Bubbles!

Wine is a craft that involves both a creative touch and a scientific sense. In this weeks issue we go over the basics of fermentation, why gaseous bubbles form, and why they sometimes stay in your wine. Also featured in this week’s issue is a wine to pour yourself during your next bubble bath, so break out the bath bomb, sit back, and relax.

P.S. We’re hoping to resume our interview series now that harvest is winding down!

Fermentation 101

Grapes are picked, barrels are full, and harvest 2023 is beginning to come to a close along the central coast. Fermentation is underway. What exactly is fermentation you may ask? In the most simple terms, fermentation is what actually turns grape juice into alcoholic wine. This process is kickstarted by yeast mixed in with grape must (crushed fruit juice with skins, seeds, and sometimes stems). The yeast begin to eat the sugars in the juice and turn the natural sugars into carbon dioxide and ethanol. The carbon dioxide bubbles are what you hear in the video below! This is wine ASMR at its finest…

Believe it or not, there’s thousands of different types of yeast to use during fermentation and each will affect the flavor profile of the wine differently. A lot of natural wines utilize wild yeasts that are found in the vineyards or on the grapes themselves. However, these wild yeasts can sometimes make the wine unpredictable and difficult to manage. Meanwhile, other winemakers choose to create their own cultured yeasts to impart specific flavor profiles.

One of the more popular fermentation techniques is carbonic maceration. This method involves filling tank with carbon dioxide first, then adding whole cluster grapes which causes the grapes to ferment from the inside out. Ultimately this tends to create a more fruit forward and zippy wine that may feel effervescent on the palette. The modern form of carbonic maceration was actually founded in the Beaujolais region. (Check out our events section to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day this week!)

There are many different techniques to making sparkling wine, but essentially sparkling wine captures the carbon dioxide. The wine being used to make sparkling goes through a second round of fermentation in the bottle, trapping the carbon dioxide bubbles rather than letting them escape into the air. That build up of carbon dioxide gas creates a bubbly beverage and an excuse to send the cork flying across the room in celebration!

Uncorked

Jumbo Time Wines Bath Time

This fun label perfectly represents the light and fruity 100% Grenache made by Jumbo Time Wines. It is a low alcohol wine from Zabala Vineyard in Arroyo Seco made by two L.A. based friends. We love how crushable these bottles are too, at half the size of a standard wine bottle. Slightly chill and pop open next time you draw yourself a bubble bath!

Nose: raspberry, red currant

Palette: bubblegum, cherry

Pairs well with: salmon sushi

Available at: Buddy’s Wine in Ventura

What’s happening? A LOT :)

• Beaujolais Nouveau at Bodega: Bodega in Los Alamos will have a lineup of nouveau wines paired with a menu by the stellar Priedite Barbecue and Michelin star rated Bells! Thursday, November 16th 4-6 PM

• Nouveau Party at Revolver: If you didn’t get enough nouveau at Bodega, Ashkahn wines will be featured with Revolver’s pizza in Santa Barbara on Friday, November 17th from 6-9 PM.

• Sustainable Soiree with Wine Cult: Our friends at Wine Cult are co-hosting a holiday themed sustainable soiree with other sustainable focused brands in Santa Barbara. They will be curating a wine bar specifically for the event on Friday, November 17th from 5-7 PM at Sunkissed Pantry.

• National Zinfandel Day with J Dusi and Mama Ganache: Stop by Region in San Luis Obispo on November 17th to celebrate National Zinfandel Day with some central coast Zinfandel from J Dusi and Mama Genache. Tickets are $16 and include a tasting.

• Wine + Cats with Cat Therapy: Do you love wine and cats? So do we! Join Cat Therapy Santa Barbara for a special event featuring Margerum Wines this Friday, November 17th at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $60 purr person.

• Clean Slate Wine Bar Presents Winemaker Meet & Drink: Join Fidencio Flores of Esfuerzo Wines for two glasses of wine, each paired with a delicious plate. This event is $49/person on November 17th from 4-9 PM at Clean Slate Wine Bar in Solvang.

• Friendsgiving at Buddy’s Wines: On Friday, November 17th there will be food, music, and good wine flowin’ at Buddy’s Wines in Ventura. Food starts at 6 PM and music starts at 7 PM, but Buddy’s will gladly pour you some wine starting at 3 PM.

• Sichuan Kitchen Popup: Hoping to avoid cooking after Thanksgiving with family and friends? Stop by Saints Barrel in San Luis Obispo from 5-9 PM on Saturday, November 25th to enjoy wine and Sichuan food.

Cheers!

Issue #21