Category Archives: Testable Material for the CWE Exam

Photo of the Urbezo PDO via www.mapa.gob.es

Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, MAPA) has announced the approval of a new Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO) for wine: the Vino de Pago Urbezo! As of October 26 (2024) the EU has also announced its approval of the new appellation.  At last count, this makes for a new total of 26 vinos de pago for Spain.

The new appellation is located in the autonomous community (comunidad autónoma) of Aragón (in the province of Zaragoza, just north-west of the municipality—and wine region) of Cariñena.

The Vino de Pago (PDO) Urbezo is approved for the production of dry wines, to include white (blanco), rosé (rosado), and red (tinto) wines. Wines may be unaged, or they may be labeled with a defined aging designation such as crianza, reserva, or gran reserva. One very interesting point of differentiation in this new appellation is that grape growing and winemaking is required to be certified as organic (as defined by EU Regulation (EC) No 834/2007). Other rules for these wines are discussed below:

• White wine (blanco)
  • Authorized grape varieties: Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanco (White Grenache), Moscatel de Alejandría (Muscat of Alexandria)
  • Minimum alcohol by volume (abv) in the finished wine: 12.5%
  • Maximum residual sugar (RS): 9 g/L
  • Other notes: Straw yellow in color (some greenish hues), aromas of stone fruit, tropical fruit, and flowers; medium to high acidity, medium to high aromatic/flavor intensity.

• Rosé wine (rosado)
  • Authorized grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tinta (Red Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan), Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo
  • Minimum alcohol by volume (abv) in the finished wine: 12.5%
  • Maximum residual sugar (RS): 9 g/L
  • Other notes: Clear and pink in color with notes of violet and fuchsia; aromas of red fruit and flowers; medium to high acidity; medium aromatic/flavor intensity; well-balanced and crisp

• Red wine (tinto)
  • Authorized grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tinta (Red Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan), Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo
  • Minimum alcohol by volume (abv) in the finished wine: 13%
  • Maximum residual sugar (RS): 9 g/L
  • Other notes: Cherry-red in color (with notes of violet, ruby, and ink-red); aromas of red fruit, black fruit, and flowers; medium to high acidity; medium to high aromatic/flavor intensity; complex and structures; long finish
  • Additional styles of red wine may be produced using carbonic maceration and a range of optional oak-aging regimes (see the attached pliego de condicones for details).

Welcome to the world, Vino de Pago Urbezo!

References/for more information:

• Pliego de Condiciones—DOP Urbezo
• EU Journal – Vino de Pago Urbezo
• Announcement via the website for Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Base Map via the TTB AVA Explorer

On October 29, 2024, the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States approved the Beverly, Washington American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA is located in Washington State’s Grant County and lies entirely within the previously established Columbia Valley AVA.

The original petition for the Beverly, Washington AVA was accepted by the TTB in 2022 under the proposed name “Wanapum Village AVA.” A request to change the name to “Beverly, Washington” was submitted and approved in October of 2023.

According to these documents, the area’s distinguishing features are primarily its topography and soil. These features are discussed below.

Topography: The Beverly, Washington AVA is located close to the eastern shores of the Columbia River. The area is comprised of low, gently rolling hills with elevations ranging from 515 to 950 feet above sea level. The vineyard slopes are generally south- and southwest-facing, tucked into the edge of the Frenchman Hills (where they meet the Columbia River).

Base Map via the TTB AVA Explorer

Soil: According to the petition, the soil is the primary point of differentiation between the Beverly, Washington AVA and the surrounding Columbia Valley AVA. Soils within the new AVA are largely derived of topsoil deposited by the Missoula floods—a series of floods that occurred at the end of the last ice age. These soils—consisting mainly of sand and gravel atop basalt bedrock—tend to be very well-drained and quite coarse. These coarse soils are less prone to erosion than the finer-grained soils found elsewhere in the Columbia Valley. As such, there is no need for cover crops (as might be used to control erosion). In addition, coarse soils absorb heat faster than finer soils—and the resulting warmer soils promote earlier onset of budbreak, veraison, and other ripening stages of the grapes.

The Beverly, Washington AVA is a relatively tiny area located directly to the south of the Royal Slope AVA. According to the original petition, there are currently two commercial vineyards in the area.

When the Beverley, Washington AVA is brought into force—on November 29, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 276. Of these, 21 will be in Washington State.

Welcome to the world, Beverly, Washington AVA!

References/for more information:

• Establishment of the Beverly Washington AVA October 2024
• Name change to Beverly WA
• Original Petition—Beverely WA AVA—as Wanapum Village

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Photo via: www.viniterredipisa.com

News flash: the Terre di Pisa DOC—first approved as a producer of Tuscan red wines in 2011—has amended its disciplinare to allow for several new styles of wine, to include white wines and rosato (rosé).

Previously, the only styles of wine allowed to be made in the Terre di Pisa DOC were dry red table wines known as Terre di Pisa Rosso (typically based on a blend of red grapes, and required to contain a minimum of 70% Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and/or Syrah) and Terre di Pisa Sangiovese (minimum 85% Sangiovese). These wines require a minimum of 12.5% alcohol by volume (abv).

