Want to experience the entire range of wine?
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It’s time to ditch the same ol’ wine you’ve been drinking and expand your palate. No more of that bottom-shelf TJ’s select or that bottle of Apothic Red. Why? Well, because not only will you get to try all 18 noble grapes, but by doing so you’ll be on the fast track to becoming a wine expert. Make a list of the grapes below and challenge yourself to try every one of them.
 

The Noble Grapes Challenge

Here is the list of the 18 major grapes that are readily available and define a unique flavor of wine. Once you master this list, you will intuitively understand the major flavor profiles of most red and white wines in the world. This list is missing a few sections such as Dessert wine, Rosé Wine and Sparkling wine.
 

The wine scene in 1949 credit

Why are some wines noble and others aren’t?

Noble grapes are also known as International Varieties which are grape varieties that are widely planted in most of the major wine producing regions and have widespread appeal. History has a lot to do with the prevalence of French wine grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

• As grapes like Zinfandel and Malbec become more common, they earn the right to become International Varieties.

9 Red Noble Grapes

The wines below are organized from lightest to darkest.
 

• 1. Pinot Noir

  The lightest red grape, trying Pinot Noir will help you to understand acidity and aromatics in red wine.

  Similar Varieties

  Gamay, St. Laurent

• 2. Grenache

  The candied red wine grape, Grenache shows how red wines can be light and fruit forward at the same time.

  Similar Varieties

  Zinfandel, Primitivo, Carignan

• 3. Merlot

  Merlot is the middle of the road. Fruit forward with lighter tannins.

  Similar Varieties

  Corvina, Negroamaro, Cinsault

• 4. Sangiovese

  Sangiovese is aromatic like Pinot Noir, but has bigger tannins and is cherry fruit driven.

  Similar Varieties

  Touriga Franca, Counoise

• 5. Nebbiolo

  A savory high tannin/acid wine that is also very light in color –very few wines are like Nebbiolo.

  Similar Varieties

  Aglianico

• 6. Tempranillo

  Tempranillo is earthy with rustic tobacco notes and high tannin.

  Similar Varieties

  Sagrantino

• 7. Cabernet Sauvignon

  One of the most balanced full-bodied wines of the world. Cabernet is savory with a very long finish.

  Similar Varieties

  Cabernet Franc, Lagrein, Montepulciano,

• 8. Syrah

  Syrah offers big, bold, dark fruit flavors up front with a subtle finish and lighter tannin. Flavors from olive to blackberry and tobacco.

  Similar Varieties

  Barbera, Dolcetto, Mencía

• 9. Malbec

  Candied similar to Grenache but instead of strawberry and cherry flavors it’s more in the blueberry/blackberry realm

  Similar Varieties

  Mourvedre, Nero d’Avola, Touriga Nacional

• 
  

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  Get the poster that organizes wine by flavor.
  Types of Wine

9 White Noble Grapes

The wines below are organized from lightest to richest.
 

• 1. Pinot Grigio

  Light and zesty high acid white wines.

  Similar Varieties

  Vinho Verde, Garganega, Assyrtiko, Albariño, Trebbiano

• 2. Riesling

  Off-dry to sweet white wines that smell like honey with high acidity.

  Similar Varieties

  Tokaji, Sylvaner

• 3. Sauvignon Blanc

  Savory green and zesty white wines.

  Similar Varieties

  Vermentino, Friulano, Grüner Veltliner, Verdicchio

• 4. Chenin Blanc

  Zesty white wines that smell like flowers and lemon.

  Similar Varieties

  Torrontés

• 5. Moscato

  Sweet wines that taste like peaches and orange blossom.

  Similar Varieties

  Müller Thurgau

• 6. Gewurztraminer

  Off-dry to sweet white wines that taste of ginger and honey.

  Similar Varieties

  Malvasia

• 7. Semillon

  Dry medium bodied wines with lemon notes.

  Similar Varieties

  Fiano, Grillo

• 8. Viognier

  Medium bodied white wines that smell like flowers.

  Similar Varieties

  Marsanne

• 9. Chardonnay

  Full bodied dry white wines.

  Similar Varieties

  Roussanne

• 
  

  Understand Color

  Get the poster that organizes wine by color.
  Color of Wine

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Chardonnay is always classy. credit

Why Love Chardonnay?

