Winemaker Notes
Alon and Jodi Arbel own and operate the 25-acre vineyard in Swan Valley, Western Australia. Alon is originally from Israel and came to Western Australia in search of a strong easterly sea breeze as a keen windsurfer back in the early 1990s. Jodi had original qualifications in physical education, health promotion and public health before turning to the world of wine.
Following a stint working overseas, Alon and Jodi returned and settled in Perth in 1993. It was only at this time that Alon was introduced to the world of wine, thanks to some of Jodi’s wine admiring relatives! in 2003, the Arbel’s purchased the land that is now Bella Ridge. Bella Ridge is proud to be pushing the boundaries, producing handcrafted blends and styles that are flavorsome, innovative and distinctive.
Bella Ridge Estate grapes are hand-picked, crushed, processed and bottled on-site at their in-house winery. The approach is to produce interesting and unique styles and blends that are textural, complex and flavorsome, with many dimensions, layers and lots of character.
Quite remote and unequalled in beauty, the wine regions of Westerm Australia promise endless physical and climatic diversity. From the coolest, seaside vineyards to the hottest inland zones, Western Australia is the source of some of the country’s most sought after wines.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.