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In Search of Wine's 'Holy Grail'

The quest to curb rising alcohol levels in wine without losing flavour.

Wine has been getting more and more alcoholic in recent decades, driven by consumer tastes and climate change. This has big implications not only for public health, but also the quality of the bottle.

But making a lower alcohol wine that is still full of flavour is extremely complicated, especially when growing grapes in rising temperatures – some have called it the profession’s Holy Grail.

Emily Thomas meets those trying to solve the puzzle: a Chilean vineyard owner; a climate change and grape variety academic; and an Australian scientist whose raspberry-flavoured Chardonnay could hold the key.

(Picture: Wine cellar. Credit: Getty Images)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Jan 201808:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 11 Jan 201800:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201803:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201804:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201805:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201811:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201821:32GMT
  • Thu 11 Jan 201823:32GMT
  • Sun 14 Jan 201808:32GMT

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