What "Dry" Means for a Still Wine versus a Sparkling Wine

Have you ever taken a sip of red wine and noticed that your mouth feels dry or dusty? Almost that ‘cotton-mouth’ feel? Well, that is a sensation that is generally associated with red wines.

The dry sensation is due to the wine being astringent and its effect on the tissue in your mouth. Some people have also described the sensation as making their mouth pucker.

The culprits that causes this drying sensation in your mouth are actually chemical compounds (phenolics) that naturally occur in grapes. These ‘tannin’ come from the grape skins, seeds and stems.

But, while a ‘dry’ sensation in your mouth is associated with tannin, the wine term “Dry” actually refers to the lack of sweetness - the amount of residual sugar. A “Dry” wine will have little to no residual sugar, meaning that the fermentation process converted all the natural sugar in the grape juice to alcohol. Residual Sugar (RS) in still wines is categorized as follows:

• Dry: Less than 1% sweetness or <10 gm/L of Residual Sugar

• Off-Dry: 3% to 5% sweetness or 10-35 gm/L RS

• Sweet: Above 5% sweetness or 35-120 gm/L RS

• Very Sweet: Above 12% sweetness or 120 - 220 gm/L RS

In sparkling wines, there are multiple styles of produced:

• Extra Brut: 0-6% RS

• Brut: 0-15% RS

• Extra Dry: 12-20% RS

• Dry: 17-35% RS

• Demi Sec: 35-50% RS

• Doux: Greater than 50% RS

So, a ‘dry’ still wine will have less than 1% residual sugar, while a ‘dry’ sparkling wine will have 17-35% residual sugar! Just another example of the confusing terms in the wine world.

Here’s to making the wine world just a bit less confusing. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Trujillo Madelyn White Wine Cuvée

2023 Madelyn White Wine Cuvée ($24)

Michael Trujillo, Winemaker at Trujillo Wines, says “In life, as in winemaking, a blend of great things often results in something fun and unique.” In tribute to his daughter, Sophia Madelyn Trujillo, he proudly makes this white wine cuvée (i.e., a wine made with more than one grape variety).

This wine is produced from a blend of 61% Sauvignon Blanc and 39% Gewürztraminer that was fermented and maintained in Stainless Steel tanks to preserve the bright fruit flavors.

This Madelyn Cuvée (KOO-vay) is medium straw in color with bright aromas of citrus, grapefruit and tropical fruits with the Gewürztraminer adding floral notes. On the palate it is medium-light in body and dry, not sweet, with refreshing citrus and grapefruit flavors, bright acidity and a lingering finish. [ABV: 14.1%, TA: 7.0 g/L, pH: 3.39, RS: 1.5 g/L] 588 Cases Produced

This Trujillo Madelyn White Wine Cuvée is a fun and refreshing wine that can be enjoyed in all casual setting and goes great with lite fare. This is a very enjoyable wine that’s offered at a great price, making it a nice fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Trujillo Wines

Did You Know that Chablis is a Wine Region, Not a Wine Grape?

Photo by Jørgen Håland on Unsplash

There was a time when ordering a glass of Chablis was generic for a glass of white wine. No specific type of wine, just a white wine. But there is so much more to Chablis than just a white wine.

Chablis is a region located in the northwest corner of the province of Burgundy in France.  It produces light, dry white wines known for their minerality and crisp acidity. And all white wines produced in Chablis are made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape.  They tend to be dry and fresh in flavor with distinct minerality. Chablis is usually un-oaked to retain its bright, crisp flavors. A few Chablis producers do use oak barrels in their wine making but these are restricted to the higher-quality wines and does not lead to overpowering oak flavors.

The vineyards of Chablis are classified into four tiers of quality, all precisely regulated by the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC), and noted on the bottles' label:

• Chablis Grand Cru AOC- Highest quality wines from seven vineyards on one slope

  • Only region where some oak aging is done. These wines have flavors of passion fruit, apricot, apple and orange rind.

