The research of a Charles Sturt University PHD student is being applied to create the country’s first commercial production of low alcohol wines in Mudgee.
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Italian winemaker, Rocco Longo is working with Lowe Wines on the ground breaking red and white varieties.
His research centres around production techniques of low alcohol wines, which he believes are the future of the industry.
“Basically we try to investigate and implement some of the strategies investigated in the past so in this case what we are doing is reducing the alcohol (content) in wine by applying the double harvest technique,” he said.
Lowe Wines began production of a low alcohol Verdelho on Thursday after three years of experimental work by winemaker David Lowe.
“He [David Lowe] really believes in this project, it’s good to find producers who encourage research,” said Mr Longo who was matched with the winery through a research partnership.
“It’s a very interesting topic everywhere in the world I mean Spain or Italy, the United State they are approaching different techniques also in Asia they are doing lots of research in this field.
“Demand is increasing … we are sure consumers will accept reduced alcohol wine. We feel we can provide a similar product in terms of flavours to full bodied wines.”
He said an added challenge for winemakers is global warming.
“Unfortunately the climate is changing and you’re going to have more sugar accumulation, more sugar means more ethanol, less flavour – this is the problem,” Mr Longo said.
“Global warming is effecting the vine physiology, in the past 20 years we have seen significant change in terms of harvest date it’s happening two weeks later than it was 20 years ago.
“And winemakers are finding it very challenging to make wine because they can’t find the optimum level of sugar and acidity and aroma compounds, so I guess it’s the future. If we can provide consumers with a wine that has less alcohol but a great aromatic profile we’re going to achieve.”
Lowe Wines low alcohol white and red varieties are expected to be available by June.