If you’re not a Chanel-clad clubhouse member, you can still drink Chardonnay. Why? Because Chardonnay is the most diverse –and most planted– white wine grape in the world. It’s used for everything from rich Sonoma Chardonnay to the light-and-zesty ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne. Get to know the wide variety of styles of Chardonnay and pinpoint the one that’s perfect for you.

Two Major Styles of Chardonnay

If you like the idea of butter in your glass, you’ll love the classic style of oak-aged Chardonnay wine. On the other hand, if words like “Pinot Grigio” make you feel woozy with love, then your perfect Chardonnay is the unoaked kind. How can a single grape offer such a variety of flavors? Well, in addition to the difference in winemaking (oak vs. no oak), ripeness has a lot to do with flavor.
 

A Note About Ripeness and Chardonnay Wine

A very ripe Chardonnay will have flavors more towards tropical fruits like pineapple, guava and mango. A barely ripe Chardonnay will have green apple and lemon flavors.

Chardonnay Wine Taste Profile

FRUIT FLAVORS (berries, fruit, citrus)

Lemon, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Jackfruit, Passionfruit, Peach, Fig

OTHER (herb, spice, flower, mineral, earth, other)

Apple Blossom, Lemon Zest, Citrus Peel, Celery leaf, Beeswax, Lemon balm, Honeysuckle, Wet flint rocks, Saline Solution, Vanilla Bean, Almond, Jasmine

OAK FLAVORS (flavors added with oak aging)

Vanilla, Baked Tart, Butter, Pie Crust, Caramelized Sugar, Creme Brulee, Dill, Coconut, Praline

CHARDONNAY SERVING TEMPERATURE

Unoaked: 48 ºF (9 ºC)
Oaked: 54 ºF (12 ºC)

ACIDITY

Medium Low (oaked warm climate) – Medium High (unoaked cool climate)

SIMILAR VARIETIES

Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Semillon, Fiano (Italy), Antão Vaz (Portugal)

Why do some Chardonnays taste creamy?

The smell of vanilla, butter, coconut and dill are all attributes of oak-aging. However, the texture that some Chardonnays have that can be described as Oily, Creamy, Smooth or Waxy are from a special kind of fermentation.

What is Malolactic Fermentation?

After the wine is fermented, an additional fermentation called Malolactic Fermentation (MLF) will give wine an oily texture. MLF turns tart malic acid (the acid in apples) to smooth lactic acid (the acid in milk). A malolactic fermentation involves a different kind of yeast that gobbles up malic acid and poops out lactic acid. If you want a rounder, more creamy-feeling wine, look for wines that have gone through MLF.

Chardonnay Food Pairing

Soft Cheeses

Try semi-soft mild goat and cow’s milk cheeses such as Humboldt Fog .

Fish with Herbs

Herb Crusted Halibut with Minted Sweet Pea Purée. Find the full recipe at rickbakas.com

Meat Pairings

Chicken Breast, Turkey Breast, Pork Loin, Halibut, Trout, Cod, Sturgeon, Oily Flaky Fish, Atlantic Salmon, Lobster, Crab, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams, Oysters (unoaked)

Spices and Herbs

Tarragon, Parsley, Thyme, Lemon Zest, Marjoram, White Pepper, Shallots, Poultry Seasoning

Cheese Pairings

Soft – Semi Soft Cow’s Milk Cheese and Goat Cheese.

Vegetables & Vegetarian Fare

Yellow Squash, Peas, Zucchini, Asparagus, Sun Chokes, Seitan, White Mushrooms, Truffles, Chanterelles, Almonds

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It doesn’t really get any better than this. photo courtesy sonomawine.com

Sonoma silently produces almost 2 times as much wine as Napa

Sonoma Wine Map

What Does Each Sonoma Wine Region Do Best?

The entire Somona region varies from low, fog-covered valleys to sun-beaten hillside plots. Because of the range of the area, each sub-AVA within Sonoma can produce remarkably different styles of wine. Learn what each major region does best.

Rich Full-Bodied Red Wines

Looking for the bigger and bolder styled wines from Sonoma? You’ll find some of the most lusted-after Zinfandels as well as more mineral-driven Cabernets from the following AVA’s:

Dry Creek Valley AVA

10,000 vineyard acres – Known for Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded in 1983.

