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Noisy Water Winery

Chelsie Pickard
 
July 29, 2019 | Chelsie Pickard

Wine Terms 101, Learning the Tasting Room Lingo

At Noisy Water Winery, we make wine, grow our grapes, and take our craft seriously. In fact, our mission statement says exactly that!

It also states that we believe people should drink wine for fun! Not for prestige or approval from others. 

That being said, there are some commonly used wine terms that can make discussing wine seem a bit intimidating to some. Letting fancy language scare you away from wine could lead to a huge disaster -- like missing out on some of the best wines you’ve ever had in your life.
 

That’s why we put together this list to help you decode 10 basic wine terms (and ease your wine anxiety at your next tasting). 
Acidity

Acidity generally refers to the tart, sour, crisp, or fresh tasting characteristics of wine. Have you ever drank a refreshing glass of lemonade that made your mouth pucker or salivate? The same concept applies to wine. A wine with a high acid level will have a lower pH than a wine with a low acid level. 
As wine ages, acidity can also help with preservation since low pH wines ward off the growth of bacteria. This term is usually used to describe white wines (Tighty Whitey), although some red wines can also contain higher acidity (like our 2017 Sangiovese).
 
Aroma

Aroma refers to the smell of the wine in your glass, also called a wine’s “nose.” To examine the aroma of your wine, swirl your glass for several seconds to lift the wine’s scent upward. Then, stick your nose in the glass and give it a good whiff! The aroma of wine can be tropical, fruity, spicy, earthy, buttery, floral, herbal, and more.
 
Body

When talking about a wine’s body, one is referring to how heavy or light a wine feels inside the mouth. Wine can have a light, medium, or full body. A good comparison is to think of the weight of skim milk (light-bodied), whole milk (medium-bodied), and cream (full-bodied) inside of your mouth. Wines with higher alcohol content generally have a fuller body. 
 
 
Complexity

Wines with complexity have many different layers of characteristics to be discovered with each sip. Have you ever tasted wine and discovered several flavors in the glass? Was it fruity, yet spicy, while also earthy? This means that the wine has high complexity.  
 
Fermentation

Fermentation is a process that occurs in winemaking where yeast converts the sugars present in grape juice into alcohol. Fermentation can take place in stainless steel tanks, wine barrels, or inside of the wine bottle itself once bottling is complete.
 
 
Fortified

When a wine is fortified, a distilled fruit spirit is added into the wine that gives it a higher alcohol content and a distinct taste. Wine was originally fortified to help with preservation since alcohol wards off bacteria. In fact, Sherry, a type of fortified wine, may have been created as early as 1260 AD. Fortified wines are still enjoyed centuries later due to their unique taste. 
2016 Alliance is made with sweet white grapes that have been fermented with brandy
 
Legs

Legs or “tears” are the droplets or streaks that form on the inside of your wine glass as you swirl it around. Legs relate to the alcohol in wine, which has a smaller surface tension than the rest of the liquid inside your glass, causing it to run down the sides. Wine with a higher alcohol content will have slower, thicker tears or legs. Try our Big Legs Red to see this phenomenon in action!
See the Legs in Action
 
Port or Port-like

Port wines are sweet wines (usually red) from Portugal that have been fortified with brandy. Port-like wines refer to wines fortified with the same method that aren’t from the Portugal region. Port and port-like wines usually have hints of dark fruits, caramel, cinnamon, or chocolate. 
 
Sweet Temptation is a  "Port-Like" fortified wine where we have taken Ruby Cabernet grapes and infused with brandy for a dark and fruity traditional port-like wine. 
 
Tannin

Tannins are bitter compounds commonly found in nature. Tannin, also known as tannic acid, is present in tea, oak, plants, coffee, dark chocolate, cranberries, leaves, fruit skins, and more. Tannins are also found in wine thanks to grape skins, seeds, stems, and aging barrels, making the wine taste “dry” or astringent. 
 
