Straw wine
Under the classic method, after a careful hand harvest, selected bunches of ripe grapes will be laid out on mats in full sun.
In cooler, damper regions, the entire drying process takes place indoors in huts, attics or greenhouses with the bunches lying on racks or hanging up with good air circulation.
Traditionally, most production of these wines has been in Greece, the islands of Sicily, Cyprus, Northern Italy and the French Alps.
Excavations in Cyprus on the Neolithic site at Erimi have revealed that sweet wine was made there some 6000 years ago.
The process of making raisin wines was described by the Greek poet Hesiod in mainland Greece around 800 BC.
[4] Barossa Valley producer, Turkey Flat Vineyards has been experimenting with this style since 2002 with their 100% Marsanne named 'The Last Straw'.
Air-dried on racks for approximately six weeks it is fermented in new oak and then bottle post-fermentation to retain freshness.
[10] Perhaps the best known example is made in the Cotes du Jura (Arbois and sometimes L'Étoile) from a blend of Chardonnay, Savagnin and the red grape Poulsard.
Traditionally the grapes are placed indoors on straw mats for up to three months, and the final wine has 10-20% residual sugar.
Cyprus[12] Commandaria claims descent from the native Cypriot wine served at the wedding of King Richard the Lionheart, just after he conquered the island, and then produced by the Knights Templar at La Grande Commanderie in Cyprus after they purchased it from him, and hence claims to be oldest named wine still in production.
Monemvasia-Malvasia is a recreation of the famous Malmsey or Malvasia wine traded by the Venetians and made originally here in the Southeast Peloponnese.
Vinsanto, the hallmark dessert wine of the island of Santorini, is made of the choicest Assyrtiko grapes, usually blended with small quantities of Aidani and Athiri.
Producers include: Argyros, Artemis Karamolegos, Boutari, Gaia, Hadjidakis, Canava Roussos, Santo Wines, Sigalas and Venetsanos Winery.
Other famous passiti include Malvasia delle Lipari Passito D.O.C., Vin Santo in Tuscany, Recioto around Verona, the historical (made since Roman times) Caluso Passito made from Erbaluce grapes from the Canavese region in Piedmont and Sciachetrà from the Cinque terre east of Genoa.
Fermentation may stop for several reasons including low nutrient levels, high alcohol, and Botrytis metabolites.
Recioto della Valpolicella is regarded as a good companion to chocolate desserts because of the high acidity in cocoa.
In a few hectares of this small area in the core of Prosecco, only a few thousand bottles of Refrontolo passito, a Denominazione of Colli di Conegliano DOCG, are produced.
The name comes from the word, recie that in the native Venetian language means 'ears', a reference to this variety's habit of forming two small clusters of extra-ripe grapes sticking out of the top of the main bunch, that were preferred for this wine.
It is produced in Breganze, along the Strada (or Wine Road) between the Astico and Brenta rivers, in the strip of land between the city of Bassano del Grappa and the Valdastico valley.
Typically produced in the hilly area around Nimis closed to Udine by Verduzzo Friulano grapes, is sweet full-bodied and honey taste.
Pedro Ximénez grapes are dried in the sun before being vinified, fortified and matured in a solera system like other sherries.
Stony Hill winery, a Chardonnay producer in the Napa Valley, makes a 100% Semillon in the Italian passito style.
[citation needed] Qupé, in Santa Barbara County, makes a vin de paille from 100% Marsanne, sourced from the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard.
[citation needed] Barboursville Vineyards in Virginia produces a straw wine in the Italian passito style, based on Moscato Ottonel and Vidal grapes.
[17] Potomac Point Winery, also in Virginia, produces a straw wine based on the Petit Manseng grape.
[18][19] Likewise, King Family Vineyards in Crozet, Virginia produces a 100% Petit Manseng in the vin de paille style, called "Loreley".
[21] Ravines Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes produces a vin de paille from Chardonnay grapes.
The cool climate of the Finger Lakes gives the grapes a good acidity like the Jura region of France.
[22] Silver Springs Winery in the Finger Lakes produces a vin de paille from 100% Cayuga White and 100% Pinot Grigio.