Alexander Valley AVA

15,000 vineyard acres – Known for Cabernet and richly flavored Chardonnays as well as hillside Merlot. Founded in 1984.

Moon Mountain District AVA

1,500 vineyard acres – Great for Hillside Zinfandel and some of the oldest vineyards in Sonoma. New AVA pending status.

Pine Mountain / Cloverdale Peak AVA

300 vineyard acres – Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Founded in 2011.

Rockpile AVA

150 vineyard acres – Famous for Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah. Founded in 2002.

Amazing Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

Russian River Valley AVA

15,000 vineyard acres – Famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded in 1983.

Los Carneros AVA

8,000 vineyard acres – This AVA spans Napa and Sonoma and is famous for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wine. Founded in 1983.

Green Valley AVA

3,600 vineyard acres – A sub-set of Russian River Valley known for Pinot Noir because of a high proportion of a special soil called Goldridge. Founded in 1983.

Sonoma Coast AVA

2,000 vineyard acres – Sonoma County’s largest AVA runs along the coast and produces great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Founded in 1987.

Chalk Hill AVA

1,400 vineyard acres – Known for its ‘Chablis-like’ chalky soils growing Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Founded in 1983.

Fort Ross / Seaview AVA

500 vineyard acres – This new AVA contains some of the most lusted-after Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with producers such as Peay, Marcassin and Flowers. Founded in 2012.

Softer & Rounder Red Wines

Sonoma Valley AVA

14,000 vineyard acres – One of the oldest Sonoma AVA’s, known for smooth and supple Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded in 1981.

Knights Valley AVA

2,000 vineyard acres – Volcanic soils from the ancient explosion of Mount St. Helena filled both Knights and Alexander Valley. Known for riper styles of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. Founded in 1983.

Bennett Valley AVA

650 vineyard acres – Founded in 2003.

Sources
sonomawinegrape.org

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The pinker side of life.. by LUKSEMBURK

What is Rosé Wine?

When a wine isn’t quite red, it’s rosé. Technically speaking, this pinkish beverage is produced differently than red wine but with the same grapes. For example, White Zinfandel is produced with the same grapes as Red Zinfandel but the two wines are stunningly different.
 
Learn all about Rosé wine, from the different styles and grapes to the varied flavors. Rosé wine is serious business –Seriously pink–

Common Rosé Wine Descriptions from Light to Dark

• Mint
• Grapefruit*
• Strawberry*
• Tart Cherry
• Red Currant
• Sweet Cherry
• Strawberry Sauce
• Raspberry*
• Wild Strawberry*
• Blood Orange
• Raspberry Sauce
• Tomato
• Red Bell Pepper
• Black Currant
• Blackberry*
• Berry Jam

* Commonl flavors in Rosé Wine
 

What Varieties Are Used to Make Rosé Wine?

Grenache, Cinsault, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir… nearly every wine grape has been used to make Rosé wine. Since the category has grown in popularity, there are more options than ever to choose from. So where do you begin and what styles are the most popular? Traditional? The best?

Dry Rosé Wine

(aka “Not Sweet”) This style of Rosé wine is the most common style produced today around the world. France and Spain lead the way in Rosé wine production and it’s typical to see a blend of 2-3 different grape varieties. Here are the most common dry Rosé wine varieties used either alone or in a blend:

Traditionally Dry Rosé Wines

• Grenache
• Sangiovese
• Syrah
• Mourvedre
• Carignan
• Cinsault
• Pinot Noir

Sweet Rosé Wine

Any Rosé wine can be produced in a sweet style by simply not fermenting all the sugar into alcohol. However, it is not as common and mostly reserved for bulk wine production. If you are on the search for a sweet rosé wine, the following wines will fit the bill:

Traditionally Sweet Rosé Wines

• White Zinfandel
• White Merlot
• Pink Moscato

French Rosé Wine

The epicenter of the Rosé wine world is in the South of France. There, along the Mediterranean, regional varieties like Grenache, Carignan and Syrah are blended together to make refreshingly dry Rosé.

South of France Rosé: What to Look For

The south of France is Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon or sometimes just labeled “Pays d’Oc”. Wines from here smell of strawberries and raspberries and are refreshing with zesty acidity. If you are looking for quality, seek out wines with a high percentage of Grenache, Syrah or Mourvedre versus Carignan or Cinsault. Most Carignan and Cinsault are not as complex.