 
Varietal

When talking about a wine varietal, one is usually referring to wine produced from a specific grape variety. For example, a Pinot Noir varietal wine is made primarily with Pinot Noir grapes, a world-famous grape that originated from France. 
 
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Time Posted: Jul 29, 2019 at 11:00 PM Permalink to Wine Terms 101, Learning the Tasting Room Lingo Permalink
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Sam Freed
 
June 25, 2019 | Sam Freed

Our New Mural at Noisy Water Winery

Giant Mural at Noisy Water Winery
painted by Austin, TX based artist Lucas Aoki

In May, the Village of Ruidoso spearheaded a beautification project by commissioning artists from around the country to paint murals throughout Midtown Ruidoso - 
and we happily donated our wall!
↓

Artist Bio
"I grew up near the mountains of Cordoba, Argentina where I developed a great love for the outdoors. You can see this reflected in my artwork. Making art, traveling, cooking, swimming and biking are just some of the things I enjoy doing. I lived in New York for a while and later moved to Austin where I decided to get back to drawing while teaching myself to paint. Since moving to Austin, I have learned a lot about myself and the
magical world of art. I have found that the experience of painting murals and collaborating with other artists have added new elements to my life. There are always new challenges and things to learn. Making art can be intimidating at times, but so fun and rewarding."
- Lucas Aoki
See More from Lucas on his social media pages and website
↓
 
 
Check out our wines with labels commissioned by other artists
 
2017 Blackbird Merlot
2017 Blackbird Merlot
2017 Riesling
2017 Riesling
Big Legs Red
Big Legs Red
2017 Demigod
2017 Demigod
Time Posted: Jun 25, 2019 at 4:12 PM Permalink to Our New Mural at Noisy Water Winery Permalink
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Sam Freed
 
June 17, 2019 | Sam Freed

Getting to the Bottom of the Bottle

 
From vine to wine, a lot more goes into bottling than you may think!

Below is a breakdown of everything that happens throughout the process from tank to case - with plenty of pictures!
 
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First things first, we clean everything! Hoses, pumps, the filter, we even disassemble filler heads and clean individual parts again. 
 
"Ensuring clean product and preserving the quality of the wine is our number one priority when moving wine across containers."
 
- Fabian Olvera
(Assistant Winemaker)
Once all components have been cleaned, a steamer is attached to the bottling line and sterilizes everything that comes in contact with the wine. Next, hoses are attached to holding tanks and the wine is pumped from the tank → through the filter to ensure there is no yeast or bacteria in the bottle →  and into the filling tank on the bottling line.
 

The bottling line is then turned on, and our wine making crew (affectionately dubbed the Cellar Rats) take their positions as the glass is dumped onto the conveyor belt.
 

The glass enters the filler-station and is sparged with nitrogen. The nitrogen sparges and displaces the oxygen (enemy #1) in the bottle.
sparge:
/spärj/
verb 
gas flushing; process of using gas to absorb and carry a contaminant with it as it rises to the surface and is vented away from both the process stream and vessel.
 

The sparged bottles then move onto pedestals that rotate and the bottle is filled. These pedestals raise the empty bottle upward into the filler heads, opening them and filling the bottle with wine from the filler tank.
 

The next step is corking the bottle, simple enough, right?

The newly filled bottle is conveyed to the corker but we are still fighting with enemy #1 - oxygen! So as the bottle is being corked, the corker creates a vacuum in the head space while simultaneously pushing/pulling the cork into the bottle, to top it all off - literally!
 

For quality control, Jr. uses a vacuum pressure gauge every so often to test whether the bottles are being properly sealed to ensure there is sufficient negative pressure in head space in each bottle.
 

The bottle now moves to the capsule machine where it passes through a laser that triggers the capsule to be blown onto the bottle neck.
 

The capsule is secured and made snug by rollers to prevent creases. This ensures that is remains in place until you're ready to get into your wine!
 

