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Isn't there a limit to how high an alcohol content yeast can tolerate?
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 11:56:15 AM EST
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Logically, alcohol production stops when there's no more sugar for the yeast to transform. Can the alcohol content reach a stage where it kills the yeast?

That's a question for Philippe next time I see him.

The result sounds yucky: strong alcohol and residual sweet grape juice.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 12:03:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, terrible stuff. Apparently you need special yeasts to get the alcohol content past about 14%.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 12:16:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Oh, but I don't think of that as residual sweet grape juice. That's the nectar of the gods.

The time of harvesting of course has an effect on sugar levels. The later the harvest, the higher the sugar. Apparently harvesting is being brought forward earlier to avoid wines being at 13-14%, which most people don't want as table wines.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 12:45:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The real nectar of the gods comes from further north and has much lower alcohol contents - i.e. BA, TBA, and Eiswein's from the Mosel. One of the few good sides of living in Koblenz was the proximity to the vineyards which sold their wines to visitors at the same price that the wholesalers got them. Though that also meant that there were none to be found in the local wine shops. The vintners were incredibly friendly and had a wonderful habit of not just offering tastes of all the wines on sale, but occasionally providing a sip of whatever ancient bottle from their private reserve that day (though that meant Spaetleses and Ausleses, not the higher grades). Twenty or thirty year old Mosels - the only whites that come close are top of the line Burgundies.
by MarekNYC on Thu May 29th, 2008 at 04:08:47 PM EST
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