Brian McGuigan, founder of McGuigan Simeon Wines Ltd. One of the largest wine companies of Australia, is so convinced that low-alcohol, light floral flavours are going to be so popular both stylistically and politically that he has embarked on a major planting programme, reports Decanter which quotes his winemaker brother Neil McGuigan, 'We're going to take Sunshine in a bottle into the floral phase.'
The new planting will include over 1000ha of mixed varieties – Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay in Swan Hill, Victoria. Another 120ha will be planted in the Adelaide Hills.
In what may turn out to be a gamble, McGuigan is planting other aromatics such as Muscat, Viognier and Albarinho and possibly Verdejo. He feels that the world, especially Western Europe, is moving towards low alcohol wines as governments like France and the UK are clamping down on alcohol abuse.
'This is of paramount importance. We have to put something in their path. Suddenly they will realise that low alcohol is just what they are looking for and they will say, "this is what we need!"'
The Challenge of Red Wines
While achieving lower-alcohol whites is comparatively easy, doing the same with reds is a major challenge – but McGuigan reckons with site selection and vineyard management they might achieve levels of 12.5%.
'It's all in the vineyard. If we can bring it down by even half a percent, it is a big-selling wine.'
Lowering of alcohol is not a decision arising out of passion as higher alcohols are not good for health and not as food friendly as the lower alcohol level wines. It is all about predicting the consumer trends and he is betting on the expected change. Says McGuigan, 'Back in 2002 we saw there would be a movement away from the fruit driven, oaky wines of the 90s.'
The UK Wine and Spirit Trade Association said it was in favour of exploring low-alcohol options. A study indicates that consumers are interested in having the option to choose lower alcohol wines. The UK Government and the Scottish Executive are both seeking to encourage the Alcohol Drinks Industry to provide a wider range of lower alcohol products.'
The company is innovative in reading and making trends. Recently it brought McGuigan Vineyards to the cities of Sydney and London to attract consumers to their wines.
Planting so many aromatic varieties in an area already being threatened by warming temperature, this may not be an easy task but certainly a step in the right direction. The Australian wines some of whom pride themselves of alcohols as high as 15%, could do with the efforts of one of the largest wineries owned in Australia.
|