The Dryness of Wines

The grape is a complex product of soil and various aspects of climate, particularly temperature. A long growing season in cooler climes (e.g., the region around Bordeaux in France) yields grapes with a high acidity. This acidity is vital to the development of flavors that define quality among dry table wines. Warmer climes (e.g., the Andalucia region of Spain) ensure a large harvest of grapes with high sugar content, but lower acidity. Such sweet grapes lack the sublter constituents of their northern cousins, but they are well-suited to production of fine dessert wines.