Factors that Determine the Quality of Wine

The winery industry can be categorized into red and white wine segments. The red wine segment, measured by tonnage of varietals crushed, has grown at a compounded annual rate of 4.7% for 10 years from 1989 to 1998, and a year over year growth rate of 8.2% from 1998 to 1999. Judging by the strong growth rate experienced in the red wine segment, it is reasonable to conclude that the red wine segment is in the growth phase of the life cycle model. In addition, production of red wine varietals which are relatively unknown such as syrah and sangiovese nearly doubled in a year from 1998 to 1999. The white wine segment, however, is at the mature phase of its life cycle as the segment shrunk slightly by 0.42% from 1998 to 1999. Overall, the industry is still at the growth stage lead by growth in the red wine segment.

Smaller firms such as the family run operations in Europe may not be able to realize these same cost efficiencies. Furthermore, grapes represent 50 to 70% of a winemakers COGS, thus the competition for sourcing high quality grape growers is quite high. Just as Mondavi does for 75% of its purchases, most premium wine makers enter into long-term contracts with growers to not only ensure that their demand is met but also to make sure that they receive grapes that are consistent in quality.

The dynamics of the global wine industry are better understood through a brief history of wine as well as an overview of the wine making process. Some countries have longer historical and cultural ties with wine then others and that can affect the quality and perception of the product in the eyes of the consumer. Also, the conditions in which the wine grapes are raised and the processes used to make the wine can create a superior wine and therefore a competitive advantage.

Wine has been a popular beverage for many years amongst different societies. The process of winemaking is one of the most complex and detailed processes, where every step is meticulous towards ensuring the best quality wine is produced. However, different phenomena are able to affect the wine even after it is bottled and stored.

Ecological dimensions of wine production primarily centre on the use of organic viticulture. Since the earlier days of production, industries have realized they had used a devastating amount of agrochemicals and fertilisers to grow their wines. Today, as environmental views have changed, many wine producers have initiated or promoted the notion of organic viticulture. This involves the use of organic materials and using

The most important necessary inputs for the production of wine are grapes, bottles and labor. Concerning the grapes, there is an outstanding difference between the traditional wine producing countries for example in Europe (the south of France, Spain, Italy and Southeastern Europe) and big wine factories that operate as oligopolies like in the US and Australia. Due to the bond to traditions and the higher demand for quality in Europe most of the wineries here still stick to the original way of producing wine, including the growth of the grapes on the land around the winery, a so called vertical integration (which is often considered by producers where the supplier's price is too high or the offer is insufficient, in our case this trend results rather in traditional and cultural values than in financial ones). This eliminates the percentage of dependence on agricultural suppliers significantly, whereas concerning a big wine company the negotiation power of the supplier is quite high. These wine companies tend to have a low sensitivity towards the price they are charged, as grapes are a crucial component of wine production. However, in both cases the price of the grapes is always

Normally wine is started in the fall when the ripe grapes arc harvested. It is not ready to be tasted until at least the following May-the origin of the young, and often very harsh, ‘May Wine.’ This time sequence coincides with the typical school year and thus provides an ideal opportunity to have a continuing demonstration. As the year passes and the course progresses, continued reference can be made to the various stages of the wine production….

This northern California winescape is “dotted with Italian surnames that suggest traditional roots of pioneering viticulturists” (Helzer 49). For Italians, they adapted their “old-world winemaking traditions to new lands” (Helzer 49), and their success can be partially attributed to the “similarities in landscape, ecology, and climate between California and the rolling countryside of northwestern Italy” (Vaught 885). Furthermore, the success of these immigrants can be attributed to their plethora of access to social capital listed

The whole world of winemaking, and the first step to determine the taste and quality of a wine, stems from the grape and vine. With a deep root system and gnarled trunk, grape vines are a standout feature of any winery. These vines have three main categories of

Much of California’s wine regions parallel in their respective histories. However, what sets Napa Valley apart is its rich collection of individual growers and producers dedicated to furthering the reputation of the region from the very beginning. Importantly, its unique location provides ecological serenity for the production of wine from its expansive variety of soils to the balancing effect of its climate.

Often I speak about vineyards that when you step through the tasting room doors it feels like you are home. At Mystic Hills Vineyard in Paso Robles you truly are in the home of the owners Joel and Judy Cox. Joel being highly successful in the movie industry as a film editor for the last 40 years and reaching retirement age, he and Judy decided to step into a family dream and pursue their passion of making wines. Both love the Paso Robles region and in 2004 Joel and Judy purchased 14 acres in King Ranch in San Miguel. Neither had experience in growing vines and making wines. But Joel being a perfectionist and with Judy managing the winery and actively taking courses at UC Davis and College of the Canyons to increase her knowledge of viticulture,

The supply of grapes, apples, bulk wine and grape juice concentrate for Vincor’s wine products comes from a combination of sources. Privately owned vineyards (Canada, U.S., Australia) provide somewhere between 35% to 57% of the raw products needed to

This is where Malbec failed to recover like the other Bordeaux varieties. Malbec did not adapt well to the new rootstocks, and the resultant vines had excessive canopy growth, high yields, and were not maturing early enough for the relatively short northern latitude growing regions. The wines resulting from the new rootstocks exhibited good color but were very tannic. What was left of the remaining old vine Malbec vines in

Grape farmers have an issue of choosing the type of irrigation which will decrease the salinity of the soils but also provide enough water for their crops to thrive. How much irrigation water required to grow quality wine grapes depends upon the site, the stage of vine growth, row spacing, size of the vine’s canopy, and amount of rainfall occurring during the growing season. The structure and composition of the soil greatly affect the character of the grapes and help guide the Napa Valley grape growers as to which rootstocks and grape varieties to plant.

• Bordeaux is a relatively humid region. Thus it is a place rife with diseases and other problems that afflict vines, compared with many of the world's other wine regions, such as dry Chile or Australia. • In Bordeaux, the pruning of the vine happens almost always as cane-pruning (as opposed to spur-pruning). There are two types of cane-pruning: guyot simple and guyot double. • The use of chemicals and fertilizers has