La Crescent grapes from Vermont’s Sunset Vista Vineyards require specific winemaking approaches to balance their high acidity and aromatic potential. Here’s our structured guide to crafting a balanced, consumer-friendly white wine:
Primary Considerations
Harvest Timing
- Target window: Mid-September to early October, when Brix reaches 22–25° (pH ~3.1, TA ~11–14 g/L tartaric acid)14.
- Key considerations:
Yeast Selection
- Lallemand QA23 Enhances peach/apricot esters at 55–58°F (13–14°C); low nitrogen demand4.
- Lalvin 71B Reduces malic acid by ~30%, softening acidity3.
- SVG/C Emphasizes tropical fruit notes; moderate TA reduction3.
Malolactic Fermentation (MLF)
- Recommendation: Avoid full MLF to preserve citrus/tropical aromas5.
- Partial MLF option: Conduct 10–20% conversion to lower acidity without introducing buttery diacetyl5.
Oak Integration
- Neutral oak chips: Use lightly toasted chips for 2–4 weeks to improve protein stability (56% haze reduction) and add subtle vanilla67.
- Alternative: Ferment in neutral barrels for 1–2 weeks to reduce bentonite needs6.
SO₂ Management
- Crush 50 ppm KMBS to inhibit wild microbes4.
- Post-Fermentation 25–30 ppm free SO₂; adjust based on pH (lower pH requires less)4.
- Bottling 35–50 ppm free SO₂; add potassium sorbate if residual sugar >1%4.
Additional Considerations
By prioritizing aromatic yeast, restrained oak, and precise SO₂/sugar balancing, Sunset Vista can highlight La Crescent’s signature peach, citrus, and floral notes while achieving a crisp, approachable profile.
Citations:
- https://www.extension.iastate.edu/wine/grape-variety-la-crescent/
- https://winemakermag.com/technique/making-lacrescent-wine-tips-from-the-pros
- https://blog.juicegrape.com/index.php/2023/06/understanding-la-crescent/
- https://winemakermag.com/article/la-crescent-hybrid
- https://fermentaholics.com/mlf-what-is-malolactic-fermentation-in-wine/
- https://www.extension.iastate.edu/wine/neutral-oak-barrel-fermentation-improves-protein-stability-in-la-crescent-wine/
- https://makewinebrewbeer.com/pages/to-oak-or-not-to-oak
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- https://www.chateaustcroix.com/wines
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- https://scottlab.com/aromatic-white-wine-style-guide
- https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstreams/10715e87-0172-4da6-8f59-ce5e8b001160/download
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- https://midwestwinepress.com/2013/05/12/la-crescent-grape/
- http://umassfruitnotes.com/v85n2/a5.pdf
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- https://www.starkbros.com/products/berry-plants/grape-vines/la-crescent-grape
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- https://www.nevinesupply.com/white-wine
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