Wines made from Douce noire grapes
Discover the best wines made with Douce noire as a single variety or as a blend .
The douce noire, as its name indicates, is a black grape variety. It originated in the region between the valleys of the Isère and Saône rivers. Often in autumn, its foliage takes on a red hue. The bunches of the black sweet are larger than average. They are compact and winged. Spherical, its berries are of normal size. The flesh is juicy, soft and sweet. Although it is on the verge of extinction, this variety is still present in some Jura vineyards. Some call it corbeau, especially in Savoie, but it has other names such as gros noir, plant de Calarin and pecot. The sweet black is associated with an average budding and a late first ripening. Hardy and vigorous, it adapts to poorly irrigated soils. This variety produces a wine with low alcohol content, flat, soft and without much finesse. It should be consumed within the year. Sweet black is generally grown with Persian. It must be associated with other grape varieties to be better. Nowadays, this variety is not multiplied at all.
Given the sheer climatic diversity, the California 2022 harvest was a story of variability, specific varieties and varied approaches to making it all work out. Yields are down, nearly across the board. Still, winemakers and vineyard managers report high-quality fruit throughout the state, and the prediction is that the potential for fantastic, complex wines is high. There was tremendous variability up and down (as well as across) the state. An uneven growing season, with uneven effects throughou ...
Wine might have a centuries-long history, but its ever-changing trends still keep us on our toes. Decanter in partnership with Wine Access will discuss what’s en vogue and what’s next in the world of wine in a live webinar discussion on Wednesday, 4 May at 7pm ET/4pm PST/12 BST. Hosted by by Vanessa Conlin MW, head of wine at wine club & wine retailer Wine Access, this lineup boasts expertise in every aspect of the industry, from growing to winemaking to sales and fine dining. It includes s ...
Do growers make wine – or do markets? Growers, of course. Yet markets define the scope of the grower’s creative efforts by what they reward or sanction. When markets are neglectful and unresponsive, there’s little the grower can do but conform. It’s a problem the world over. Here’s an example. The river Moselle/Mosel rises to the wet west of the Vosges mountains, then curves in a long green arc heading north through Epinal, Metz and (along the left bank) Luxembourg’s Grand Duchy, turning east at ...