Hot Days, Cool Nights, and Moderate Rainfall

This is the wine lover's prayer... and the investor's credo.

Those who grow the grapes, those who buy the grapes, those who make the wine and most importantly, those who drink the resulting elixir all want Mother Nature to bestow hot days, cool nights and moderate rainfall onto the vineyards of the world.

Water is important to all living things, yet the grape can be reduced in flavour if it gets too much water, or wither on the vine from too little. Withering can impart a raison-y or sweet outcome to the wine and this must be taken into consideration by the vigneron.

The vigneron may choose what grape variety is suitability in their location based on the land and weather, but also their preference; their choice of dry or sweet wine, whether white or red, can reflect their personality and understanding of growing the best grape for the job. For example, the tough stemed Reisling grape loves the cool conditions of the German slopes and chilly weather, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon love days of endless sun - hot and dry. And if you loved dry wine, why would you product sweet?

The topography of the vineyard has a part to play: does the slope face the cool canyon air or does the angle of incline cause rainwater to run off before being absorbed by the plants? The art of matching the variety of grape to the topography of the vineyard - planting for the best orientation of the grapes to the elements, is called site selection.

Every August investors, wine critics, bloggers, sommeliers, retailers and interested parties descend upon Bordeaux, France for the first sip of the new harvest's juice. From this immature taste, these individuals will decide which of the region's grapes promise the best wine for aging, where the real money lies. Dedicated investor's have been studying how many hot days and cool nights the region has received, and they know how much rain the grapes drank. They concentrate on specific vineyard's product based on the tally of the taste. Since a perfect growing season is so rare, one must gamble on the state of the grape and hope that the winemaker can bring out the best in his crop. They swirl, sip, swish and spit. Then they buy.