Varieties of Wines and Becoming Familiar With Wine Values
There are a number of points towards refining your taste for wine and enhancing your judgment as to what makes a good wine. One is that wine is made from fermented grape juice. You also should know the grape varieties wines are made from and the process of wine making itself.
There are many different kinds of wines, and the more commonly known ones – red, white, rose and champagne – are only a few of many. Wines are usually classified according to the grape varieties used to make them. One variety that is often used for red wine is the Barbera. This variety is grown mainly in Piedmont, Italy, but is quite adaptable to other regions, and is also grown on a limited scale in the United States. Barbera grapes have a high natural acidity and produce wines with a full-bodied fruity taste.
A Few Different Wine Varieties
There are many varieties of wine. Wine enthusiasts know about one variety that is widely grown in many parts of the world: Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape variety, grown primarily in Medoc, France, has found its way to California, Australia and other wine-making countries. Wine enthusiasts would consider Cabernet Sauvignon wines to be among the best red wines in the world. These wines have a distinct aromatic flavor, and have hints of the taste of berries, olives, coffee, mint and herbs all blended together. Among the white varieties, the Chardonnay is easily the most popular, producing some of the world’s finest white wines. The varieties and types are overwhelming at times, but you don’t take long to become familiar with all the wine values.
A basic understanding of the wine-making process is important to a wine enthusiast, especially if he is interested in going into wine production himself if only for personal consumption. Wine making is really quite simple and is an age-old technology. It is not necessary to have sophisticated equipment to make wines.
First you have to know what type of grapes to use, where they are grown, the right age for picking, and things like acidity and sugar levels. If you are after a particular aromatic flavor, there are grapes that will produce that kind of flavor and you should be able to tell which ones. After the picking of the grapes, comes the pressing to extract the juices, and then the fermentation process.
The fermentation process is quite delicate. It involves adding yeast to the juice in order to stimulate the fermentation process. Basically, fermentation is the conversion of the sugar in the juice into alcohol. The success of your grape juice turning into good wine, is the kind of yeast used and the absence of any contaminants getting into the mixture during the entire process.
There is so much more to knowing the difference between a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, but the knowledge to the types of wine available is just the beginning for a wine enthusiast.
Pinot Noir Chardonnay : A Snapshot
With a turbulent past, the term Pinot Noir Chardonnay is now the name used to describe what was once formally known as Champagne. The name Pinot Chardonnay has been derived from the varieties of grapes used in its production, while the old name ‘Champagne’ is now only used by the wines produced from the same name region in France, due to European Union action to protect its name.
Besides the name, nothing much has changed in the way of taste and texture and the wines themselves are still as exciting and enjoyable as Champagne. Most Pinot Chardonnays are produced in the same way as many of the French Champagnes.
Moet and Chandon, the King of Champagnes and the distribution of them, has many a Pinot Chardonnay gem hidden in their portfolio. With some of these wines even being produced from the Yarra Valley in Australia.
Some seriously good ‘Sparklers’ emanate from New Zealand, particularly the north island.
The experimentation with various grape types has lead to some great successes (and failures) The most common types of grapes used in experimentation are Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz. There is a good reason that you don’t find a Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay. But the mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the sparkling fermentation process has been a tremendous success.
Pinot Chardonnay has proven to be a winner at social outings such as picnics and BBQ’s, which has led them to be sold in 200ml and 375ml bottles. Packaging and delivery of sparking varieties is also easy thanks to the advancements of technology in these areas over the years.
As icing on the cake, Pinot Chardonnays are also much cheaper than their French champagne competitors, delivering the same great taste at a fraction of the price.
Set up a blind tasting of your own one day and see if you and your friends can pick the difference.
Follow the link for more information on Chardonnay wine varieties.
Popular Wine Varieties
There are many types and varieties of wine available. For anyone wanting to try and match a great wine with a specific type of meal, then you can’t go wrong making your choice form one of the more popular varieties around.
Oh, and before we get started, if you love to try new wines, then you can’t go wrong with a wine of the month club, they’re fun and you’re always expanding your wine palate.
Let’s take a look at some of the more popular wine varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Often called by the nickname cab sauv, this is a purplish-red, full bodied wine which originates in France. This is one of the most popular wine varieties out there.
This flavorful red is perfect with steak, roasted lamb and just by itself while unwinding.
Merlot
Merlot is a very soft red which has a lower level of tannins than many other red wine varieties. It is often blended with cabernet sauvignon and other grapes, but is often found on its own, making a good accompaniment to chicken and other poultry dishes.
Shiraz
This wine (also known as Syrah) is very dark red in color and has a full body with notes of black pepper. This wine is ideal for barbecues and in fact, any meat dish. These wines can be aged for many years with spectacular results.
Shiraz was originally produced from grapes from the Middle Eastern countries although South Australia’s brilliant wine region is now said to produce some of the finest award-winning Shiraz wines in the world.
Served with peppery or mustard-based sauces on spicy, garnished meats, Shiraz is the perfect complimentary red wine.
Grenache
Grenache has a soft taste on its own with a very slight black pepper and plum flavor. It is often blended with Syrah, especially in Spain and France. Grenache also accompanies spicy foods quite well.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a stunning light- to medium-bodied red wine with a fine fruity aroma. When this fine wine is well aged, it can develop lovely floral flavors.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most popular white wines, being made into a wine in its own right and being a major component of most white blends. These wines tend to have notes of melon and lemon and are generally aged in oak for anywhere up to 3 years. Chardonnay goes well with flavorful fish such as salmon and tuna. Chardonnay is easily one of the most popular white wines anywhere. Traditionally these wonderfully melon flavored wines are allowed to mature in oak barrels for up to 3 years. Chardonnay is ideal served along with salmon.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc is a very ripe tasting white wine that can have a quite aggressive aroma as compared to other white wines. Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely white wine that is excellent with seafood and a great accompaniment to Japanese sushi, but is even better on its own as a drinking white wine.
Semillon
Very popular in France and Australia, this grape is less popular outside of those countries. Boasting a mild, honey and toast flavor, this wine is often seen in blends with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Riesling
Riesling was original a German wine that is now made successfully in many countries around the world. Rieslings are classically fruity and can be either sweet or dry, which makes them an ideal compliment to many spicier cuisines.
Now get out there, start trying new wines (join a wine club if there are no vineyards nearby), and enjoy.