It then passes through the labeler, and your Jo Mamma's Mango Tango, with her fresh new look, is cased and ready for you to order that "sweet" wine! 
Time Posted: Jun 17, 2019 at 9:55 AM Permalink to Getting to the Bottom of the Bottle Permalink
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Zibby Wilder
 
May 21, 2019 | Zibby Wilder

Santa Fe Reporter

Grapes Expectations

"there's a unity now, within the industry, to get New Mexico wines on the map versus fighting over whose wine is better, especially over the past three to four years. There are a lot of bridges being built"

- Jasper Riddle

...read the full article!

 

Time Posted: May 21, 2019 at 1:08 PM Permalink to Santa Fe Reporter Permalink
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Sam Freed
 
May 6, 2019 | Sam Freed

Malbec Barrels

There are a lot of subtleties that go into creating the right flavor profiles in our wine, watch Fabian and JR add some Ambrosia ZigZags from @TNCoopers to a barrel of 2017 Malbec.

Time Posted: May 6, 2019 at 11:59 AM Permalink to Malbec Barrels Permalink
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Sam Freed
 
April 25, 2019 | Sam Freed

Keto Friendly Wines

 
 
Six Keto Friendly Wines
from Noisy Water Winery
⎮
▽
 
True amongst the majority of diets and meal plans, there is an advisement to not drink alcohol. Luckily we've found a workaround for those living the Keto Lifestyle!!!
 
What is the Keto Diet? In short, it is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb meal plan that puts your body in ketosis, making your body extremely efficient at burning fats for energy.
"Ok, NWW how does this apply to wine!?"
 
Well, we're glad you asked!
 
Sugar is the enemy when it comes to ketosis and your body's efficiency at fat burning, so our workaround...1-2 two glasses of wine PER NIGHT that has a very low residual sugar, less than 5g of sugar per glass

Typically this is going to apply to most of your dry red wines (sorry you sweet drinkers, but don't worry we haven't forgotten you). Look below to see our  recommendations on what you might like! ⇣⇣⇣
 

 
OUR KETO FRIENDLY WINES!
 

 
This Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, the pinnacle varietal of dry red wine, is aged in French Oak for 18 months showcases the beauty of this fruit. 
 
This classic varietal finds its name from the word "Blackbird" in French (Merle). Our homage to the origin of these grapes is stylistically portrayed in this '17 vintage. 
Doing the impossible in NM: Producing amazing Pinot Noir in one of the USA's toughest growing regions for this grape. Pair with delicate cuts of meat & aged cheeses.
 
Well balanced citrus with nuances of orchard fruit. Clean and crisp, yet electrifying. Great for the upcoming hot afternoons!
Finding the perfect balance of butter and oak: A Chardonnay for all Chardonnay drinkers to love on a hot afternoon or in the mountain breeze!
Well balanced citrus with nuances of orchard fruit. Clean and crisp, yet electrifying. Great for the upcoming hot afternoons!
 
Buy all 6! Shipping's on Us!
 
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Time Posted: Apr 25, 2019 at 9:18 AM Permalink to Keto Friendly Wines Permalink
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Bailey Riddle
 
April 16, 2019 | Bailey Riddle

New Vineyard in Engle, NM

We have big news...


We're taking on a not-so-new vineyard!
 
 

Noisy Water Winery is taking over one of the oldest vineyards in New Mexico in a small town just outside of Truth or Consequences called Engle.  This old vineyard is filled with acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, and the biggest, baddest Cabernet Sauvignon vines you've ever seen! 

We're already in the process of pruning, implementing more sustainable water practices, and planting seeds to create a more biodynamic vineyard environment.
If you haven't already guessed, the man on the right is Jasper's uncle, Richard. Uncle Richard has over 40 years of experience in farming and will be taking over vineyard management... or, as he likes to tell us, he'll be "out standing in his field"... Get it?
 