The Rest of France: What to Look For

Expect to find even drier and zippier Rosé wines from the Loire Valley. Flavors of grapefruit, mint and even red bell pepper are common. In Bordeaux, Rosé made from Merlot can lean towards the sweet side with aromatics of strawberry sauce and peaches.

How to Make Rosé Wine

There are two major differences between making White wine and Rosé wine. First, Rosé wines use both white and red grape varieties. Second, standard Rosé winemaking looks a lot more like how white wine is made with an additional maceration time added in the beginning.

“It’s all about timing.”

Maceration Method

The maceration method is most commonly used for commercial Rosé. Maceration is when the grapes are pressed and sit in their skins. In red wine making, maceration usually lasts throughout the fermentation. For Rosé, the juice is separated from the skins before it gets too dark. For lighter varieties, like Grenache, it can take 24 hours. For darker red-wine varieties, like Mourvedre, the process sometimes only lasts a few hours.

Vin Gris Method

Vin Gris, translates to “Gray Wine” and is when red grapes are used to make a nearly-white wine. Vin Gris uses an extremely short maceration time. This style of Rosé winemaking is popular for the lighter red wine varieties such as Pinot Noir in the United States and Gamay or Cinsault in France.

The Saignée Method

The Saignée method is capable of producing some of the longest lasting Rosé wines. It is actually a by-product of red winemaking. During the fermentation of a red wine about 10% of the juice is bled off. This process leaves a higher ratio of skin contact on the remaining juice, making the resulting red wine richer and bolder. The leftover bled wine or “Saignée” is then fermented into Rosé. Wines made from the Saignée method are typically much darker than Maceration Method wines and also much more savory.

Napa Valley Cabernet Secret: Saignée

Many Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa valley use the Saignée method to increase the richness of their red wines. If you travel there, you’ll find an abundance of Rosé wines available at wineries, but usually nowhere else. A Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé is very rich, almost like a Pinot Noir, but with more savory notes of bell pepper, black pepper and cherry.
 
See the list of Napa Producers making Rose Wine

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How come we don’t see this kind of fun with wine? credit

Wine for Beer Drinkers

For every bottle of wine drunk in the United States at least 20 bottles of beer are consumed. That means twenty-to-one your friends are drinking beer. So how do you get your friends to drink (and enjoy) more wine?
 
Below are six major styles of beer with a complimenting style of wine. Discover wine from a new perspective: wine for beer drinkers.

• Lager and Light Beer
• Pale Ale
• India Pale Ale
• Wheat Ale
• Belgium Ale
• Porters and Dark Ales

Light Beer (Lager) Drinkers

Lagers and Pilsner are some of the most refreshing beers out there. Cold and easy-to-drink, a glass of pils is a perfect way to reinvigorate after a long day. Light beers range from something as cheap and normal as Bud Light to Baltika 7, an imported Russian Lager.
 

Pale Ale Drinkers

Pale ales are richer than light beers. They have body. A beer drinker who loves a pale ale chooses its balanced and not-too-bitter taste.
 

IPA Lovers

Someone who loves IPA loves how complex a beer can be. IPA’s can be fruity and sweet whilst being incredibly bitter. An imperial IPA has a higher alcohol level, which adds more body and complexity.
 

Wheat Ale Drinkers

Wheat beers are smooth, creamy and sometimes even a bit sweet. A wheat ale offers refreshing richness.
 

Belgium Ale Aficionados

Belgium Ales like tripels use many different grains to produce a smooth, lightly bubbly texture and body. This is a stand-alone beer that has higher alcohol and is also a tad more sweet.

Porter Drinkers

Porters are medium-bodied but very dark and earthy. They are light enough to drink but tough enough to grow the hair on your back. A Porter drinker likes a little punch in the mouth.

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The Health Benefits of Red Wine

Red Wine Has More Antioxidants Than Açaí Juice

Red wine is full of polyphenols including proanthocyanidin; a powerful antioxidant. In fact, some red wines have more antioxidants than commercial grape juice, raw blueberries and even miracle fruits like Açaí. In the fruit juice category, a full-bodied red wine will even beat pomegranate juice.
 
How are antioxidants measured? Antioxidant rich foods have traditionally been measured using the ORAC method which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity(1). Every food has a varying ability to absorb free radicals in a controlled environment. ORAC scores range from 50 for a carrot to 5,200 for a teaspoon of cinnamon.

