Tag Archives: slate

Sunday Read: The Robotic Savior of Slate?

Today’s Sunday Read returns to Germany, as I just stumbled across this fascinating article on Vinography. Apparently, the University of Geisenheim, Germany’s elite school for winemaking, has developed what appears to be a cross between a Mars Rover and a tractor to work the Mosel’s steep slopes. It looks pretty futuristic, and could be easier to handle than the rail-driven carts I wrote about earlier.

It’s still a prototype, but who knows what good it will end up doing? Fascinating stuff for sure. Also, the article contains some breathtaking photos of steep Mosel vineyards. So even if you don’t care about “Geisi” the rover, check out the photos.

Happy Sunday!

Vinography: The Robotic Savior of Slate?

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Sunday Read: Minerality. A Reductive Phenomenon?

Let’s get all science-y this Sunday and explore the topic of minerality. It is one of those buzzwords that winemakers as well as sales people and wine drinkers love to throw around. In that context, it is usually used with slate-y soils that somehow are supposed to translate into minerality aromas in the wine.

The Wine Doctor looked into that in September and starts out by pointing out that that is most likely not the direct cause for this aroma to appear. His take in this post is that it might be connected to reductive winemaking practices. The connector to soil is that he believes these chemical reactions are more likely achieved in wines from rather rocky soils. So there is a connection, but no direct link.

While I have no clue about chemistry (literally: I got an F in every single term paper I wrote in chemistry and dropped it as soon as I could), I did appreciate this article and how it was explained. While the mystery of what is minerality remains, I know I sure enjoy it when I find it!

Have a great Sunday!!

The Wine Doctor: Minerality. A Reductive Phenomenon?

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