• The new styles of wine permitted under the Terre di Pisa DOC include the following:
  • Terre di Pisa Bianco (white): A dry white wine produced using a minimum of 70% Vermentino and/or  Trebbiano Toscano. The remainder may comprise any white grape present in the vineyards and suitable for cultivation in Tuscany. Minimum alcohol: 11% abv.
  • Terre di Pisa Vermentino: A dry white wine produced using a minimum of 85% Vermentino. The remainder may comprise any white grape present in the vineyards and suitable for cultivation in Tuscany. Minimum alcohol: 11% abv.
  • Terre di Pisa Rosato (rosé): A dry, pink wine produced using a minimum of 50% Sangiovese. The remainder may comprise any red grape present in the vineyards and suitable for cultivation in Tuscany. Minimum alcohol: 11% abv.

In addition, a “riserva” category has been approved for Terre di Pisa Rosso. The use of the term riserva is allowed for those wines that have been aged for at least two years. Red wines not using the riserva label term must have been aged for a minimum of 1 year (Terre di Pisa Rosso) or 18 months (Terre di Pisa Sangiovese).

The Terre di Pisa appellation includes 16 of the 37 municipalities (communi/communes) within the province of Pisa. It is centered around the rolling hills about 12 miles south of the city of Pisa (and about 10 miles inland from the city of Livorno).

If you’ve never heard of Terre di Pisa before, don’t beat yourself up. This is a small appellation—total vineyard area is about 150 acres/60 hectares and total production (including around 15 wineries) is less than 10,000 cases a year.

References/for more information:

• EU Journal – Terre di Pisa – October 2024
• DOC Terre di Pisa Disciplinare modificato 2024
• https://www.viniterredipisa.com/index-en.php
• Click here to view a map including the Terre di Pisa DOC, via Federdoc

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer Map

On October 16, 2024, the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States approved the Crystal Springs of Napa Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA is located in California’s Napa County and lies entirely within the previously established North Coast and Napa Valley AVAs.

According to the original petition—submitted in 2020 by Stephen Burgess on behalf of Burgess Cellars and other wine growers in the area—the defining characteristics of the Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA include the area’s topography, climate, and soil. These features are discussed below.

Topography: The Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA is tucked into the western face of the Vaca Range. The petition describes the area as “all hillside” with no flat areas. Elevation ranges from 1,400 feet asl at the northern border (where the new AVA abuts the Howell Mountain and Calistoga AVAs) to 400 feet asl at the area’s southern boundary (shared with the St. Helena AVA). Slope angles range from 15% to 40% and are generally west-to-southwesterly in aspect, thus increasing the amount of solar radiation received (in comparison to north- and east-facing slopes).

Climate: The all-slope topography of the Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA also lends its most distinctive climate features. These include the abundant sunshine (as measured by solar radiation), the lack of the risk of frost, and the subsequent long ripening season. According to the petition, every other AVA in the area has a significant risk of frost and often require interventions such as those offered by orchard fans, heaters, sprinklers, or misters.

Base Map via the TTB Explorer Map

This part of the Vaca Range consists mainly of volcanic bedrock. Topsoil, while often quite thin and diverse in parent materials, is largely made up of igneous rock but also includes compacted volcanic ash as well as other weathered metamorphic and sedimentary soils.

The Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA covers a total of approximately 4,000 total acres, with 230 acres currently planted to vineyards. There are approximately 30 commercial vineyards located within the region. The leading grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Sauvignon Blanc.

When the Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA is brought into force—on November 15, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 275. Of these, 154 will be in California, and 18 will be in Napa County.

Welcome to the world, Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA!

References/for more information:

• Establishment of the Crystal Spriings AVA-TTB
• Petition-Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer

On August 30, 2024, the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States approved the San Luis Rey American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA is located in California’s San Diego County, entirely within the previously established South Coast AVA. The AVA extends from the coastal city of Oceanside inland to the Merriman Mountains and Moosa Canyon.

The area is named for the San Luis Rey River, which runs through the northern edge of the area and drains into the Pacific Ocean; and for Mission San Luis Rey—founded in 1798 and built close to the banks of the river. The defining characteristics of the San Luis Rey AVA include the area’s topography, climate, and soil. These features are discussed below.

Topography and Climate: The San Luis Rey AVA sits at relatively low elevations (the mean elevation is 563 feet above sea level) and is located close to the Pacific Coastline. This situation allows cool ocean breezes to flow through the region, thus creating an overall cool, maritime climate. The average annual maximum temperature of the San Luis Rey AVA is significantly cooler than the surrounding areas (including the Temecula Valley AVA, San Pasqual Valley AVA, and Ramona Valley AVA).

Base map via the TTB AVA Explorer

Soil: Compared with the surrounding area, the bedrock supporting the San Luis Rey AVA is generally older and richer in sandy loam (an ideal texture for commercial viticulture, and a point of differentiation and potential advantage over much of the rest of the South Coast AVA).  Soil parent materials include granite, sandstone and quartz.

