Chateau Corbin éCouter, Research Paper Example

Abstract

Chateau Corbin was originally created in France. Since its inception it has slowly become well-loved all over the world. This wine can be created in the New World, especially in the Western United States in or near California where the soil contains a high amount of iron and possesses a sandy, clay texture. Chateau Corbin is made mostly from merlot grapes and partially from cabernet-franc. The name I’ve chosen to use for my winery is Chateau Corbin Ecouter which means Chateau Corbin Dream.

Keywords: Chateau Corbin, vineyard, winery

Chateau Corbin Ecouter

The name that I have chosen for my winery is Chateau Corbin Ecouter, which translates as Chateau Corbin Dream. I chose this name because of the nearly surreal flavor and texture of the wine. It is carefully made with merlot and cabernet-franc, which gives it a bold flavor with a hint of sweetness (Gourmet Wine Club). This well-balanced, full-bodied wine is generally imported from France but can be made in the United States. The terrior that gives the grapes their distinctive flavor can only be mimicked in the Western United States, particularly California, with its mild climate, rusty-colored clay soil with a slight hint of sand, and it’s strange yet intriguing topography that includes mountains as well as beaches.

Old World Winery

The Old World winery of Chateau Corbin was located in the heart of France. This winery is still in operation today. The wine was named after the Chateau Corbin estate, one of the oldest estates in Saint-Emilion (Chateau Corbin).  It was built in the mid-19^th century and was later purchased in 1924 by the current owners’ great-grandparents (Chateau Corbin). The estate has been managed by Anabelle Cruse-Bardinet, a graduate of Bordeaux University, since 1999 (Chateau Corbin). The terroir includes a delicate mixture of ancient, sandy soils and a newer layer of rich, clay soil – giving the wine a complex, yet bold flavor.

New World Location

The new world location will be located in rural Southern California. This location was chosen because it is one of the few locations in the New World that seems to precisely mimic the Old World location in terms of soil type, typography, and other necessary factors. Southern California has the benefits of a mild climate that is neither too hot nor too cold. The mountains and beaches nearby also create precisely the type of soil that is used to grow the grapes in the old world location. Its location also makes it convenient for distribution as it is in the center of the Western world. Other considerations were Australia and New Zealand as the soil that could be found there represented a similar texture. However, these were not chosen because their locations are quite a distance from the rest of the Western world, which would make exporting and distribution a bit more of a challenge.

Winemaking Technique

The winemaking techniques for creating Chateau Corbin aren’t much different from the techniques used to create other wines. The grapes are picked by hand and then fermented in temperature controlled vats (Chateau Corbin; Gourmet Wine Club). Eighty percent of the grapes are merlot and twenty percent are cabaret-franc. It is very important that the measurements remain precise in order to ensure that the wine is produced with the correct flavor. For the New World vineyard, these techniques would remain the same with only a few exceptions. The first exception would be that part of the land would also be used to grow sweet herbs and black cherries for the purpose of adding just the right extra touch to the wine. While not all Chateau Corbin is made with herbs and cherries, some Chateau Corbin wine varieties are (Gourmet Wine Club) and I’d like my vineyard to specialize in creating this type of wine. The wine is aged in French oak casks for 16 to 18 months (Gourmet Wine Club; Chateau Corbin). The casks are carefully selected to ensure that the wine maintains only the highest quality.

Chateau Corbin Écouter

The name I’ve chosen for the new winery is Chateau Corbin Écouter. This means Chateau Corbin Dream in English. I chose this name because the texture and flavor of Chateau Corbin is almost dream-like. It is not a dry wine, an overly bold wine, or too sweet; instead, it has just the right amount of sweetness and boldness to give it just the right balance. It is a truly sensational wine and appeals to many wine connoisseurs due to its semi-bold flavor with subtle hints of sweetness and its absolutely decadently smooth texture. It is a “plush, medium to full-bodied, generous and savory” (Gourmet Wine Club).

Label

The label will include the new winery’s name which is Chateau Corbin Écouter. Aesthetically speaking, a wine label should use imagery that tells a story about the nature of the wine. It should answer the five basic questions of who, what, when, where, and why. The legal requirements for the wine label include Surgeon General Warning, Alchohol content by percentage, ingredients, and other factors depending upon locality (Consumerism). The front label should include relevant information about the wine and its history while the back label is generally reserved for lengthy descriptions, legal requirements, and other selling points.

Marketing

The wine will be targeted to middle aged, middle class singles and couples. There will be several steps to the marketing process. The first step will be choosing a logo, label design, tagline, and other branding material to help the winery establish a positive public image. The second step will be marketing the wine to various bars and liquor stores. There will also be guided tours with free samples available throughout the winery on a monthly basis to help establish a connection with the local community. Wine connoisseurs would be encouraged to visit as well as local writers and artists.

Conclusion

Chateau Corbin Écouter will be a winery located in rural southern California. The target audience will be middle age, middle class men and women. Chateau Corbin originated in France but is now enjoyed throughout several countries around the world. The wine has a bold, smooth texture with a hint of sweetness in its flavor. It has a rich, reddish color and is made mostly from marlot and partially from cabaret-franc. The wine has a rich history and a delicate, yet marvelous flavor.

References

Consumerism | Wine Label Basics. (n.d.). Wine Information, Education, Appreciation | Professional Friends of Wine. Retrieved July 31, 2010, from http://www.winepros.org/consumerism/labels.htm

Gourmet Wine Club. (n.d.). Gourmet Wine Club. Retrieved July 31, 2010, from http://www.gourmetwineclub.com.hk/Content/ChateauInfo.aspx?chateau=20

law., & name, a. w. (n.d.). Legal Requirements of Wine Labels | Calwineries. Calwineries | California Wineries and Wine Tours. Retrieved July 31, 2010, from http://www.calwineries.com/learn/wine-production/general-wine-production/legal-requirements