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Carafes fall into two categories: those for cold liquids and those for hot liquids. When you buy a coffeemaker, the glass pot inside the coffeemaker is the carafe. Carafes are also sold for wine, juices and other liquids served cold or at room temperature. Spillage and pouring problems occur when excess liquid seeps over the top of the carafe.
Different wines are named after the variety of grape from which they are made or from the region where they are produced. Many North American and other New World wines are named only according to grape variety, although some also identify on the label the geographic area, while European wines are often named according to the region they are produced. According to the Wine Institute, France, Italy, Spain, United States, Argentina and Australia produce the most wine, as of 2009.
Wine refrigerators and wine coolers are both methods of chilling wine and storing bottles. While some people use the two terms interchangeably, the two appliances are actually slightly different. A wine cooler has a smaller shape and size, for transporting the wine between locations. Wine refrigerators have a larger size because you use the appliance in one location.
The third Thursday of every November, wine enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau shipped from east-central France. This tradition celebrates the new wine of the fall harvest, which is appreciated for its light body and fruit-forward flavors. The technique by which it's made, extracts fruity flavors with very little tannin, so those who don't like tannic reds will love a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau. This wine should be served slightly chilled to maximize its flavor and pairs well with a variety of dishes.
Chilling white wine is a common practice among wine aficionados and casual wine drinkers alike. Therefore, it's a well-known fact that white wine must be chilled. However, the length of time the wine should be chilled varies according to the wine and the process being used to chill the wine. It's important not to over chill it, but to also allow sufficient enough time for it to chill properly.
Pomace is often discarded as an unwanted byproduct of winemaking. With a little creativity, however, winemakers can squeeze even more from their grapes. After winemakers squeeze the juice out of their grapes, they're left with pomace, the mass of skins, seeds, stems and pulp that are left behind in the winepress. Instead of throwing the pomace away, centuries of winemakers have found ways to make the generous grape keep on giving.
One of the most popular Italian alcoholic beverages is grappa. Italy produces around 40 million bottles of grappa per year. Grappa is made from pomace, the wine making leftovers including seeds, skins and stems of grapes, and then distilled. Grappa can be made from one varietal of grapes or from a mixture of different pomaces. White grappa is bottled right after the distillation process is complete. Riserva, a yellow or brown-tinted grappa, is aged in wooden casks. Flavored grappas are also available.
When most aficionados think of Greek wine, they think of resin-flavored retsina, a staple of low-priced Greek restaurants everywhere. While retsina maintains a certain popularity in its home country, it isn't a flavor that most outsiders enjoy. However, the ancient Greek industry has proven resilient, and modern day wine makers are creating vintages that hold their own against better-known regions.
Wines are distinguished by the color of grapes used in their production and the district where the grapes are grown. Location affects flavor, which is the main aspect you will be primarily concerned with when describing wines. Whether you are teaching a novice wine-tasting class or you're a chef and you need to describe the different types of wine to your kitchen staff, remember that flavor determines which food pairings are acceptable to serve along with each wine variety.
Grappa is a type of alcohol created by fermenting grape skins and grape solids. It generally has a high alcohol content of between 70 and 120 proof, with Banfi's style of grappa coming in at 90 proof. Traditionally seen as a more working class beverage, modern grappa, like Castello Banfi Brunello Grappa is considered much more high class, and was named a Gold Medal Beverage by the Beverage Testing Institute in July 2002.
There's a purpose for those long, thin stems on wine glasses -- and it's not just for looks. Wine glasses are meant to be held by their stems, not by the bowl. When held incorrectly, your body heat will transfer from your hands to the glass and warm the wine past its ideal serving temperature. Neglecting this wine-drinking etiquette will also result in unsightly fingerprints on your wine glass. And without the proper holding technique, you will lose that pleasant clinking sound during a toast.
Fortified eggs are enriched with nutrients that aren't generally native to the eggs. Manufacturers add DHA, Vitamin E, PUFAs and folate to the feed of chickens to enhance the nutrient content of their eggs. There is some debate over whether or not this is benefits human health. Bodybuilders and fitness professionals have long used eggs as a good source of protein but fortified eggs can be a good source of other nutrients, too.
The qualities of a wine should be savored for its attributes, characteristics and flavors. Having a working knowledge of the different types of wine will only enhance the enjoyment of drinking them. Each grape type is defined as a varietal, and specific varietals make up the different wine types. The location, soil conditions and moisture level will have the greatest effect on the wine produced. However, what the individual winemaker does after harvesting the grapes also affects the quality. Wines are classified into six basic categories. Most of the grapes grown in the United States come from California, New York,…
The Greeks have been producing wine since ancient times, and the earliest evidence of a stone foot press suggests that winemaking in Greece dates to 1600 BC. Wine played an important role in the evolution of the Greek economy, and some of the ancient wine varieties are still produced today.
