AmericanWinery.com

The most widely cultivated white variety in northern Spain and the most important white grape in the rioja region, where it’s called Viura. It’s because of Macabeo’s higher yields (and not the quality of its wines) that this variety is pushing out the more traditional white grapes used in Rioja white wines—Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca (Grenache). Macabeo-based wines are generally light, high in acidity, slightly floral, and fairly fruity. Their aroma and flavor dissipate very early, … (view more)

see Macabeo

One of Australia’s coolest growing regions, located in the Port Phillip Zone of Victoria. It’s situated about 50 miles northwest of Melbourne around this mountain range whose prominent peak is the 3,300-foot Mount Macedon. The region includes portions of the Central Victorian Highlands and the Great Dividing Range. The Sunbury region, to the south, was once grouped in this region but has now been split off on its own. vigorous winds and high altitude contribute to the cool climate. The most … (view more)

The period of time grape juice spends in contact with the skins and seeds. extended maceration, which is used only with red wines, takes place after primary fermentation and prolongs this contact period. The objectives of extended maceration are to increase the wine’s depth of color, intensify its aroma, and, according to some winemakers, soften any harsh, bitter tannins so a wine is better suited for aging. In the cold maceration process (sometimes called cold soak), the grape juice mixture ( … (view more)

Located in the southern portion of France’s Burgundy region, this large grape-growing area takes its name from the town of Mâcon. It’s positioned between Beaujolais to the south and the Côte Chalonnaise to the north. White wines, which are made from Chardonnay, make up two-thirds of the area’s production. Red and rosé wines are made primarily from Gamay, with some Pinot Noir. A fair amount of wine is produced under the basic Burgundian appellations of Bourgogne, Bourgogne passe tout … (view more)

The general climate of an area or region such as the Napa Valley, Sauternes region, or Champagne. macroclimate pertains to the largest of areas when discussing climate; mesoclimate relates to a much smaller area, such as a vineyard or portion of a vineyard; and the even more restricted microclimate typically refers to the climatic conditions near a group of vines or may be even limited to a single vine.

see carbonic maceration

Term that means a minimum of 10 percent of the wine was fermented at the winery—the other 90 percent can come from other sources. This designation does not generally indicate the quality implied by the phrase produced and bottled by, where at least 75 percent of the wine must be fermented at the winery. See also bottled by; estate bottled; grown, produced and bottled by.

see British Wine

1. True Madeira comes from Portugal’s Madeira island, which is located some 530 miles southwest of Lisbon and 360 miles due west of Morocco. It receives Portugal’s highest quality ranking—Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC). Madeira is one of the three best-known fortified wines, the others being port and sherry. Madeira is unique in that it gains its flavor from elements that would ruin most other wines—heat and oxidization (see oxidized). The first madeiras evolved from the days … (view more)