AN INSIGHT INTO BOUTIQUE WINES AROUND THE WORLD

"Wine is Art"

People enjoy various types of art. Similarly, different tastes of wine are appreciated by different people. We find many ultra-premium and limited production wines in the market. These are called boutique wines. We cannot find one standard definition for boutique wines. It is said that if a winery turns out less than 5000 cases a year, it is a boutique winery. Some of the big wineries of the world produce a limited number of a particular wine, which may be considered as boutique wine. These are hard to find wines and have an amazing taste. They are stunning wines and hence, available very sparingly.

A generally accepted definition of boutique wine may be any wine that is produced in small quantity and is an expression of the passion of the winemaker. This can be better understood with examples. Louis Martini turns out about 150,000 cases of wine on an annual basis. However, only 800 cases of Folle Blanche are produced. Another great boutique wine is Tempranillo by Turnbull Winery. The Winery produces about 20000-25000 cases of wine a year but only 40-50 cases of Tempranillo.

The famous boutique wines of Australia are Hewitson’s Mourvedre Old Garden and Joseph’s Cabernet/Melot moda Amarone. Some famous Italian boutique wines are Sanct Valentin’s Sauvignon and GewYextraminer. New Zealand’s wines are savored all over the world. The varied climatic conditions offer a congenial backdrop for growing more than 20 varieties of grapes in the country.

We see that boutique wines can be found all over the world. The most important thing in a boutique wine is not just that it is produced in small quantities by the winery but the slightly different taste that the boutique wine gives thereby revealing the passion of its winemaker. A particularly different kind or different blend of grapes is revealed in every boutique wine.

A good vineyard is the birthplace of a great wine. The wineries producing boutique wines are famous for selecting their vineyards for their individuality. Each vineyard is selected on the basis of the fog patterns of the coast, solar orientation etc. These criteria enable the winemaker to ascertain the quality of the fruits to be turned out by the vineyard. Meticulous attention is paid to the processes of picking, fermentation and barrel ageing. This dedication enables the winery to turn out some spectacular boutique wines.

The wine making philosophy that goes behind these boutique wines is very special. The aim is to arrive at a judicious combination of the dual character. The fruits ripen in a very slow process through the moderate climate which enhances the fruit’s personality. This gives a depth to the taste of the wine.

There is little doubt that each of these boutique wines reflects the craftsmanship of the winemaker devoted to each vintage. The personal touch from the boutique winemakers makes all the difference. Good boutique wines reveal a fine balance between the vineyard and the wine. They are a pristine expression of the beautiful landscape in which their fruits are grown. Tasting the boutique wines broadens one’s wine-tasting experience. It brings a rare symphonic melody that continues to linger on your lips for a long time.

These boutique wines spin their web of magic in different ways. Some offer depth and complexity while some have an intensity and color to enjoy. There are wines that exemplify an awesome sense of purity. There are wines that are crisp and full of flavor. But one fact is undoubted that these boutique wines have one thing to offer in common - magic!!!!!

A very interesting aspect of boutique wines is kosher wines. Kosher wine is mostly a sweet tasting, dark-red colored wine. In recent years, with so many boutique wineries emerging, it has been difficult to see a corresponding rise in the number of kosher wines. Some truly great kosher wine is being produced in Israel. There are strict regulations which need to be adhered to in the process of making kosher wines. This has been on of the reasons to see little of this kind of wine. The regulation starts right from the grapes. Relatively new grapes are not used for kosher wines.

Only strictly observant Jews can participate in the wine-making process. Following this, even the tools and equipments used must be Kosher. No animal products are used during the wine making process. Non –Kosher wine production may sometimes see the addition of animal products like gelatin to give the clarity to the wine. In Kosher wine, clay material called bentonite is used for the same purpose. Some Kosher wines undergo one more step called “mevushal” or being pasteurized.

The Kosher wine industry has seen major changes. The initial conservatism has slowly given way to a more modern approach. Even the process of mevushal is slowly being replaced by a process of flash pasteurization. Now there are a lot of kosher winemakers turning out good kosher wines. Teperberg, in Israel has some great wines to its credit. Not all of these wines are available in the US. Meritage is one of the Teperberg wines available in the U.S, United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Today there are some top-quality Kosher wines being turned out of California (like those from Herzog, Hagafen), France, Italy and Barossa Valley in Australia.

Coming back to boutique wines, there can be no doubt over the fact that one tastes real passion and excitement in each bottle of boutique wine. There is the imprint of handmade finery in each bottle of boutique wine reflecting the personality of the winemaker till the very last sip. These wines are artisan wines that the wine makers want to share with wine lovers all over the world. The luscious texture, inviting aroma, integrated oak and a long-lingering finish are all the trade marks of classic boutique wines. People who enjoy these boutique wines are those who have discerning tastes and an undisputable passion for supreme quality in their selection of wines.