The task of choosing which aspects separate wine types makes categorizing wine difficult. Evolution, flavor and location all fail in producing logical categories of wine. However, because of the long history of wine, wine researchers have unintentionally created a traditional categorization that is still used today.
Winemaking has been around for thousands of years and continues to be a part of world culture and cuisine. Wine is made from the juices of red and white grapes of several varieties The grapes are crushed and the juice is pressed out to begin the winemaking process. Yeast is added and the mixture is transferred to barrels or vats to begin the fermentation process that will convert the sugars in the grape juice to alcohol. There are four main types of wine: white, red, champagne and rose. Each type of wine has its own character and taste and can…
Retsina is a type of Greek wine that's something of an acquired taste. Retsina has its roots in an ancient winemaking method that involved sealing grape wine in clay jars that were then sealed with pitch or resin to prevent spoilage. This use of resin sealed the jar tightly, but gave the wine a "pine-y" taste. Retsina is less popular today than it was in years past, but many wine drinkers still enjoy this unique style of wine, which comes in both red and white varieties.
Drinking wine in moderation is good for your health. Louis Pasteur called wine the "healthiest and most health-giving of drinks." The Apostle Paul urged Christians in 2 Timothy 5:23 to "use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." Red wine can neutralize free radicals -- the molecules that damage the body's cells and cause cancer, heart disease, stroke and degeneration. Red wine is healthier than white wine because of the phytochemicals found in red wine grape skins.
Choosing the right type of wine depends on numerous factors -- personal preferences, the food you're pairing it with and budget, among others. The sheer number of types of wine can be overwhelming as you're searching for something to bring home for dinner, but with a little information on the types of wine available, you can make your search easy and fruitful.
Choosing the right wine can be a bewildering experience for someone new to the world of wines. There are many types of wine and seemingly innumerable flavors, made from grapes grown in all corners of the world. Some wines are differentiated by their place of origin. Examples include Bordeaux (from France) and Rioja (from Spain), which are named after respective wine growing regions in those countries. Many, however, are differentiated by the grape used, the manufacturing process, and age. According to Cellar Notes, a wine reference guide, there are more than 600 varieties of grapes, of which about 30 are…
The first food to be fortified for health reasons was salt, which was first fortified with iodine in 1924 in order to prevent goiter. Since then, foods have continued to be fortified with various vitamins and minerals, in order to decrease prevalence of detrimental health conditions like pellagra and neural-tube defects in infants.
The company most associated with jelly beans is California company Jelly Belly, which began making the confectionery in the 1960s. The company has taken the art of the jelly bean to a new level, with innovative flavors combined with a marketing program that has launched the product all over the world. However, there are also a few rival companies manufacturing these small sweets.
Every beverage has the perfect glass to increase the richness of its aroma and flavor. Lovers of port wine know that their favorite libation needs room to breathe and a balanced temperature for the flavor to reach its fullest potential. Just as cognac is traditionally served in a snifter, there are specific types of glasses that will bring out the best in your precious port wine.
Restaurants classify wines according to color, with red and white wines being the most common. Red wines get their color from the skins of black grapes accompanying the pulp through the processing. White wines can be made of dark or white grapes since all grape juice initially starts as the same, lighter color. The skins of the dark grapes don't go through the white wine creation process. Blush wines is an American-invented middle category comprising mid-toned wines created with red grapes whose skins only make it part of the way through processing, thus muting the color.
While there are many different fortified wine types and styles, they all consist of the same ingredients: wine and spirit. A spirit, or distilled liquor, is added to the wine either during or after the fermentation process, making it more potent. Originally wines were fortified to prevent spoilage, but the taste caught on and they are still popular today.
Wines are differentiated by varietal or as blended wines. Both can be high-quality wines, but a varietal means that one variety of grapes is used predominantly. Whether a wine is sweet or dry is determined by the residual sugar. The sugar is left after fermentation. Dry wine has very small amounts of residual sugars. The wines listed are in order from sweet to dry.
Red wines can differ in a variety ways ranging from varying flavors and body types to preferred serving ages and food pairings. Some red wines are made in only a handful of regions, as their grapes thrive in particular climates, while others can be made in a variety of locations throughout the world as their grapes are more versatile. Blending is also popular among a number of differing red wines, while it is uncommon with other wines with specific and notable structures and flavors.
Though the term Champagne technically refers to sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France, it is commonly used to refer to all sparkling wines. Table wines, or still wines, differ in a few important ways from their bubbly counterpart, though both are favorite drinks for toasts and celebrations.
