The Society of Wine Educators is a membership-based nonprofit organization focused on providing wine and spirits education along with the conferral of several certifications. The Society is internationally recognized, and its programs are highly regarded both for their quality and relevance to the industry.
The mission of the SWE is to set the standard for quality and responsible wine and spirits education and professional certification.
Yecla is a town in eastern Spain, located at the northern tip of the autonomous community of Murcia. It’s a medium-sized town, typically home to just over 35,000 people.
Yecla—along with Bullas and Jumilla—is also one of the three PDO wine regions (denominaciones de origen/DOs) of Murcia. While all three of these regions remain somewhat obscure, each produces rich, red wines based on the Monastrell (Mourvèdre) grape variety as well as small amounts of Monastrell-based rosado and even smaller amounts of white wine, sparkling wine, and vino de licor (sweet, fortified wine).
The white wines of Murcia—including those of the Yecla DO—are allowed to be made using a short list of white grapes; approved varieties include Macabeo (Viura), Airén, Malvasía Aromática (Malvasía Sitges), Chardonnay, Moscatel de Grano Menudo (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), and Sauvignon Blanc. The Yecla DO also allows the use of Verdejo.
Now for a news flash: as of March 1 (2024), the EU has approved the use of Viognier in the white wines of the Yecla DO.
The Yecla area is located about 50 miles inland from the Mediterranean Coast and as such, experiences a dry, continental climate with some mild Mediterranean influences. The limestone soils of the region ensure that it is an ideal area for the cultivation of warm-climate-friendly vines—and Viognier is a perfect fit.
According to the proposal to amend the regulations of the Yecla DO, “a study has been carried out which shows that the Viognier variety is perfectly adapted to our region and the quality of its wines. The study also shows that the characteristics laid down in the product specification for wines under this PDO are maintained. The inclusion of this variety is also justified by current market demand.”
The wines of Yecla may be produced (and labeled) as mono-varietal wines and/or blends. We look forward to trying Yecla Viognier in the future!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Photo via: www.cru-la-liviniere.com
News flash for wine students: The French wine region of Minervois—La Livinière (an appellation located in the Languedoc area of France) has changed its name to La Livinière AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée). This change was recently approved by the EU and announced via publication in the Official Journal of the European Union in March of 2024.
The Minervois AOC—located in the western Languedoc just north of Corbières—was approved in 1985 and produces a range of wine styles including red, white, and rosé. For about ten years after the approval of the Minervois AOC, the producers of La Livinière—a small area located on the far north edge of the Minervois appellation—sought to carve out a more specific AOC for their wines. In 1999, they were successful, and the Minervois—La Livinière AOC was approved as a separate AOC approved for red wine only. Now, with the name change, the producers of La Livinière AOC seek to forge an identity of their own.
The specifications for the wines of the La Livinière AOC are as follows:
Map of La Livinière via: www.cru-la-liviniere.com
Red wines only
The area surrounds the town of La Livinière and lies just south of the Montagne Noire (Montanha Negra or Black Mountain—a mountain range at the southwestern edge of the Massif Central. One of the main distinguishing features of La Livinière is its soil, composed of alluvial deposits (sand, clay, and gravel) atop limestone—a giant slab of limestone known as the Causse de Minerve.
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
On May 15 (2024), the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States announced the approval of the Upper Cumberland American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA covers an area within Middle Tennessee. The newly approved AVA is not located within, nor does it contain, any other viticultural areas.
The Upper Cumberland AVA is the first AVA to be located entirely within the state of Tennessee. However, portions of two previously approved appellations are located within the state. These include the Appalachian High Country AVA (shared between Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia) and the Mississippi Delta AVA (shared between Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana).
According to the original petition, the distinguishing features of the Upper Cumberland AVA include its elevation, soils, and climate—as described below.
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
Elevation: The Upper Cumberland AVA extends across the north-central portion of Tennessee. The AVA encompasses the western portion of the Cumberland Plateau, the Eastern Highland Ridge, and the eastern portion of the Outer Central Basin. The center portion of the AVA—located on a cuesta (ridge) known as the Eastern Highland Rim—contains elevations ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet above sea level (asl). In the eastern portion of the AVA (perched atop the Cumberland Plateau), the elevation ranges from 1,500 to asl. Elevations in the Inner Central Basin region (in the western portion of the AVA) fall somewhere between the other two areas, resulting from the erosion of an ancient uplift once known as the Nashville Dome. The average elevation of commercial vineyards in the Upper Cumberland AVA is 1,000 feet asl.
