Test Sample
Test Sample

This Riesling brings all the customers to the store! 

Recently, one of our customers asked us to test a few Riesling samples. The objective was clear, they wanted a new Riesling in their prime shelf space. Challenge accepted! At Meron, we provide detailed and actionable insights through data and benchmarking. 

🔬 What is Benchmarking?

Benchmarking in wine analysis involves comparing your Riesling’s key quality indicators, such as acidity and sugar balance, against a wide range of Riesling samples from our “wineotheque” of 350 thousand wines. This helps our customers understand where their current wine offer stands and identify areas where a new Riesling will match their consumers demographics and tastes. For example, by comparing Riesling pairings that are a sales hit at their stores with current and desired offers.

spider chart of two riesling wines

Benchmarking two Riesling wines to decide which one to sell at a retailer.

📊 Real-World Impact

The impact of analyzing is immediate and a Riesling producer can use our benchmarking data to fine-tune their production process. Sometimes, adjusting the acidity and sugar levels based on our analysis allows a Riesling wine to be more balanced and aligned with market preferences. The result? A significant increase in both customer satisfaction and sales.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Acidity Levels: Our analysis revealed that the optimal acidity level for Riesling, ensuring that crisp and refreshing taste, is around 4.90 grams H2SO4/L. By targeting this level of Sulphuric acid, producers can achieve that signature Riesling zing.
  2. Sugar Content: Balancing sugar is crucial for the overall taste profile. Our data indicated that a sugar level of 8 grams/L is ideal for maintaining the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity in a dry (Trocken) Riesling.
  3. Ethanol Levels: Low alcohol is becoming increasingly popular with dry Rieslings between 10.5 – 11% becoming increasingly successful and appreciated.

💡 Why It Matters

By benchmarking your Riesling, you not only enhance its quality but also ensure it meets the evolving preferences of your consumers. We help you define the perfect Riesling for the best price point for your customers.

This scientific approach provides a clear, objective path to continuous improvement and alignment between your target customer and your offer.

🔍 Curious to Learn More?

What specific qualities do you look for in a Riesling? We can let you know in a 96-hour turnaround time.

Grapes of Riesling Wine

Willem Schouten

Without temperature control, analysis would be unreliable and inconsistent. This environment allows for precision in identifying faults, understanding structure, and documenting development.

Why Wine Should Be Analysed Throughout Transport and Storage

A bottle might leave a winery in perfect condition, but its journey isn’t always smooth. Transport and storage environments vary wildly. From cargo containers to shop shelves, wines encounter heat, cold, vibration, and light. Each of these variables can influence flavour, aroma, texture, and ageing potential.

We have seen it happen: a wine that passed initial testing at the winery can taste very different after a long-haul shipment or poor storage conditions. That’s why it is smart to analyse wine at different points: before release, after transport, mid-storage, and pre-consumption. These stages reveal how the wine holds up in real-world conditions.

Wine Analysis Journey

Best Timing for Wine Analysis at Meron

The timing depends on your role in the wine’s journey as a producer, distributor or retailer.

  • Pre-release: Understand how the wine is evolving in bottle.
  • After shipping: Check for heat damage or cold stress.
  • During storage: Monitor consistency across different batches.
  • If something tastes off: Confirm whether changes in profile are due to environmental factors.

Our fully certified lab and independent testing can help identify what happened, how it happened, and whether it’s reversible or if it’s time to rethink storage or shipping protocols.

Does Temperature Define Wine Quality?

Temperature is not the only factor affecting a wine’s performance, but it is one of the most unforgiving. It can’t fix a wine’s flaws, but it can highlight or mask them. And once heat damage sets in, there’s no way back.

Handled well, temperature can bring out a wine’s complexity and balance. Mishandled, it flattens, distorts, and disappoints. Whether you’re sipping by the pool or sending a new vintage across the globe, a few degrees can change everything.

Before you raise your next glass, take a moment to check the temperature. It might just be the detail that lets the wine speak for itself.

How do you serve your wine? Here is how Anna Niepoort and other industry leaders see it: 

Feeling Inspired?

At Meron, we combine science, data, and passion to bring you the latest news, insights, and resources in quality for wines, spirits, and beyond. Find out more actionable content to improve your positioning, gain market share, and continue your quality journey.

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