What Wines Have The Most Antioxidants?

Anatomy of a wine grape

How Much Wine is Too Much?

The goodness of red wine can be easily countered with the negative effects of alcohol. So how much wine is too much? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

“Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. It is not recommended that anyone begin drinking alcohol or drink more frequently on the basis of potential health benefits.”
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010)

Moderate Drinking Definition

• 2 glasses of wine for men daily
• 1 glass of wine for women daily

The major issues the DGA points out is that pure alcohol is very high in calories (almost as high as fat). High calorie foods are one of the major problems with American’s diets. If you’re drinking wine, it’s important to acknowledge that wine is not calorie free.

Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

Fermented foods have long been associated with good digestion. The probiotics and microbes found in fermented foods contain lactic-acid that nourish the good bacteria in your GI tract. Some red wines contain more lactic acid after going through a secondary fermentation that makes the wine taste smoother. Here are some common fermented foods:

• Yogurt & Some Cheeses
• Real Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Sourdough Bread
• Tempeh & Soy Sauce
• Beer, Cider, Wine & Sake

Benefits of Moderate Drinking

Over the years, several long-term studies have been conducted comparing drinkers to non-drinkers. There have also been studies comparing wine drinkers to spirits/beer drinkers. Here are some of the more interesting findings:

• Wine drinkers have a 34% lower mortality rate than spirits/beer drinkers. (2)
• Moderate drinkers have 30% less risk than non-drinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. (3)
• Brain function declines less quickly in moderate drinkers than non-drinkers. (4)

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Mas Bruguiere in Pic-St-Loup

Here is a helpful (and inspiring) guide that was outlined by a Languedoc-Roussillon local, Julien Vaché. Learn what types of wines to look for and, if you visit, where you should travel for a wine country vacation.

Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Guide

Major Types of Wine

It’s all about blends. In the Languedoc, vineyards are often called ‘patchwork’ because so many different grape varieties grow together. Most producers make blends instead of single varietal wines. Red blends from Languedoc Roussillon tend to be more full-bodied and fruit driven.
 
Need a recommendation? Look below.

Red Wine

Rich full-bodied red wines with Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre as major components.

White Wine

Unoaked zesty white wines made mostly with Picpoul and Grenache Blanc. Step aside Pinot Grigio.

Rosé Wine

Same varieties in reds and whites, but pink by design.

Sparkling Wine

Cremant de Limoux is supposedly older than Champagne; and a super value.

Sweet Wine

From white sweet wines of Muscat to Maury, a red fortified wine made of Grenache that lasts up to 100 years.

Languedoc Roussillon Wine Region Map

• 
  Languedoc Roussillon postcard by Benoit France

“The rules running each Appellation are archaic, obscure, political and not adapted to modern wine making and marketing…the region’s most famous winemakers do not bother with them”

Julien Vaché

Pic Saint Loup. credit

Major Wine Regions in Languedoc Roussillon

During the 1970′s the Languedoc Roussillon was guilty of overproducing cheap jug wine. Old Grenache vineyards were ripped out and replaced with high-yield grape varieties such as Carignan. Since then, Languedoc Roussillon has slowly been recovering its status as a quality producer by reducing yields and going back to blending in more Grenache.
 

St. Chinian

Located in the middle of Languedoc Roussillon. A great many readily available wines of Saint Chinian use lighter varieties such as Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault.

Faugères

Located very close to Saint Chinian. Faugères is in the hills off the coast with a high percentage of schist soils; perfect for aromatic reds such as Grenache.

Picpoul de Pinet

A white wine appellation produced with the regional zesty white wine variety, Picpoul. Perfect with oysters.

Corbières

Fruity and juicy red wines use Carignan, Syrah and Grenache. Think easy going, like a mid-week Merlot.

Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux

Fantastic value-driven sparkling wines made in the same style as Champagne.

Languedoc-Roussillon Winery Map

I will simply highlight here some of my favourite “terroirs” and, within each, my favourite domains.

Julien Vaché, Best Wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon

View The Best Wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon in a larger map

Local Wine Expert

Julien Vaché is a wine lover and enthusiast. Born in the Languedoc, he is also a fan of the Bordeaux and Cotes-Du-Rhone regions.
He infrequently blogs about Travel, Food and Wine at julien.quora.com and maintains a set of map guides with restaurant and hotel recommendations on Google Maps.