Soils: Limestone bedrock underlies most of the Upper Cumberland AVA. Topsoil is composed of alluvial and loess particulates composed primarily of shale, sand, and gravel.
Climate: The area within the Upper Cumberland AVA is slightly cooler than the surrounding areas (mainly due to elevation). The average growing season within the new AVA is 212 days with an average temperature of 67.5°F. The average annual precipitation is 50 inches.
The Upper Cumberland AVA stretches for over 50 miles covers a large area totaling 2,186,689 acres. At present, there are 55 commercial vineyards, 9 bonded wineries, and a total of 71 acres of vines within the region. Upper Cumberland Wineries include Chestnut Hill Winery, Del Monaco Winery, and Stonehaus Winery. The area is currently planted to an eclectic range of grapes, including vinifera, muscadine, and hybrid varieties.
When the Upper Cumberland AVA is brought into force—on June 14, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 273.
Welcome to the world, Upper Cumberland AVA!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Newsflash from the Languedoc: The Corbières-Boutenac AOC has changed its name and will now be known as the Boutenac AOC. The wine producers of the Boutenac area submitted a proposal to change the name of the appellation back in September of 2022, and as of March 14, 2024, the EU has approved the modification.
To understand the Boutenac region, we need to first look at the larger, surrounding Corbières AOC. For starters, Corbières is one of the largest appellations in the Languedoc (along with Minervois) in terms of overall size, vineyard plantings, and production volume. A prodigious producer of red (rogue), white (blanc) and rosé wine, Corbières was granted it initial AOC designation in 1985. Since that time, the appellation has been updated several times; many changes involved its elaborate list of allowed grape varieties and the composition thereof. Others broke the large region into a bit more geographic specificity, and in 2005, the Boutenac region was spun-off into its own AOC, originally known as the Corbières-Boutenac AOC.
The Boutenac area—centered around the tiny town of Boutenac and located atop an elevated ridge of limestone about 30 kilometers/20 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast—consists of well-drained, low-nutrient soils. As wine lovers know, when these two features combine, they can produce some of the finest vineyard terroirs—and wine grapes—in the world.
As such, Boutenac has always enjoyed a reputation for high-quality wine. Additionally, it produces red wine only (as opposed to the extensive list of grapes and wine in play in the larger Corbières appellation). These factors are part of the ongoing efforts to seek out a separate identity for the Boutenac AOC apart from the larger Corbières appellation.
The red wines of the Boutenac AOC are described (in the cahier des charges) as being powerful and generous on the palate and having a red deep color with violet highlights as well as notes of spice and mature fruit.
We can’t wait to try Boutenac AOC!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
On April 25 (2024), the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States announced the approval of the Yucaipa Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA covers an area within California’s San Bernardino County. The newly approved AVA is not located within, nor does it contain, any other viticultural areas.
According to the original petition, the distinguishing features of the Yucaipa Valley AVA include its elevation and climate—as described below.
Elevation: The Yucaipa Valley AVA is comprised of rolling hills located within the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Elevations in the area range from 2,000 feet to 4,600 feet above sea level. The significant elevation places the vineyards within an area that receives significant solar radiation, resulting in thick-skinned, flavorful grapes able to produce wine with considerable tannin and depth of color.
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
Climate: The inland location of the Yucaipa Valley AVA lends itself to an overall warm, dry climate. Summertime temperatures typically reach an average high of 97°F; in extreme cases temperatures have soared as high as 104°F. Rainfall is sparse during the growing season (averaging just over four inches per year), while the winters see most of the rainfall (typically averaging 15 inches per year, some of which may be snowfall).
The Yucaipa Valley AVA covers a total of 36,467 acres; the area currently contains 23 commercial vineyards as well as one winery—Suveg Cellars, founded in 2010. The leading grape varieties of the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Petite Sirah, and Chardonnay.
When the Yucaipa Valley AVA is brought into force—on May 28, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 272; of these, 152 will be in California.
Welcome to the world, Yucaipa Valley AVA!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
On April 8 (2024), the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States announced the approval of the Comptche American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA covers a small area within California’s Mendocino County.
The newly approved Comptche AVA is positioned within the boundaries of the existing North Coast AVA. However, it has been determined that the climate and soil of the area are distinctly different from those of the surrounding AVA. As such, the TTB has determined that the Comptche AVA is not to be considered a sub-appellation (or otherwise part of) the North Coast AVA. According to the TTB, this means that “vintners will not be able to use ‘‘North Coast’’ as an appellation of origin for wines made primarily from grapes grown anywhere in the Comptche AVA.”