• Chablis Premier Cru AOC - Seventy vineyards in some of the better locations

  • The limestone soils produce richer fruit with flavors of lemon, starfruit and flint minerality

• Chablis AOC - Comprised of the vineyards mostly closer in to the town of Chablis

  • These wines have nice flavors of citrus, pear and minerals

• Petit Chablis AOC - Vineyard areas in the outer areas from the town of Chablis

  • These tend to have higher acidity, tart citrus flavors, and are best enjoyed young

So, when ordering a glass of wine, or shopping for white wines, remember that a white Burgundy from Chablis is a Chardonnay. And, don't just order a glass of white wine, order a French Chablis and enjoy some of the finest white wine the world has to offer. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Trujillo Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Michael Trujillo arrived in Napa Valley in 1982 from his family’s farm in Colorado. He grew up helping his father year-round in the fields, and learned early on about how soil, climate, pests and critters affect living, growing plants.

After three decades of winemaking experience in all aspects of the business—from vineyard cultivation and irrigation digging, to cooperage selection and blending—Michael Trujillo is proud to offer his own namesake Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a realization of his lifelong passion for crafting red wine, an expression of all that he’s learned and deeply values about winemaking in the Napa Valley.

2021 Trujillo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($96)

This wine is produced from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all of which are from the Napa Valley. It was aged 22 months in French Oak (82% new barrels).

It is deep, dark and dense in its color. On the nose it has dark fruit aromas of black cherry, currant, and a hint of plum, along with cedar and sweet herbs. On the palate, it starts bold and then yields a smooth richness with flavors of black cherry, currant, and dark chocolate that culminate in a lengthy finish. [ABV: 14.6%, TA: 5.6 g/L, pH: 3.71, RS: 0.4 g/L]. Cases Produced = 582

2021 Trujillo Gary Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Check with Winery for Price & Availability)

The Gary Morisoli Vineyard is located near the western foothills of the Rutherford AVA and centered within the infamous Rutherford Bench. Year after year this amazing vineyard has consistently produced incredible Cabernet worthy of a Reserve bottling. This wine is 100% Napa Valley, Rutherford AVA, from the Gary Morisoli Vineyard. It was aged for 22 months in 100% French Oak (85% new barrels).

It has aromas of dark fruits, black cherry, and cassis with a vanilla notes and subtle hints of sweet tobacco. On the palate it is rich and bold with flavors of dark chocolate cherry, and currants. The tannins are very well balanced with the acidity. [ABV: 14.7%, TA:5.8 g/L, pH: 3.72, RS:0.6 g/L]. Cases Produced = 168

These two Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa are truly amazing! And, a real treat for your palate. That makes them an easy selection as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week! Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Trujillo Wines

What "Cellared and Bottled by..." Means on a Wine Label

I recently visited a “Winery” on a weekday in the downtown part of a city to check out their wines. When I entered, I was greeted by a hostess that grabbed a lunch menu and wanted to seat me in their large outdoor patio. I told her that I just wanted to look around and check out the “winery.”

Aside from the large restaurant, I did find a small bar serving mixed drinks, beer and glasses of wine. Then I found the “Tasting Room” that was closed and learned that it is only open on the weekend.

I then wandered over to their wall of bottled wines and pulled down a few. On the back label of each wine was the phrase “Cellared and Bottled by” followed by the name of their winery.

So, let breakdown the facts about this “winery”:

Growing the Grapes: The “winery” did not grow the grapes

Crushing the Grapes: The “winery” did not crush the grapes

Fermentation: The “winery” did not ferment the juice (the must) to produce the wine

Cellared: This means that the “winery” took possession of the wine after it was produced and was somehow responsible for storing (i.e., cellaring) it. This might involve aging the wine further or simply keeping it in tanks

Bottled: The “winery” was responsible for transferring the wine into the bottles, sealing them, and putting their label on them

So, technically this establishment is a “winery” but they don’t grow the grapes or produce the wine. This doesn’t say anything about the quality of the wine in the bottles. But, it does tell you exactly what kind of a “winery” they are.