“Wine, due to its composition, is
a very complex drink, and the natural and human factors that influence its
characteristics along with its biochemical composition make it a special and
attractive product.
There are four known principle factors that influence the
quality of wine: the earth, the grape variety, the climate, and man. These four
factors determine the quality and the perfection of wine; when one is missing,
the result, regardless of the influence of the other three, clearly lacks
something.
It would be an exaggeration to affirm that wine is indispensable to
life, but without doubt it can be stated that it is determinant in making it
more agreeable. It is difficult to establish the determining characteristics of
type and origin that make wine agreeable, since such an evaluation may be
subjective. Nevertheless, it is clear that the quality of a wine constitutes
the whole of the organoleptic characteristics, such as color, bouquet, flavor,
that make it agreeable to the consumer and, at the same time, allow the
consumer to determine its origin and type.”
Renato Ratti (Manual del Catador: Manual of the Wine Taster)
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