Archive for January, 2010

What a wine is named depends upon where it is made.  In Europe, wines are named after their geographic locations, such as Bordeaux.  Non-European wines are named after their grape varieties, such as Pinot Noir.

It is for this reason that sparkling wines most people typically call champagne are not actually named as such.  The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) law within Europe states that sparkling wine made outside of France’s Champagne reason cannot be labeled champagne.  Champagne is actually a province in France and means “open country.”  Though there are still locations that get by calling their sparkling wines champagne, other locations making sparkling wine had to use alternative names.

Keeping a wine stored properly can help keep it from going downhill.  Wines are typically stored on their sides because it keeps the wine in contact with the cork.  Because the cork is always moist, it will not dry up.  A dried cork can mean air gets into the wine bottle and ruining the wine.  Storing wine in a cold place is best because it keeps much longer.  Wine stored in a refrigerator can last anywhere from 6 to 16 times longer than simply storing it outside of the refrigerator.

Still, some refrigerators, even on their warmest settings, are cold to properly store wine.  The ideal temperature to store wine is between 50 and 57°F (10 and 14°C).  This is why wineries have such specialized locations for storing their wine.

“Synergy” refers to a third flavor when it comes to wine and food.  Together, they create this third flavor, which is something else that the food and wine cannot offer by themselves.  The best way to discover this synergy is to serve the proper wines with the right foods.  Rich, heavy foods need rich, heavy wines, just as lighter foods need lighter wines; red with meat, light with fish, and so forth.

It is also more traditional to serve lighter wines first at a dinner, and then switch to heavier wines.  White should come before red, a younger wine should come before an older one, and drier wines should come before sweeter ones.

Grapes have existed for a very long time, and it almost seems that humans have been making wine for just as long!  From ancient Greece to ancient Rome, present day France to modern day California, wine is a beloved drink by many.  In fact, the first known reference to a wine vintage was from Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman historian.  He apparently rated a vintage “of the highest excellence” in 121 B.C.

America wasn’t left out of the loop.  It had great potential, as seen by Leif Ericsson, the Viking who landed on the banks of North America in 1000 A.D.  He saw so many grapevines that he dubbed the land Vinland, meaning “wine-land” or “pasture-land.”

Fruits are planted each and every year for human consumption.  Huge crops of oranges and apples take up thousands of acres.  But which fruit actually tops all others in terms of acres?  Grapes!

Wine grapes are the leading fruit crop, with over 20 million acres dedicated solely to the grape and its vine.  From massive wineries to small, home run wineries, each piece of land is used to grow various types of grapes that will eventually be made into wine and consumed all over the world.  In fact, there are over 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world through experimentation and crossbreeding to get finer and more unique grapes and tastes for new and different wine flavors.

The majority of wine glasses have their specific shape for a reason.  These glasses have a slightly curved rim that helps to keep the aromas of the wine confined within the glass.  You may notice that some glasses are much thinner.  This is because the thinner the glass, the finer the rim, the better it contains the wine’s aroma.  Filling a glass only partway allows tasters to properly swirl the wine around in order to best free the wine’s various scents.  The aromas then collect within the glass and can be fully inhaled for a solid wine tasting experience.  Wine glasses that are flared or trumpet shaped are not as good as they allow the aromas to disperse.

You can find wineries almost anywhere.  In the United States, wineries can be found in the arid deserts of Arizona all the way to the chilly state of Maine.  People are more than willing to change a patch of land into a fully functioning winery.

Most of the world’s wine comes from the top three producers:  France, Italy, and Spain.  California, however, has managed to become the fourth leading producer of wine in the world, much of it coming out of Napa Valley.  Within the United States, the three top states in wine consumption are California, New York, and Florida.  A glass of wine a day can help keep the doctor away!

When we drink to someone’s health, we are actually performing an old custom that originated in Greece many centuries ago.  During that time, the host of a dinner would take the first sip of wine in order to reassure his guests that the wine was not poisoned.  From that point, the guests could safely drink and stay healthy.

The toast comes from a slightly similar time, only from ancient Rome.  While the Romans continued on with the Greek tradition of drinking to one’s health, many began to put toasted pieces of bread into their glasses in order to moderate any undesirable tastes or excess acidity that might be in the wine.

Some people less versed in the world of wine are not exactly sure what makes one wine red and another white.  Many assume it has something to do with the color of the grapes.

They’re close.

Wines actually gain most of their color from the grape skins.  Red wines are fermented with the skins present.  The fermentation process actually leeches the color from them, giving the wine its typically deep red color.  White wines are fermented without the skins, so the color remains relatively clear.

Additional color can be added through the rest of the winemaking process, such as the oak barrels used to store the wine.

Ladies, put your skills to the test at your next wine tasting engagement. Studies have shown that women tend to be better wine tasters than men. This is because women, especially those in their reproductive ages, actually have a better sense of smell than men do. A big part of wine tasting is smelling the wine for a fuller experience, and with a heightened sense of smell, you will be able to better appreciate the wine and all its subtle flavors.
Men, that means the next time your lady informs you that the wine has a hint of lavender or vanilla and you can’t taste it, rest assured that it really is there!