The World of Wine - Part One
A Look at Some Wine Basics
The world of wine, especially for the beginner, can be a daunting one. With all the different grapes and regions involved in the making of wine it can make picking a wine for a special occasion or to pair with a meal more than a little confusing. The most important thing about choosing wine is to simply find what you enjoy no matter what anyone else thinks about it. Here are a few basics that should help you get started in the right direction.
Red Wine
Though attitudes constantly change, red wines are considered the ultimate in wine expression. Red wines tend to be more complex than white wines due to the inclusion of the grape skin in the production process. That complexity comes in large part from the tannins imparted by the grape skin and the tannins tend to add to the flavor profile as the wine ages. There are varying degrees of tannins in different red wines depending on how long the producer leaves the grape skins in contact with the grape juice at the beginning of the wine making process. Tannins impart a sharp mouth pucker element to the taste of the wine. Wines with fewer tannins are softer and fruitier.
Some Light Bodied Fruity Reds with Fewer Tannins
Beaujolais from France
Less Expensive California Reds
Some Medium Bodied Reds
Some Merlots
Less Expensive Bordeaux from France
Italian Chianti
Some Full Bodied Reds
Expensive California Cabernets
The Best Bordeaux Wines
Italian Barolo
If you're looking for a good red wine for a special meal or an important occasion and you don't want to spend a lot of money, it's hard to go wrong with a mid priced Cabernet Sauvignon.
Some people just don't like red wine but really enjoy a good white wine. Whites tend to be thought of as light and fruity hot weather drinks that pair easily with some fish and white meats but, there are plenty of fuller bodied white wines that rival reds in flavor complexity. Chardonnay is the most popular white wine probably because of its full bodied flavor profile and because oak is often part of the aging process that makes for an even wider flavor spectrum from one wine maker to another.
Some Dry and Crisp White Wines (No Oak Flavor)
Italian Soave and Pinot Grigio
Sancerre and Chablis from France
Some Dry, Full Bodied White Wines (With Oak Character)
The More Expensive Chardonnays from California or France
Most White Wines from the Burgundy region of France
Some Medium Dry White Wines (Some Sweetness)
German Wines like Liebfraumilch
Less Expensive American Whites
Riesling is becoming more popular these days because of its complex fruity flavor and a hint of slate underneath. There are dry and semi-dry Rieslings and they can be a nice change of pace for the chardonnay drinker.
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