If you'd like to stay up on the progress we are making and see some awesome footage of the vineyard as we go through the process of bringing life back to this vineyard, subscribe to our new YouTube channel!
YouTube
YouTube
Since you're already here
CHECK OUT OUR WINE LIST

Or keep up with our story on:
Time Posted: Apr 16, 2019 at 11:54 AM Permalink to New Vineyard in Engle, NM Permalink
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Bailey Riddle
 
April 11, 2019 | Bailey Riddle

The Story of Demigod
Demigod

It's sort of weird story ↓

Our 2017 Demigod, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is a homage to the first lover of wine: the mythical Roman God, Bacchus.

The story goes like this: Bacchus is born part mortal/part god or what we would call a Demigod. He is said to be the god of grape harvest, wine, fertility, and, our favorite, ritual madness. 
 
What is meant by ritual madness? It is apparently characterized by maniacal dancing, whirling, screaming, and a sort of trippy, out of body experience. It is also described as "diving deep into the ecstasy of drunkenness". 

Demigod entices us in with ripe cherries on the nose, turns to rich dark fruit and vanilla on the palate and leaves us longing with a silky-smooth finish.  It is bright and dangerously easy to drink!

Beware: ritual madness may emerge after consumption. 

The label was drawn by local tattoo artist, Isa Dykhoff.  She also tattooed this image on someone from the winery... any guesses who?  

**Wine was consumed prior to this decision.
 

Demigod is celebration of harvest, wine, and the ritual madness we reserve for special occasions... like Thursday night... you know, a rare event. 


Cheers & Viva Vino friends!
 
SHOP OUR DRY REDS
 
Want to be friends? We do!
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Time Posted: Apr 11, 2019 at 1:11 PM Permalink to The Story of Demigod Permalink
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Bailey Riddle
 
April 8, 2019 | Bailey Riddle

Wine Makes You Skinny

 

Happy Monday!
We have good news...

So we have all heard a small glass of red wine each day can be good for your heart, right? But did you ever think it may also make you skinny?! I know, we sound crazy.  Scroll down for some science
 

Where does the magic happen: Ellagic Acid, Resveratrol, & Piceattanol, that's where.
These 3 components in wine are pretty amazing!
Ellagic acid was shown in a lab to reduce glucose levels and lower fat accumulation in the liver, resveratrol reduces the absorption of glucose by human fat cells and piceatannol was found to prevent fat cells from converting into fatty tissue.  Don't believe us? We read about it on Wine Spectator and they have no reason be biased right? 
 
And if you don't believe Wine Spectator, ask the Italians! Italian food is rich with bread, pasta, cheese, butter, oils and all of the delicious ingredients standardly restricted on a diet meant to ensure a bangin' beach body.  When we ask our Italian friends how they eat such an indulgent diet,  their eyes sparkle and they smile as they tell us "it's the wine".  Round of applause everyone. They win at life. 
 
SHOP OUR DRY REDS
 
Want to be friends? We do!
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram:
Time Posted: Apr 8, 2019 at 11:08 AM Permalink to Wine Makes You Skinny Permalink
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Lisa Denning
 
April 4, 2019 | Lisa Denning

The Grape Collective

JASPER RIDDLE OF NOISY WATER WINERY STEPS UP TO THE PLATE FOR NEW MEXICO WINE

*an interview with the Head Winemaker and President of Noisy Water Winery
 

New Mexico is called "The Land Of Enchantment" for its stunning beauty and rich history. The spectacular terrain, bathed in over 300 days of sunshine each year, ranges from white-sand deserts to snow-capped mountains, and includes a vast network of national parks. In addition to its abundant natural attractions, New Mexico's colorful cultural history has contributed to the many
 
distinctive architectural styles and numerous historical monuments found throughout the state.
 
The state's equally-enchanting food is a fusion of New Mexico's Spanish, Native American, and Mexican roots. Visitors to New Mexico are guaranteed to be asked, "Do you prefer red or green?" in...
Keep Reading

- Lisa Denning
Time Posted: Apr 4, 2019 at 12:02 PM Permalink to The Grape Collective Permalink
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