Capercaillie F.A.Q
What does the word Capercaillie mean?
Capercaillie comes from the Gaelic ‘capull coille’ meaning ‘horse of the woods’. This is in fact the largest grouse in the world with well under 1,000 surviving in a tiny proportion of semi-natural Scottish pine forests. Their rapid decline in numbers partly due to deer steel mesh fences, predators finding Capercaillie eggs and chicks easy pickings and heavy felling of Scots pine forest has reduced their habitat.
Any suggestions for sweet wines?
If you are looking for sweet wines try our Moscato that’s lower alcohol, light and fruity or for something more luscious why not try or Dessert Gewürztraminer – it’s more floral, with pronounced rosewater, lychee and sweeter stone fruit flavours – perfect for fruit based desserts, pastries and fruit cheeses or our Vintage Fortified Shiraz for those extra rich, darker fruit characters that tops off a brilliant evening with chocolates, coffee, cheese boards and chocolate cake.
What’s the best temperature for serving wine?
All wines are served at different temperature ranges. Sparkling White Wines & Moscato – 6 – 8 degrees Celsius, Light and Crisp White Wines – 8 degrees Celsius, Fuller bodied White Wines like Chardonnay – 10 – 13 degrees Celsius, Rosé 8 – 10 degrees Celsius, Lighter bodied Red wines like Pinot Noir, Chambourcin – 10 – 13 degrees Celsius, Medium bodied wines like Merlot – 18 degrees Celsius, Fuller bodied wines like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon 18+ degrees Celsius.
What’s the best process for tasting wine?
In a well lit environment so we can evaluate the colours, legs, and clarity of the wine. Also we need some water to taste in between some wines so we can neutralize our palates and taste wines without feeling to dehydrated so we taste the best flavours and enjoyment factor. We also need an area away from heavy aromas that distract us from the aromatics of the wine.
How long can I store wine? What will I need?
You need an environment that has temperatures between 6 – 18 degrees Celsius. This will ensure that you can cellar a wine for the length of time that the manufacturer/winery has specified. Some wines are drink now styles which means you should ideally consume these wines with-in 12 – 18 months of purchase. Some wines will say you can keep them for Short term cellaring which could mean with correct temperatures holding onto the wine as long as up to 3 years. Medium term cellaring is used for wines that can be stored for up to 5 years and even up to 7 years. Long term cellaring would be a wine that could be kept under incredibly good conditions for periods as long as 15-20 years+.
What is the best way to save leftover wine?
We can save leftover wine a little longer by keeping an already opened bottle in the fridge with the stelvin screwcap fastened or cork closure securely positioned at the top of the bottle in-between drinking. The colder fridge temperatures preserves the wine a little longer as this slows the rate of oxidisation. Eventually a bottle of wine will become undrinkable due to acetic acid bacteria multiplying because of the oxygen that’s inside the opened bottle.
Where can I find the Vintage Date?
The Vintage date can be located on the bottle itself.
What is the controversy about sulfites and sulfite-free wine?
Having as little as possible additions of preservative 220 is a good way to go. Wines with good quality fruit and excellent wine making techniques usually come at a price because they can’t be mass produced due to costs. Buying a better quality wine from a boutique or smaller producer may mean you feel less negative affects like headaches, skin irritations or respiratory illnesses. Some individuals have varying affects to sulphites.
How do I know if a wine is corked?
A wine is corked if it is affected by ‘Cork Taint’. This is a condition called TCA. Trichloroanisol. TCA is a fungal metabolite of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, which is used as a fungicide. It can be found in minute traces on packaging materials stored in the presence of fiberboard treated with trichlorophenol. TCA is the chemical primarily responsible for cork taint in wines. TCA has also been implicated as a major component of the “Rio defect” in coffees from Central and South America, which refers to a taste described as medicinal, phenolic, or iodine-like. This kind of spoilage has been dramatically reduced by wineries in Australia and New World wineries using Stelvin Screw Cap lids. This method of sealing a bottle means wines don’t need to be cellared on their side or upside down and bottle variation is uncommon. Don’t think your wines are corked because you have tiny pieces of cork floating in your wine – if it’s a cork closure bottle – this doesn’t mean the wine is corked. Just unlucky that you have to sift through the wine to remove that annoying cork!
Are wine fridges a rip-off?
No – Wine fridges are known to keep wines at optimal temperatures so spoilage doesn’t occur and prolong the life of your wine purchases. Great if you are looking to keep wines for special occasions or for investment purposes.
What’s the best season to visit a winery?
Spring and Summer Time we have more visitation due to Festivals, Weddings, Bud Burst and Harvest Times when the vines are green, leafy and full of fruit.
What are your hours?
10am – 4.30pm Daily (except – Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day).
How do I place an order?
Via on-line website, by phone, fax or email directly to Capercaillie Wines.
How does your wine club work?
I would say… It’s free to join our Clan Club where you are entitled to receive 20% off your wines and free delivery Australia wide. Simply fill in your details on the provided form and look forward to selecting your own wines – minimum 1 x 6 pack twice a year (every October and April). Remember besides purchasing directly from our cellar door we don’t sell our wines in Wine Retail Outlets and during the year we do have exclusive member offers for even further discounts to reward our members. We also send you a welcome letter with keyring that has your unique Clan Club number so re-ordering is made easier over the phone or on-line.
Can I skip wine packs?
Yes, you can. As long as you have purchased 2 x 6 packs consecutively after your first year we allow a 1 skip per year option. We know some of us like to purchase wines whenever we feel like it and the times we contact you might not be convenient. You can always defer a wine purchase for another time and also can call in direct to our cellar door and pick up an order anytime during the year to keep your membership active.