Wine 101

Wine 101

The Beginning Wine Lover
By Steve Dolan

Wine

Wine is the perfect drink for a wide variety of situations, from dinner to special occasions to romantic settings, even to backyard barbecues. Indeed, wine is one of the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverages. Wine is a drink made from fermented grapes, and comes in a variety of tastes and colors based on the type of grape used to create the wine. One aspect that makes wine different from other beverages is the importance of aging. Many wine drinkers are intrigued by the wine making process and the length of time required to make quality wine. For this reason, vineyard and winery tours are popular tourist and recreational activities.

Wine tasting for beginners

There is a lot more to tasting wine than simply tipping back your glass. Indeed, there are five main steps to assessing the quality of wine, and only two of them actually involving drinking any wine. This method of wine tasting is often given the pneumonic key "The Five S's: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor." The steps include judging the color, swirling the wine in the glass, smelling the aroma of the wine, sipping and tasting the wine, and savoring the flavor to test how long lasting the taste is in your mouth.

To avoid getting tipsy when testing wines, which can color your perception, most wine tasters do not actually drink the wine. At events and wineries, wine tasters may receive a spittoon into which to spit the wine, or may be asked to simply spit the wine onto the ground if it is an outdoor tasting.

A variation of tasting is blind tasting. Blind tasting involves offering a taste of the wine without allowing the taster any indication as to the wine's origins or makeup. This usually means presenting the wine without allowing the taster to see the bottle, know the name or the date of origin, and, in some cases, even see the color. In those instances, the wine is often presented in a black or otherwise dark glass.

Many connoisseurs of wine and wine tasting travel around the world to some of the most notable wineries and vineyards on the globe in order to participate in wine tasting and winery tours. In many instances, wineries may offer tastings of their vintage wines and other more notable wines for a higher price.

Different types of wines

Wine is usually categorized in relation to its place of origin and/or type of grape. Pinot, Chardonnay, and Merlot are examples of wines named for their grape, while Willamette Valley wines and Napa Valley wines are common examples of wines named for the region where they are made. In some cases, both the production region and the grape variety are used in the name of the wine, which offers wine connoisseurs an idea of the wine without ever having to taste it.

When classifying wines, much depends on taste, use, and presentation. Red and white wine, for instance, are commonly matched with different types of food: white with pasta and poultry, and red with red meats. Red wine is made with grape skins, while white wine is made in the absence of grape skins. Other wine variations include sparkling wines such as champagne, cooking wines, table wines that are often less expensive, and many other variations.

Where to store your wine

If you are a wine collector or connoisseur, or indeed run a winery or vineyard, it is important to maintain a wine cellar. A wine cellar is essential for preserving the quality and taste of your wine. Cellars can do this by maintaining a constant temperature and humidity, and keep the wine in darkness. Temperature fluctuations and exposure to heat and light can cause wine to spoil and lose its best attributes. Not only do cellars keep the wines from spoiling, they can also improve certain wines by bringing out its aroma and flavor.

Where does wine come from?

The world leader for wine production is Italy. Indeed, the images of generations-old wineries and vineyards are almost synonymous with the Italian countryside and street side bistros. After Italy in terms of the volume of annual wine production is France and Spain. The United States ranks sixth in the world, with the vast majority of the wine coming from the vineyards and wineries of the California valleys.

Everyone loves wine

There is an interesting link between references to wine in popular culture and spikes in interest in wine and wine tasting, even to specific types of wine. A perfect example of this is the 2004 surprise hit Sideways. In many European countries, however, interest in understanding and appreciating wine has been ongoing for centuries, and needs little boosts from pop culture references. Other notable wine-laden films include French Kiss, A Walk in the Clouds, and many others.

Steve Dolan enjoys fine living and has been a wine connoisseur for many years. Everything you need to know about wine is at Wine Lover Web. Explore other aspects of the good life at Fine Living.

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Types Of Wine - A Beginner's Guide
By George Kissi

A Cultural Connoisseur Knows Types Of Wine

Have you ever gone to a fancy French restaurant and been utterly confused by the back of the menu? If so, you're not alone. The back of the menu is where the wine list is, and sometimes it is so extensive that it is found on a completely separate menu! There are many different types of wine, and each is intended to be paired with a specific type of food. You don't have to be a wine expert to function at fancy restaurants like these-all you need to do is become aware of the basic different types of wine. This knowledge will serve you time and time again in the world of food culture.

A Wine For Every Aspect Of The Meal

Though there are many different ways in which the types of wine can be classified, one of the most common ways is by the portion of the meal with which it was intended to be served. This method of categorization is a no-brainer and ensures that you will be able to pick a type of wine for every occasion.

Apéritifs are also known as appetizer wines, and they are made to be consumed prior to a meal. Appetizer wines typically contain anywhere from 14 to 20% alcohol, making them richer and sweeter than wines that were made to go along with the main course. Types of wine usually classified under this category include: Vermouth, dry sherry, and Madeira. Any flavored wine can usually be found in this group.

Main dish wines are typically either white wines or red wines. Though both work well with main courses, each works better with different dishes. Typically, white wines go best with fowl, white meats, and sea food. They can range from being very sweet to somewhat dry, and are best served chilled.

Red wines, on the other hand, are always fairly dry and are best served with spaghetti, red meats, and any food that is strongly seasoned. Both red wines and white wines typically contain 10-14% alcohol, as they are served with the main course and meant to have a lighter taste.

For formal occasions, it is common for sparkling wines to be served. These types of wines are sweet and best served as either an appetizer wine or a dessert wine. Popular sparkling wines include: Blanc de Noir, Champagne, Blanc de Blanc, and Spumante.

There are even wines designated for dessert! They range in flavor from being very sweet to medium sweet. Port wine, sweet sherry, Tokaji, Sauternes and muscatel are all common dessert wines. However, just because a wine falls within this category does not mean it is only served with desserts, merely that it is most commonly served with desserts.

Other Classification Methods

It is possible to classify types of wine using methods other than by the course they are associated with. Some choose to categorize wine by vinification method, quality, vintage, taste, or wine style. There is no set rule for classifying different types of wine.

A Perfect Match

After narrowing down which wines go with a specific course, the next step is being able to narrow down the list of wines so that you can pick the type of wine that would best go with a specific meal. This is difficult for many people to do, and most rely on the waiter's recommendation.

When pairing wines with food, it is important to keep a few factors in mind. The first key thing to remember is that white wine goes well with white meat, while red wine goes well with red meat. Also, salty and sour foods go best with acidic wines, while bitter wines and bitter foods go well together. Sweet wines and sweet foods go hand in hand, while delicate food and delicate wines pair up just nicely. Finally, pair medium-bodied wines with medium flavors. Much of wine pairing is simply common sense!

A Capable Connoisseur

Next time you go to a fancy restaurant, you won't have to spend a long time looking confused at the long list of wine types, or ask the maître d' for assistance. With your newfound knowledge of the many different types of wine, which courses they are associated with, and which meals they pair best with, you are on your way to becoming a wine expert.

Whether you're a seasoned wine expert or a novice having great education, tips about wine is of vital importance. Learn more about the different types of wine and how to enjoy them at http://www.bestwinesreview.com

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