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There are a gazillion different types of wine glasses out on the market. So, what should you buy? Discover what glassware fits your wine drinking habits and what the best options are to build a proper wine glass set.
 
Check out this cool chart on the different types of wine glasses. Identify the different styles so that you can better decide what to buy based on your needs.
 

Types of Wine Glasses Chart

The Difference Between Crystal and Glass Stemware

Crystal is glass with lead monoxide in it and, depending on what country you live in, can vary from 1% (in the US) to 30% (in Europe). Many glassware manufacturers also make lead-free crystal glassware with zinc and magnesium oxide which also refracts light. Using lead or lead-free crystal for wine glasses is popular for two reasons. For one, the minerals causes the glass to have light refraction which gives stemware a sparkle. Secondly, the inclusion of minerals in glass makes it sturdy enough to be spun very thin.
 
Regular glass doesn’t shine the same way as crystal but it is more affordable and also tends to be more durable.

Questionaire: Which Type of Wine Glasses Should You Buy?

Answer these questions honestly to figure out what kind of stemware to buy.

1. Do you ever handwash special kitchen tools such as knives?
2. Do you have places to store tall wine glasses?
3. Do you enjoy a glass of wine almost every night?
4. Do you wash your dishes after dinner?
5. Do you take pleasure from cleaning and organizing your kitchen or bathroom?
6. Do you have safe areas that are off-limits from kids?

If you answered mostly “No” Owning crystal stemware will drive you insane. Instead, get glassware or stemless crystal glasses. These will be easier to maintain and won’t give you a conniption if they break. You can also wash them in the dishwasher.
 
If you answered mostly “Yes” You are neurotic enough to keep crystal glassware clean and sparkly. You should look into getting a set of 4-6 matching crystal wine glasses that you can use for years to come. Learn how to wash wine glasses by hand
 

Gary V. winelibrary.tv uses a huge glass but also drinks wine from a mug.

Does a Different Glass Really Affect the Flavor?

Yep! How we drink can change the taste because of our noses. Repeat after me: olfactory is key. From coffee to wine, some vessels are designed to capture the “perfect” amount of aromas. That being said, just be sure to leave a little room in your glass to collect smells.

How To Unlock Aromas by Swirling

You Only Need 2 Styles of Wine Glasses

Starting a wine glass collection? Go super basic and get a set of 6 red wine glasses and a set of 4-6 Champagne flutes. Take my word for it; that’s all you really need.

Madeline gets her swirl on.

What We Use on Set

We purchased Riedel Restaurant Extremes from a wine distributor. The stemware we use is quite similar to the Riedel Vinum Extreme series. We use the Cabernet Sauvignon glass for red wine and the Sauvignon Blanc glass for white wine. I like them because they’re big, but not too big, for filming. If you want to go lead-free check out Schott Zwiesel Tritan Pure Collection which is a better value and comes in sets of 6.

PS. We weren’t paid for these opinions and believe that glassware is a personal choice. Feel free to find me on @twitter or facebook if you want a recommendation.

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Did you know that white wine can be made with red or white grapes? The major difference between making red wine and white wine is that the juice is fermented without the grape’s skins when making white wine. See how white wine is produced with an easy-to-understand infographic.

Part 1: Crush Grapes and Collect Juice

White wine can be made with either white or red grapes. The major difference between white and red wine is that white wines are fermented without the grape skins. First the grapes are pressed off the skins and the sweet grape juice is collected in vats to be fermented into wine.

• Ever heard of White Zinfandel? White wine made with red grapes: White Pinot Noir
• Find out what happens to winery waste

Part 2: Fermenting Grape Juice into Wine

White wines are typically fermented much cooler than red wines. This is to preserve the fresh fruity flavors. During this time the 2 parts sugar ferments into 1 part alcohol. So, if you start with 2 Brix of sugar you’ll get a 1% ABV wine. The higher the sugar content of the juice the higher the resulting alcohol level. White wines are also much more susceptible to discoloration (e.g. turn yellow-brown) and don’t commonly cellar as long as red wines.

Part 3: Oaky Wine and MLF

Oaking white wine adds vanilla flavors. MLF adds a creaminess to white wine. These 2 processes take time and cost extra money for the winery, that’s why oaky wines tend to be more expensive.

