Wine Style and Ohio Wines
What is wine style?
Wines are defined by color, sweetness, origin and some elusive quality that has been dubbed “style.” There are California-style, French-style, Italian-style, and of course, Ohio-style. But these can be subdivided into regional styles, winemaking styles, etc., etc., etc.
Ohio has a multitude of micro-regions where wine grapes can be successfully grown. Some areas have their own federally named appellation such as the Lake Erie region, Grand River Valley, Isle St. George and the Ohio River Valley. But Ohio winegrowers also grow grapes in Central Ohio, western Ohio, and areas not yet identified with their own appellation. How does this impact style?
All Ohio wineries are subject to our cool weather climate and so it can be said that Ohio wines are cool-climate wines. So are wines from California, Germany and Italy to name a few. A cool climate Chardonnay will have a distinctly different flavor than a Chardonnay made from the hot climates of California or Australia.
Winemakers themselves contribute to style. More oak, no oak, longer fermentations, special yeasts, skin contact time, and other variables that the individual winemakers choose to create the final product. Wine is a living thing from the grape to the glass. Winemakers manipulate the juice from the grapes and other inputs in ways that please their palate and hopefully yours.
Is a sweet wine style better than a dry wine style? That’s where you come in. There are several Ohio wineries that make sweeter wines and some of these are consistently fine wines that win awards wherever they are entered. Ohio also produces many fine dry wines that have been tested against some of the world’s best and won. Most Ohio wine drinkers like both styles and can find Ohio wines to satisfy their palates.
So what is style? It’s a combination of many variables in the vineyard, in the winery and in the bottle that gives a particular wine it’s own personality, taste and experience. That is the mystique of wine. Finding the ones you enjoy, and sharing them with family and friends is part of the joy of wine.
Style is personality, terroir, individual winemaker’s art and more. Ohio has it and you’ll find out more about it at an Ohio winery. Check them out!
Wines are defined by color, sweetness, origin and some elusive quality that has been dubbed “style.” There are California-style, French-style, Italian-style, and of course, Ohio-style. But these can be subdivided into regional styles, winemaking styles, etc., etc., etc.
Ohio has a multitude of micro-regions where wine grapes can be successfully grown. Some areas have their own federally named appellation such as the Lake Erie region, Grand River Valley, Isle St. George and the Ohio River Valley. But Ohio winegrowers also grow grapes in Central Ohio, western Ohio, and areas not yet identified with their own appellation. How does this impact style?
All Ohio wineries are subject to our cool weather climate and so it can be said that Ohio wines are cool-climate wines. So are wines from California, Germany and Italy to name a few. A cool climate Chardonnay will have a distinctly different flavor than a Chardonnay made from the hot climates of California or Australia.
Winemakers themselves contribute to style. More oak, no oak, longer fermentations, special yeasts, skin contact time, and other variables that the individual winemakers choose to create the final product. Wine is a living thing from the grape to the glass. Winemakers manipulate the juice from the grapes and other inputs in ways that please their palate and hopefully yours.
Is a sweet wine style better than a dry wine style? That’s where you come in. There are several Ohio wineries that make sweeter wines and some of these are consistently fine wines that win awards wherever they are entered. Ohio also produces many fine dry wines that have been tested against some of the world’s best and won. Most Ohio wine drinkers like both styles and can find Ohio wines to satisfy their palates.
So what is style? It’s a combination of many variables in the vineyard, in the winery and in the bottle that gives a particular wine it’s own personality, taste and experience. That is the mystique of wine. Finding the ones you enjoy, and sharing them with family and friends is part of the joy of wine.
Style is personality, terroir, individual winemaker’s art and more. Ohio has it and you’ll find out more about it at an Ohio winery. Check them out!