According to the original petition, the distinguishing features of the Comptche Costa AVA include its topography, soils, and climate—as described below.
Topography: The Comptche AVA—located about 11 miles inland from the Pacific Coast—consists of a low-elevation valley surrounded by heavily forested lands and short, steep ridges. The elevation of the area within the appellation ranges from 187 to 400 feet asl, with all the commercial vineyards (at this time) planted at elevations ranging from 220 and 250 feet asl. This unique topography contributes to the area’s cool climate, as cool air sinks into the valley from the surrounding (higher) elevations at night.
Soils: There are two main soil types found in the Comptche AVA. The first—known as Bearwallow–Wolfey soil—is found on the rolling hillsides of the area as a type of well-drained, shallow, prone to erosion, and infertile soil resting atop fractured sandstone. The second—Perrygulch Loam—is found on the valley floor as a deep, rich, soil with a high clay content.
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
Climate: The Comptche AVA is a good deal cooler than the surrounding area and the other (previously established) AVAs in Mendocino County. According to the petition, the Comptche AVA is cool enough to be considered a “borderline” climate for the cultivation of wine grapes and only cold-hardy varieties will prove to be successful. As such, Pinot Noir is the only variety currently grown (for commercial purposes) in the area.
The Comptche AVA is further distinguished as it is one of the few areas in the coastal section of Mendocino County where non-timber related agricultural activity is permitted. The new AVA is surrounded by land designated as a Timberland Production Zone and zoned solely for the growing and harvesting of timber (for no less than ten years from the time it was so designated).
The Comptche AVA covers a total of 1,422 acres; of these, approximately 30 acres are planted with vineyards. There are currently three commercial vineyards in the area—all of which sell their grapes to local wines (as there are no wineries currently operating within the new AVA. When the Comptche AVA is brought into force—on May 8, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 271; of these, 151 will be in California.
According to the good folks at Tripadvisor, the locals pronounce it with a silent t, as “comp-chee.” The name derives from the Pomo word Compatche, meaning in the valley among the hills.
Welcome to the world, Comptche AVA!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Spain’s comunidad autónoma of Castilla-La Mancha has announced yet another new Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO) for wine: the Vino de Pago Rosalejo! As of March 15, (2024) the EU has announced its approval of the new appellation, which follows rather quickly on the heels of the announcement of another new appellation for Castilla-La Mancha—the Campo de Calatrava DO—approved just over a month ago.
The Vino de Pago Rosalejo is approved for red wines only. According to the Pliego de Condiciones, the wines are intended to be deeply hued with a ruby-red color, intense aromas of fruit, spice, and oak-derived toast, excellent structure, and balanced acidity.
The Rosalejo PDO—located within the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo—is situated in the rolling hills of the Sierra de Sevilleja Mountains (part of the Montes de Toledo). The area rests atop well-drained, sandy soils derived from quartzite and granite. High levels of iron in the soil give the topsoil a distinctive orange-red hue. The minimum elevation of the vineyards is 650 meters/2,130 feet above sea level. There are currently 1,339 hectares/3,309 acres of qualified vineyards planted in the designation region.
The new appellation and its accompanying legislation will enter into force 20 days following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union—this should be on or about April 12, 2024. We will post a map as soon as the newly crafted appellation creates one.
Welcome to the world, Vino de Pago Rosalejo!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
On March 15 (2024), the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States announced the approval of the Contra Costa American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA covers a portion of California’s Contra Costa County, located in the East Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area. Along with the approval of the new AVA, the San Francisco Bay AVA and the Central Coast AVA have been expanded so that they encompass the entirety of the new appellation. In other words, the Contra Costa AVA is a sub-appellation of both the San Francisco Bay AVA and the Central Coast AVA.
According to the original petition—submitted by Patrick Shabramon on behalf of the Contra Costa Winegrowers Association in March of 2023—the distinguishing features of the Contra Costa AVA include its topography and climate—as described below.
Topography: The terrain of the Contra Costa AVA is—while interrupted in a few places by rolling hills—relatively flat. All of the area within the boundaries of the new AVA are below 1,000 feet, with most area below 100 feet. Hillside slopes—where they exist—are generally less than 5% gradient. As such, the area experiences a great deal of marine influence from the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay—including San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay.
Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer (click to enlarge)
Climate: The Contra Costa AVA experiences an average of 3,000 to 4,275 GDD (growing degree days) over the course of a growing season, marking the area as a relatively warm (and sometimes very warm) region. However, the area’s proximity to the marine influence from the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay—including San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay—mean that temperatures cool down quite a bit at night. This diurnal temperature fluctuation provides the area with a near-ideal grape-growing climate scenario of “warm days—cool nights.“
The Central Coast AVA covers a total of 167,146 acres; of these, approximately 1,700 acres are currently planted with commercial vineyards. Leading grape varieties include Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.
