French name for a straw wine (paille = straw) dubbed in German-speaking countries. This sweet wine is made from raisined or dried grapes. They are either spread out on straw (paille) or laid or hung on wooden racks in well-ventilated rooms. This causes some of the water content to evaporate and the sweetness and total extract content increases enormously. According to the English wine writer Cyrus Redding (1785-1870), this technique was widespread in France at the beginning of the 19th century. He reports of such wines in Hermitage (Rhône), as well as in Alsace and Jura. In the latter, vins de paille are produced today in smaller quantities in Arbois, Côtes du Jura and L'Etoile.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien