The Basic Wine Essentials
Author: Jennie Wills

Whether you are serving it to your guests while entertaining,
using it to create luscious dishes, or simply enjoying its'
company, whatever the occasion, this libation reigns the
kingdom of fine indulgence and has been doing so for centuries.
The conception of wine has been dated as far back as 8000-4000BC
in Mesopotamia. Having thousands of years to further perfect the
wine making process, this sexy beverage is a palate pleaser like
no other providing a continuous adventure for pleasure seekers
in this arena where no bottle is quite like the other. Each and
every wine has its' tale to tell, so indulge and listen
carefully, for this libation is quite capable of taking you to
places you have most likely never been before!

Wine is an enormous subject that is constantly evolving which
can often lead to intimidation. Where do you begin? The
important thing is that you do! The enormity of wine is not
justification for not trying any, but it is reason to be shy
about it. So let's get down to the basics and get you on your
way to a life happily filled with wine!

Creation

Wine is created through the fermentation process of crushed
grapes. Grapes are pressed to release their juices which are
combined with yeast to initiate the fermentation process. This
process converts sugar into alcohol and concludes once the
alcohol reaches such a level as to kill the remaining yeast.
This yeast is naturally occurring in the skin of grapes but is
rarely used in today's wine making process as isolated yeast
strains now exist that can not only act as a fermentation
catalyst but contribute a unique style to the wine as well.

What's in a name?

Every wine is derived from either a single grape or from
several. These grapes are also referred to as "varietals". Each
varietal has a unique name which in turn represents certain
characteristics. A wine characteristic refers to anything that
reflects a resemblance to a scent, taste, or flavor and also
includes mouth feel such as the weight of the wine when on the
palate. Let's use the chardonnay grape as an example.
Chardonnay classically presents characteristics of citrus,
pear, and pineapple to fig, honey, vanilla and butter. This
wine can also be characterized as being full and rich, or
simple and crisp. This variance in characteristics is what
makes wine so mind-blowing and mind-boggling!

There are several factors that contribute to the final result
of a wine. Geographic location of where the vines are planted,
the weather of that region, the vines themselves, soil
conditions and of course the actual wine making process. With
all of these factors considered it is understandable why
someone who may enjoy one chardonnay, may not enjoy the next.
All the more reason to not give up and keep on trying!!

All varietals exude certain characteristics which can aid in
determining one wine from another. This differentiation also
contributes to your own approval and disapproval of certain
wines. Some are light bodied and fruity, others are full bodied
and earthy, whatever your style, there is bound to be a grape
varietal that will satisfy.

Our chart below is an excellent tool to use when purchasing
and/or tasting wine. The left column represents several popular
wine varietals while the right column displays typical
characteristics of that particular varietal.

White Varietal Characteristics

Riesling-Light; Sweet/dry. Tangy, fruity. Citrus, apple, pear,
melon, nectarine, peach, apricot.
Gewurztraminer-Light; Sweet, dry. Grapefruit, lychee, apple,
nectarine, nutmeg, clove, ginger, spice, floral.
Semillon-Med-Full; Often rich. Lemon, lime, honey, butter.
Chenin Blanc-Light; Off dry. Peach, pear, quince, melon, herbal
tea, mineral.
Viognier-Light-med; Floral, honey, apricots, pear.
Sauvignon Blanc-Light-Med; Citrus, gooseberry, lemon, melon,
herbal, bell pepper, grassy.
Pinot Blanc-Light-Med; Dry, crisp. Citrus, apple, pear, melon,
sweet pea.
Pinot Gris/Grigio-Light; Fruitier and soft. Citrus, apple,
pear, peach, melon, honey, vanilla.
Grigio; Crisper, more citrusy.
Chardonnay-Med-full; Dry, rich. Citrus, apple, tropical fruit,
fig, honey, hazelnut, butterscotch, butter, popcorn.

Red Varietal Characteristics

Gamay-Light; Tangy, fruity, cranberry.
Pinot Noir-Light-Med; Cherry, strawberry, clove, mint, truffle,
cloves, smoke, sage.
Sangiovese-Med; Sweet and sour, dark cherry, tobacco, earthy,
almond, herbs, tea.
Barbera-Med-Full; Ripe red fruit, currant, cherry, herbal.
Cabernet Franc-Med; Dry, berry, fruity, herbal, smoky.
Grenache-Med; Black fruit, anise, smoky, herbal.
Cabernet Sauvignon-Med-Full; Cherry, plum, currant, pepper,
bell pepper, cedar, vanilla, mint, chocolate, tea, tobacco.
Shiraz/Syrah-Full; Raspberry, spice, black pepper, blackberry,
plum, tar.
Zinfandel-Full; Juicy, robust, jammy, berry flavors, spices.

Red vs. White

So what's the deal with color? We all know wine to be red,
white, and rose, or blush as some call it, but the juice is
really all the same! Have you ever looked at the flesh of a red
grape before? It is the same as a green grape, therefore if wine
exists in a variety of hues then the color must come from….of
course, the skin! Often white wine is made from red grapes, in
fact, most great champagne would not exist without, so don't be
fooled, pink grapes do not exist! Yes, red and white grapes
appear the same in juice form but when their skin is added to
the wine making picture a whole other story begins!

The many gorgeous hues of red evident in red wine is a result
of allowing red grapes to ferment with their skins, however
color is not the only thing affected by the skin of a grape. I
am sure you have tasted a wine, a red wine in particular that
makes your mouth pucker; an astringent sensation on the palate
if you will. What you experienced is known as "tannin".

Tannin is a natural substance found in the skins, stems, and
seeds of grapes. You can experience this sensation in young
whites however it is more commonly found in red wines. Allowing
the juice to ferment with skins will in turn generate a higher
level of tannin to exist in the resulting wine. It is no secret
that many people have a preference for either white or red wine.
A very tannic wine is often a reason for dislike especially if
you are new to wine. There are several varieties associated
with being quite tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah,
Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, are to name a few however in the game
of wine you will not know until you try!

Every wine will possess its own unique color. A wine's color
can reveal its story, and to experienced blind tasters, provide
necessary clues in pinpointing a correct assumption. Each grape
variety generally exudes a certain range of hues however age
and wood barrel aging will also have an affect on color. So
evidently there is much more to color than just red and white!

Wine is an endless educational journey even for those most
experienced in this subject so it is vital to explore and try
new and exciting wines as often as your time allows!

So get out there, get tasting, and have fun!


About The Author: Jennie Wills has been a hospitality expert
for 10 years leading to the successful launch of
http://www.thesexykitchen.com Discover how to turn your passion
into a successful website.
http://www.succeed-from-your-passion.com