Ep 618: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine  Part 2 - Sugar & Alcohol

Ep 618: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine Part 2 - Sugar & Alcohol

Author: Elizabeth Schneider August 26, 2026 Duration: 55:21

In last week's show (dorkfest part 1), we discussed two components of structure, acidity and tannin, and how they are like two sides of a picture frame, structure. In this episode (dorkfest part 2),  I cover the other two sides of that frame, sugar and alcohol, to complete the picture. For me, these components are the fundamentals and although writers are always trying to add more to the frame, they all can be attributed to one of these four elements.

In this show I cover the following topics on sugar and alcohol:

  • What are they?
  • What are their roles in wine?
  • Where do sugar and alcohol come from?
  • How are each measured?
  • How do we perceive sugar and alcohol (there is an especially interesting section about what we perceive as sweet, versus the reality! You may be surprised!)
  • No and low alcohol 'wine' – how they are made, what is lost, and why I don't think they are actually wine!

 

This is really dorky stuff but something that you should dig into if you really want to understand what you're tasting in wine! Enjoy it in all its dorkiness!

 

 

Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Join the community today!

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This show is brought to you by my NEW exclusive sponsor, Grapes the Wine Company – an actual brick and mortar store located in White Plains, New York that has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the most influential wine retailers in America. It is a store owned by my friend Daniel Posner, who has been on the show! When I was looking for a new sponsor, I wanted a small retailer who had the flexibility, contacts,  and know-how to get us the wines that we really want. I'm so thrilled that Daniel is now a part of our Wine For Normal People community and I hope you will support him by going to https://www.grapesthewineco.com/ 

 


Elizabeth Schneider hosts Wine for Normal People, a podcast built on the idea that you can enjoy wine deeply without the pretension. It’s for anyone who finds the world of wine intriguing but is put off by the jargon and gatekeeping. Here, conversations about wine are just that-conversations. Elizabeth approaches topics with a fun and straightforward perspective, aiming to spark genuine excitement and help you discover more interesting bottles to enjoy. Roughly half of the episodes feature guests, but these aren’t formal interviews. Instead, they’re relaxed, educational discussions with passionate friends from the wine world, all people Elizabeth knows personally or through close connections. This creates a uniquely authentic and comfortable atmosphere, as if you’re listening in on a chat between friends who happen to know a lot about what’s in your glass. The focus is always on practical knowledge and shared enthusiasm, stripping away the snobbery to make wine feel accessible and endlessly fascinating. Tune into this podcast to hear honest talk about regions, grapes, and tasting, all designed to make your own journey with wine more rewarding and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Wine for Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Ep 617: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine  Part 1 - Acidity & Tannin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:06
This time it's Back to Basics -- describing two of the four main components that make up the structure of wine - Acidity & Tannin. It's both simple, and very dorky (I quote the NIH at one point, worth a listen!) In this…
Ep 616: The Greats – The Chenin Blancs of the Loire Valley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Although the Loire Valley is most famous for the Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (especially after Taylor Swift drove tons of people to buy Sancerre – thank you Taylor!), there is a white grape that has a l…
Ep 614: The Alto Piemonte -  Piedmont's Best Kept Secret [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Although the best-known wines of Piemonte are in the south — in Alba, Roero, Cuneo, and Asti – there is a treasure trove of excellent Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo blends northeast of the famed Barolo and Barbaresco in the Langh…
Ep 613: The Grape Mini-Series Refresh -- Nebbiolo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:28
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Ep 611: Six MORE Alternatives to Expensive Wines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
I said in episode 604 that if you wanted my other 6 suggestions, I would do a follow up show! You told me this is what you wanted, so this time I give you six MORE wine regions that make very expensive wines and then pro…