," Bjornholm said Friday. "It's more about growing practices than temperatures. People are making wine to meet certain qualities, and you need to keep the grape on the vine long enough to do that."

But with Washington's high daytime temperatures come cooler evenings, which balance the effect, he said.

"Of all the wine growing regions, we have the greatest shifts, which allows our grapes to retain their natural acids," Bjornholm said. "It's exceptionally good for balancing the perception of alcohol on the palate."

The Best Wine Rating Scale Ever!

LOL - I love this one and think you'll find the humor in it as well. Even though it's very tongue-in-cheek, the message is still true! Can you name one 97point+ Wine that's available for sale at realistic prices?

Wine X's New 1,000.00 Point Scale In an effort to conform to wine industry expectations and garner support from an industry that's content on only reaching a sliver of the adult population, Wine X introduces its new 1,000.00 point scale. Written with the trade in mind in winegeek language that even they won't understand (but embrace because it's a "point" system), it's the perfect vehicle to help wineries unload their product on distributors. After that, who cares, right? As long as it's out of the winery it's sold!
1,000.00 Scale
- 999.99 - 1,000.00 = You can't find or afford it
- 988.99 - 999.98 = You may be able to find it, but you still can't afford it
- 977.99 - 988.98 = You must be on their waiting list to be on their mailing list
- 966.99 - 977.98 = Even if you're on their mailing list you can only buy one bottle
- 955.99 - 966.98 = If you brown nose the winemaker you might be able to get two bottles
- 944.99 - 955.98 = Production was more than 100 cases but less than 105933.99 - 944.98 = Winemaker is cute
- 922.99 - 933.98 = So is their spouse
- 911.99 - 922.98 = The highest we'll score wines with no oak
- 900.99 - 911.98 = The lowest we'll score wines with too much oak
- 899.99 - 900.98 = Pure crap

http://www.vinography.com/archives/2004/03/had_enough_of_the_100_point_ra.html