Ever Wonder? How is the Best Way to Remove the Foil from a Wine Bottle?

When you open a bottle of wine, the first line of defense on the bottle is usually a foil ‘capsule’ that covers the cork. If you have a wine bottle with a twist-off cap, you’re good-to-go. But, if your wine bottle does include a foil capsule, you are going to need to remove it to get to the cork.

Ever wondered how best to remove the foil? Well, there are several methods that include just tearing it off my hand, pulling the capsule up and off the neck of the bottle or just inserting the cork screw directly into the foil and pulling the cork out through the foil. But, let’s focus on two preferred methods - using a wine opener knife and using a specially designed foil cutter.

A Sommelier (a wine steward) will usually use the small knife that unfolds from the end of a corkscrew (see the lower part of photo). This handy little knife can be used to cut around the neck of the bottle just below the rim. Once you’ve cut into the foil, it will come right off and expose the cork for its removal.

The other, simpler method of removing the foil is to use a specially designed foil cutter (shown in the middle and upper part of the photo). They work by simply placing the cutter on top of the bottle, squeezing gently and twisting it around the top of the bottle. The four small circular blades will make a nice even cut around the foil allowing the top of the capsule to come right off.

Like most everything, not all corkscrews and foil cutters are the same. Make the small investment in a nice quality one and it will not only work well but last for years. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Esporao Bico Amarelo

2021 Bico Amarelo ($12)

Herdade do Esporão is part of the Alentejo’s montado ecosystem (cork oak forests), in Portugal. With approximately 700 hectares of vineyards and around 40 grape varieties, they grow using organic methods and integrated production.

Quinta do Ameal, in the region of Vinho Verde, is a historic property cradled in the Lima sub-region that has been registered since 1710.

The main grape varieties used to produce this wine are Loureiro, Alvarinho and Avesso which are all common to the Vinho Verde region.

It was fermented at a controlled temperature (10-15ºC) for 12 to 15 days then aged in contact with the lees for about 4 to 6 months in stainless steel vats.

This Bico Amarelo is medium gold in color with some subtle green tones. It has delicate aromas of citrus and floral notes. On the palate it is dry (1.5 g/l RS) and light-bodied with flavors of citrus and nectarine and finishes with refreshing acidity.

This Bico Amarelo from Vinho Verde Portugal is a great value which makes it a perfect fit as this week’s
Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Esporão and Now Wine Imports via Creative Palate

Get to Know the Pinots -- Pinot Noir

In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!) and looked at the least known of the Pinots, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. Now let’s look at the most notable of the Pinots - Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir’s name is derived from the French words for pine and black. The word pine refers to the shape of the tightly clustered, pinecone–shaped bunches of fruit, while noir (black) comes from the dark colored grapes.

Pinot Noir is probably best known as the “red” wine in Burgundy and least known as one of the three primary varietals in the making of Champagne.

Pinot Noir is the world’s most popular light-bodied red wine that is low in tannin. It’s also a favorite for the production of rosé wines and can also be found as a white wine!

Cluster of Pinot Noir Grapes

The most common flavors of Pinot Noir include cherry, cranberry and raspberry. But, its flavors tend to be highly dependent on terroir (i.e., where it is grown). Pinot is grown around the world and most notably in France, USA (California and Oregon), Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

Because Pinot Noir has such delicate aromas, it is generally recommended that it be served in a large round bell-shaped glass. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Quinta do Ameal Loureiro

2021 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro ($18)

The Quinta do Ameal is a historic estate in the Vinho Verde, a well-known wine region in the northwest Portugal. The quality of the wines made there are so fresh and light that they earned the nickname verde which means ‘green.’

This wine is produced from the Loureiro (lou-REH-row) grape which dates back to the late 18th Century. The name Loureiro means "laurel" and refers to the distinctive aroma of the berries.

The grapes for this wine were manually harvested and then pressed. Fermentation was temperature controlled (50-59 F) for 12 to 15 days in stainless steel vats. It then spent seven months on lees also in stainless steel tanks.

This Ameal Loureiro is pale straw in color with aromas of citrus and herbs. On the palate it has mouth-watering acidity, medium flavors of citrus and green apple, some minerality and a lingering finish.

This wine has been receiving 90+ point rating from Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker, Wine&Spirits and Decanter and gets a big thumbs-up here as a delicious and affordable Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Now Wine Imports via Creative Palate

Get to Know the Pinots -- Pinot Gris

In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!) and looked at the least known of the Pinots, Pinot Meunier. Now, let’s take a look at Pinot Gris.

A member of the extended Pinot family of grape varieties, Pinot Gris (PEE-no GREE) is a mutation of Pinot Noir that has skins that are not green like other white grape. And, in the vineyard, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir varieties look identical right up until veraison (when the grapes begin to ripen and change color). This is when Pinot Gris berries take on colors from orange-pink to pale, dusty purple. In fact, the word gris is French for "gray" and refers to the dusty, light-gray sheen the grapes usually take on.

Pinot Gris Grapes

And, by the way, Pinot Gris is simply the French name for the grape that Italian’s refer to as Pinot Grigio. So, they are both the same but, as with all wines, they can taste different based their terrior (i.e., soil, climate, topography).

Pinot Gris wine is typically pale gold in color with aromas and flavors of citrus, pear, green apple, white peach and nectarine. There can also be herbal and spice notes along with floral and honey. It tends to be high in acidity.

So, next time we’ll look at yet another Pinot - Pinot Blanc. Cheers!