• Have you tried an oaky White Bordeaux from Pessac-Leognan?

Part 4: Filtering and Bottling

White wines are almost always filtered before bottling. If you make white wine at home, often it will end up being cloudy. This is because it hasn’t been filtered. Believe it or not, white wines tend to be more unstable than red wines and usually winemakers have to add more sulphites to white wines than red wines.

About the Artist: Jelle De Roeck works as an architect at his own office and teaches Architecture and Design at the University of Leuven, Belgium. In 2011, he started to follow his evergrowing passion for wine and wanted to know all about it. Instead of taking complicated wine courses, he started blogging about his wine discoveries based on specific themes.
 
jellederoeck.tumblr.com

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Port & Stilton Cheese.

“Are you joking me?”

Rick put a morsel of this fragrant-looking blue cheese and a small Port wine glass in front of me. At the time, I’d never had what experts commonly call a “perfect pairing.” In fact, my experience with wine and dining was very removed; I worked in a wine bar that served very little food. To make matters worse I was in the midst of a diet, determined to shave off the last 5 pounds from a demoralizing office job.
 
He was persistent and I gave in.
 
A piece of Stilton with some Fonseca Ruby Port went into my mouth at the same time. Then something weird happened. The two components came together on my palate and formed something similar to the taste of cherries, cinnamon and cream. I forgot all my woes in an instant and experienced what I now refer to as a mouth-gasm.
 

Learn how to taste a perfect pairing, along with 6 of the most classic perfect pairings in the world.

Classic Perfect Pairings

Starters

Champagne and Caviar

Caviar on its own is a thick sheen of salty fish oil with the texture of micro-boba. However when you add Champagne, caviar turns into a light airy pâté that coats your mouth as each Champagne bubble explodes. The acidity in the Champagne helps dissolve weird fishy flavors.

Muscadet and Oysters

If you follow the Loire River to the sea, the vineyards closest to the ocean grow Melon de Bourgogne, the grape of Muscadet. Muscadet is similar to Chablis; it’s lean, zesty and minerally but with more salinity. A swish of Muscadet after every oyster does a very strange thing indeed; it makes the oyster taste more creamy and less “oceany.” You gotta try it.

Main Courses

Riesling and Duck à l’Orange

The French classic duck à l’orange has a bitter-sweet sauce that would overwhelm red wine. However, with an off-dry Riesling the combination is amazing. The wine acts as a sauce multiplier. It will have you reaching for your glass to get a sweet-and-sour mouth explosion with every bite.

Cabernet and Black Pepper Steak

Cabernet is a rich, high tannin wine with subtle savory aromas of black pepper. When you put a peppery earthy steak with Cabernet, the peppery aromas in the wine cling to the flavor of the steak making the wine taste more fruity. This is best tested with a very earthy Cabernet Sauvignon like a left-bank Bordeaux or a Napa Cabernet from a cool vintage.

Dessert

Sauternes and Foie Gras

This is today’s blue-chip wine and food pairing. Rich and buttery foie gras paired with a bright yellow viscous sweet honey’d wine. The magic behind this perfect pairing boils down to meat, butter and syrup. It’s like eating bacon pancakes, but for dinner.

Vintage Port and Stilton

This pairing is a bit of a surprise and it’s my very favorite. Stilton is a stinky, gooey blue cheese and vintage Port is a wine with all of wine’s primary characteristics: tannin, sweetness, alcohol and acidity. What makes it work? When you put the two components together suddenly the Port is not so cloyingly sweet and the cheese is no longer a stink-bomb. In short, they cancel each other out in your mouth. It tastes like cherries and cream.

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5 Tips To Better Wine Pairings

Chefs use the concept of taste balance with food. The same rules apply to wine, but it’s also important to not overshadow the wine (especially if it’s expensive!). Keep the following tips in mind when having wine with food.

• Having Salad? Your Wine Should have Higher Acidity

• The Wine Should Match the Color of The Meat

• Match Earthy Wines with Earthy Foods

• Neutralize High Tannin Wines with Rich Meaty Foods

• For Dessert, The Wine Should be Sweeter

Want to know more about Pairing Food and Wine? Check out these related articles:

• Basic Wine and Food Pairing Chart
• 6 Taste Components Demystified for Wine & Food Pairing
• What Are Wine Tannins
• TESTED: Spicy Food With Wine (VIDEO)

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