AboutElaine Marshall Expertise I am a specialist in wines from California, the Pacific Northwest, Australia and the Rhone. My specialties are the business and marketing of wine, professional wine evaluation, and wine writing. I have experience in winemaking for the home enthusiast but a broader knowledge in viticulture and the wine regions of the world. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME VALUATION QUESTIONS.
Experience Currently the Wine Director for Sunset Magazine's Wine Club, I founded the First Street Wine Company in Livermore, California. As former restaurant sommelier, I have over 10 years of experience in the wine industry and am an Advanced Certified Wine Professional of the Culinary Institute of America. As a specialist in New World wines, especially Syrah/Shiraz, I have studied extensively the wines of California, Australia, the Rhone Valley, and the Pacific Northwest. Accepted to the Institute of Masters of Wine program in 2006, I taste hundreds of wines annually. I have served as a wine judge for many California wine competitions. A graduate of the University of California at Davis, I have produced and bottled my own private-label wine for four vintages. My wine reviews have been published in Diablo Magazine and in various on-line newsletters, including Sunset Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Intowine.com and others.
Publications Sunset Magazine, Diablo Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Intowine.com
Education/Credentials Certified Wine Professional Advanced, Culinary Institute of America
Master of Wine Candidate
Question I am interested in Yeast free wines but hear that they basically don't exist, however there is a filtration system which filters out the actual yeast particles at 0.45 microns. My question is : Can you recommend a red wine that uses this filtration system ?
Answer Hi Rob-
Yes, since wine is made from the conversion of grape sugars by yeast to alcohol and other by-products it is impossible to have a wine whereas no yeast were ever present. But as you point out, there are methods, commonly through racking and/or sterile filtering, that spent yeast cells can be removed.
Sterile filtering is the most reliable method and is practiced by the majority of large wine producers for stability in the marketplace. There is only one way to know if a wine has been sterile filtered prior to bottling and that is to consult the winery. Most large brands, like Kendall-Jackson, BV, Yellow-tail, and many Gallo products will have been sterile filtered.