The San Luis Rey AVA covers a total of approximately 97,733 acres, with 256 acres currently planted to vineyards (with another 29 acres of planned vineyards). There are 44 commercial vineyards and just over 20 bonded wineries—including Fallbrook Winery and Lionsgate Estate Winery—located within the region. The leading grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Grenache.

When the San Luis Rey AVA is brought into force—on September 30, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 274. Of these, 153 will be in California.

Welcome to the world, San Luis Rey AVA!

References/for more information:

• TTB – Final Rule – San Luis Rey AVA
• Petition-San Luis Rey AVA

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

As of July 2024, the INAO (Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité of France) has approved the production of Pinot Noir-based red wines in the Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg AOC. As such, Vorbourg becomes the third Alsatian Grand Cru approved for the production of red wines. Two others—Alsace Grand Cru Hengst and Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr—were approved for the production of Pinot Noir in May of 2022. The remaining 48 Grands Crus of Alsace remain approved only for white wines.

Vorbourg—largely planted to Gewurztraminer—is located near the southern end of the Haut-Rhin Départment, tucked alongside several other Alsace Grands Crus in the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains. Vorbourg (covering about 180 acres/73 hectares) contains one of the region’s most famous walled vineyards—the Clos Saint Landelin, owned by the Mure family.

Located just north of the Ohmbach River, Vorbourg is composed mainly of a series of south- and southeast-facing slopes. This means the vines receive abundant sunshine, making it an ideal choice for ripening Pinot Noir in this overall cool-climate region. The soils of Vorbourg include granite and limestone on the hillsides, along with clay and loess closer to the river.

According to the Wines of Alsace (vinsalace) website, the white wines of Vorbourg are known for fruity aromas (citrus, peach, and pear), are full-bodied, and show a good deal of minerality. The red wine (Pinot Noir) has a deep red color, rich texture, fine tannins, and aromas of fruit, spice (anise), and mineral.

We look forward to trying a Grand Cru Pinot Noir from Vorbourg!

References/for more information:

• https://www.vinsalsace.com/en/grands-crus/vorbourg/
• Alsace Grand Cru—Vorbourg—July 2024 (Journal Officiel de la République Francaise, July 7 2024)
• Map of the Haut-Rhin via the INAO

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

The Vicenza DOC—established in 2000—is located somewhat in the center of Italy’s Veneto Region. It surrounds the city of Vicenza and covers most of the surrounding Vicenza Province. The Vicenza DOC overlaps the Gamberella DOC/Recioto di Gamberella DOCG as well as a portion of the Colli Berici DOC.

The Vicenza DOC stretches from Monti Berico—its highest point—in the northwest and extends across the flatter plains form by the Bacchiglione River. The finest vineyards in the appellation are considered the hillside vineyards in the north and west of the area.

The Vicenza DOC is approved for a long list of grape varieties and wine styles. These include red and white wines (in still, sparkling, frizzante, and passito styles) made from blends or varietals. The leading grape varieties of the include Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Moscato, Garganega, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), among others.

• In addition to the previously approved wines, on as of July 2024, the EU as approved the following revisions to the wines allowed under the Vicenza DOC:
  • Pinot Grigio Superiore DOC: A new product—Vicenza Pinot Grigio Superiore DOC—has been approved and will be required to contain a minimum of 11.5% abv.
  • Rosato and Ramato approved: Vicenza Pinot Grigio will now be allowed to be produced via skin-contact and labeled as Pinot Grigio Rosato (rosé) and well as Pinot Grigio Ramato. In accordance with this change, the approved description of the color of Vicenza Pinot Grigio has been updated to read as follows: As implied by the change in name of the Vicenza Pinot Grigio  type to Vicenza Pinot Grigio / Pinot Grigio Rosato / Pinot Grigio Ramato, the description of the color also changes, from “from straw yellow to golden yellow, sometimes with hints of pink”’ to “from straw yellow to golden yellow, pink or copper.”

We look forward to tasting Vicenza Pinot Grigio Ramato  (or Rosato) in the near future!

Note: as is typical of appellation updates, this change has been approved by the local consortium, Italy’s National Wine Committee, and the EU. However, we have not yet seen an updated disciplinare uploaded to a public database. We have attached the proposal (which has been approved), below.

References/for more information:

• EU Journal-Vicenza-July 2024-English
• Website of the Colli Berici/Vincenza Consortium (in Italian)
• Vicenza DOC Disciplinare-proposed update 2024

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 produced under the following regulations:
  • Dry, still (non-sparkling), red wines are the only wines allowed for production
  • It must be comprised of a minimum of 70% (combined) Carignan, Grenache (Noir), Mourvèdre, and Syrah.
  • In addition, Carignan must comprise a minimum of 30% of the blend, and no single variety may comprise more than 80% of the overall blend.
  • The wine must be aged (at least) until December 31 of th year following harvest to include at least two months in the bottle.

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:

• Corbieres Boutenac Name Change Published
• Decision of the European Commission-AOC Boutenac

 Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org