All Things Avennia: Wine Fraud and Sour Grapes

Watch a recording of the session here.

Unanswered Questions 

1)    What’s the oldest wine I’ve ever tasted?

I was at a tasting of old wines at Canlis in 2018 where I was able to taste some older Bordeaux and California wines, but the oldest wine in the bunch was a 1949 Chambolle-Musigny (Burgundy). I believe that’s the oldest wine I’ve ever tasted.

2)    What would dandelion wine be considered? Flower wine?

I looked at the TTB website and this is what I found:

Agricultural wine derived wholly from one kind of agricultural product must be designated by the word “wine” qualified by the name of the agricultural product. For example, agricultural wine that is derived wholly from dandelions, raisins, or agave must be designated as “dandelion wine,” “raisin wine,” or “agave wine,” respectively. Agricultural wine derived wholly from honey may be designated as either “honey wine” or “mead.”

Agricultural wine derived from the fermentation of more than one kind of agricultural product must be designated with the name of each agricultural material, followed by the word “wine” (for example, “dandelion honey wine).

Fact Check

1)    In talking about the 1985 Austrian Antifreeze Wine Scandal, I had on the slide that diethylene glycol was an ingredient used in many products including, lubricants, skin care products and antifreeze…

In fact, the substance in antifreeze is actually ethylene glycol, not diethylene glycol, making the media’s characterization of the story that much more out of proportion.  

Next Session: Thursday, April 8, 4:30PM (PDT)

Topic: Sparkling Wine