The area around Contra Costa County has been growing grapes and producing wine since 1846. By 1916, there were over 6,000 acres of vines in the area. Alas, most of these vines did not survive Prohibition. These days, Contra Costa County is home to at least 60 commercial vineyards and 14 wineries, including Viano Vineyards, Serendipity Cellars, and Hannah Nicole Vineyards & Winery.
Cline Cellars (now located in Sonoma) was established in this area (in the town of Oakley) in 1982. Cline Cellars still sources grapes from Contra Costa, and I am an enthusiastic fan of their Contra Costa County Old Vine Zinfandel.
When the Contra Costa AVA is brought into force—on April 15, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 270; of these, 150 will be in California.
Welcome to the world, Contra Costa AVA!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Photo via: www.vinocampodecalatrava.com
The EU has spoken, and—as of February 2024—it has granted its approval for a new appellation for Spanish wine: the Campo de Calatrava DO (Denominación de Origen).
Wine has been produced in the Campo de Calatrava area—located in the Ciudad Real province within the autonomía of the Castilla-La Mancha—since the Bronze Age ( ). In modern times, the wines of the area have been bottled under the classification Vino de la Tierra-La Mancha (which covers the entire autonomía). At last count, there are eight commercial wineries in the region.
The Campo de Calatrava DO is located atop a unique geological feature known as the Campo de Calatrava Volcanic Field (La Región Volcánica del Campo de Calatrava). The region contains over 300 individual volcanic landforms, including lava domes, pyroclastic cones, and low-relief volcanic craters known as maars. While the area is believed to be dormant—the last known volcanic eruption dates to 3.600 BCE—the area contains the most significantly volcanic soils in the Iberian Peninsula. Topsoil is dark and stony, aiding in heat retention and drainage.
The Campo de Calatrava DO allows for a long list of wines styles to be produced. These include dry white, red, and rosé wines, quality sparkling wine, and sweet (late harvest) wines.
The list of allowed grape varieties is long and varied—and quite similar to those found in the nearby DOs of La Mancha and Valdepeñas.
We will post a map as soon as the newly crafted DO creates one.
Welcome to the world, Campo de Calatrava DO!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Spain’s Tierra de Léon DO (Denominación de Origen) made some news back in 2019 when it officially changed its name to Léon DO. Since then, it has continued to make news by competing in—and winning—major wine competitions and by attracting the largest crowd ever (over 25,000) to attend the annual DO León Wine Fair.
These days (February 2024) the DO is again making news by gaining approval from the EU for a range of updates and revisions to its wine rules and regulations. In short, the appellation has approved a new grape variety for use in its red wines and has added an additional wine type—sweet wines—to its roster.
The latest red grape of the Léon DO: The Negro Saurí grape variety (also known as Merenzao) has been added to the list of grape varieties authorized for use in the red and rosé (rosado) wines of the Léon DO. This grape is added to the list of previously approved grape varieties, including Prieto Picudo and Mencía (as recommended varieties) and Garnacha and Tempranillo (as authorized varieties).
Map of the DO Leon via www.doleon.es
Negro Saurí is an obscure local variety grown mainly in Léon. It requires a good deal of sunshine to thrive, is relatively thin-skinned, and light in color. The grape has been added to the roster in the hopes of preserving the heritage of the region’s indigenous vineyards, to increase the area’s biodiversity, and due to the spicy, complex character it brings to the wines.
The sweet wines of the Léon DO: With these recent changes, the Léon DO is approved to produce off dry (semidulce) and sweet (dulce) wines in red (tinto), white (blanco), and rosé (rosado) styles. Wines labeled as semidulce will contain between 1.8% and 4.5% residual sugar (RS); those labeled as dulce will contain at least 4.5% RS.
The newly approved sweet wines of the Léon DO will be based on the same grape varieties used in the dry wines of the region. In addition to the approved red varieties (discussed above), the white grapes of the DO include Verdejo, Albarín Blanco, and Godello (as recommended varieties) and Malvasía and Palomino (as authorized varieties; Palomino is not approved for new plantings).
Note: as with all such updates, it may take a while for these updates to work their way through the various governing bodies (and even longer for the final documentation to become available for public perusal). However, the EU is spoken, so it seems these changes will soon become apparent in the marketplace.
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org