PHF Wine 101 - print

Pippin Hill’s
Principles of Wine

Viticulture

Virginia’s terroir consists of clay and loam based soil, high continentality, and
higher than average yearly precipitation.

We have three properties within the Monticello AVA where our vines reside:
5.5 acres at Pippin Hill, 16 acres at Clovergreen, and 20 acres at Grapelawn.

At each of these locations, we use a training program on the vines called “Vertical
Shoot Positioning” (VSP). With the vines trained upwards, it allows for maximum
sun exposure for the grape clusters, as well as airflow, ease of canopy management,
and efficient spray penetration.

A vine’s life cycle consists of dormancy, budbreak, flowering, fruitset,
veraison/ripening, and harvest. These are all very visual stages. Budbreak typically
begins in late March followed by the flowering stage (vines are self pollinating!)
Next is fruitset where the clusters being to form and fruit estimates can take
place. Throughout June - August, the grapes begin to swell with sugars and acidity,
and eventually start to change color which represents veraison. In the Northern
Hemisphere harvest typically takes place August through October.

Winemaking

After harvest, white wine grapes are crushed and pressed, meaning the juice is
immediately separated from the skins, seeds, and stems. Red grapes are crushed
and often ferment on the skins to extract color and tannin structure.

Fermentation is when yeast converts sugars into alcohol and releases carbon
dioxide.

After fermentation, the wine gets transferred into different vessels for aging.
Stainless steel vessels are typically used for wines where we want to preserve fresh
fruit aromas. Oak is used when wines need structure and to impart flavors of
cedar, toast, spice, and more.

In some cases, wines will also go through malolactic conversion (think buttery
Chardonnay!). This is where the tart and sharp malic acid is converted to a
creamier and soft lactic acid. Sediment is removed from wine through racking,
fining, and filtration and goes off to be bottled!

The 5 S’s of Wine Tasting

See - Observe the color and intensity
of the wine. Visual cues can help
detect age, grape variety, and
provenance.

Swirl - Swirling helps expose the wine
to oxygen to “open it up” and express
the full aromas and flavors.

Smell - Observe what smells come to
mind. Citrus, tropical fruits, herbs, and
flowers are a few example categories.

Sip - While sipping, observe any
additional flavors. You should also
observe the structures in wine such as
acidity, tannins, sweetness, body, and
alcohol level.

Savor - How long does the flavor last
in your mouth after swallowing the
wine? Detect whether there is a short
or long finish and what flavors remain
in the aftertaste.

Wine & Food Pairing

The characteristics of wines and certain foods play off of each other in amazing
ways. Knowing what works together and what usually doesn’t is an excellent way
to start planning your next dinner party. Contrasting pairings create balance by
contrasting tastes and flavors through the few shared flavor compounds.
Classic Wine & Food Pairing Rules:

- Match the weight of your food with the weight of the wine

- The wine should always be more acidic than the food

- Wine should be sweeter than the food to avoid making the wine seem
bitter

- Pair spicy foods with sweeter, low alcohol wines

- Most importantly, enjoy what you like!

Key Wine Terms

Acidity — the liveliness and crispness in wine

Balance — a term for when the elements of wine create a harmonious mouthfeel

Body — the weight and fullness of wine in the mouth

Complex — a wine exhibiting numerous odors, nuances, and flavors

Finish — the impression of textures and flavors lingering in the mouth after
swallowing wine

Legs — Droplets of wine that form inside the wine glass, pertaining to a higher
alcohol content and fuller body

Length — the amount of time that flavors persist in the mouth after swallowing
wine; a lingering sensation

Terroir — French for geographical characteristics unique to a given vineyard

Vintage — the year a wine is bottled—the yield of wine from a vineyard during
a single season

Take Notes

pippin hill farm & vineyards
5022 plank rd., north garden, va