A glass of wine is a great way to end the day, whether you're at home cooking your own gourmet dinner or out with your spouse or friends. Most people know which type of wine they favor but know little more than that it's red or white. The fact is that not all white or red wines are the same; there are several varieties each with its own flavor, consistency and taste. Red wines are dry and made from red or black grapes; taste depends on where each grape is grown and even on the weather. You might be familiar…
Enjoyed for centuries as an aperitif or dessert wine, Port is a fortified wine that takes its named from the place of its invention, the Portuguese city of Porto. Porto is at the mouth of the 560-mile-long Rio Douro (River of Gold). Port wine was traditionally conveyed to the city from vineyards along the Douro by small transport ships known as Rabelos that were specially designed for river's often-treacherous conditions.
An example of the Italian tradition that puts every ingredient to good use, grappa is distilled from the grape residue left over from wine making. The color and quality of the grapes determine the flavor and color of the grappa. To be called grappa, it must be made in Italy. Generally considered an digestif, grappa adds a flavor to a number of cocktails.
Wine types are determined by the variety of grapes in combination with the methods used to make it, according to Bradley Cooper, winemaker and winery consultant in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. Cooper says there are hundreds if not thousands of types of grapes that can be used to make wine into four main types: white, red, rose and sparkling. Wines are either made from one type of grape or a blend of different varietals. Wines are named for the grape it contains, for example, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, or the region where they are produced, such as Chianti or Burgundy.
While it is common in many countries to call any strong dessert style wine "Port," the only "true" Port comes from one place, the Douro valley in Portugal. Port is one of the country's best known exports, and it is savored all over the world. The name "Port" comes from the city of Oporto, an old center of port making.
So much goes into making wine that preserving it becomes just as important. The type of container your wine comes in and how you store the container once you have opened it can affect the taste, color and strength of the wine. Just as wine is centuries old, so are the containers, which have also evolved over time. For example, the ancient Greeks used to hold their wine in containers made of goat skin. Whatever the time period, people have always wanted to keep their wine in the best condition; if you contain it properly, wines can keep their distinctive…
The fermentation process results in types of wine from dry to sweet. The level of sweetness or dryness has nothing to do with ingredients or flavors. More sugar left after the fermentation process results in a sweeter wine. When 100 percent of the sugar is fermented to alcohol, the wine is dry.
Typically enjoyed as a dessert wine, Moscato can also be served as an aperitif, afternoon thirst quencher or Sunday brunch accompaniment. As a "frizzante," Moscato is not as bubbly as the related sparking wine Asti Spumante, but it is still popular for its sweet, fresh vibrancy and fruit-forward flavors. When making Moscato, emulate some of the methods of the premier producers of Moscato. A vineyard in Italy, for example, might use 30-year-old vines at high altitude on calcareous soil to yield 100,000 bottles or more.
Muscadet wine is produced in the Muscadet region of France, from which the white wine takes its name. Muscadet is made with a mild-flavored grape called melon de Bourgogne. Because the wine is so light in flavor, it is often allowed to sit for long periods before it's sold, which slightly carbonates it and makes it a sparkling wine. Although it is often confused with muscat, the two wines taste vastly different. Muscadet is light with a hint of tanginess. The wine pairs well with a variety of foods.
Founders of philosophy, written history, and mathematics, the ancient Greeks were far ahead of their time in many diverse ways. Among those many ways, table etiquette was practiced by the Golden Society. Though the ancient Greeks did practice setting the table before a meal, it was not nearly as complex as the Western tradition has made it over the years. However, a Greek table setting remains unique and intricate among place settings worldwide.
The fizz in sparkling wine can occur naturally during the fermentation process, when sugar converts to carbon dioxide. Alternatively, an injection of the gas can be administered.
Red wines are created through a process called extraction, which is the removal of color and flavor from wine grapes. The skins of wine grapes hold the color for making wines because the pulp is colorless. The skins contain compounds like tannins -- a compound that reacts with proteins to create the dry and puckery sensation when drinking red wine -- and anthocyanins -- red and purple colored pigments which are important in the formulation of red wines. The key to making red wine is to extract just the right amount of color and flavor from red wine grape skins…
In the United States, table wine is legally defined as wine made from grapes with an alcohol content under 14 percent by volume. Table wine can also be referred to as light wine, red table wine, white table wine and sweet table wine, depending on the style.
Selecting a wine to make an impression on a romantic date can seem like an intimidating prospect. You want to make the right choice at a restaurant to complement what you might be having for dinner, and you'll also hope to impress your date with the selection you've made. However, you don't want to appear too showy or pretentious, or as though you're trying too hard. Having some basic wine knowledge and knowing the right questions to ask your server or wine shop employee can certainly set your date in the right direction.
Stuffy sommeliers are something of the past. In this new age of the Internet, it is possible to become a sommelier online. Online courses can help anyone interested in becoming a sommelier learn the intensive instruction required to become a master of wine in a timely manner.
Five-dollar jug wine or a fine Chateauneuf-du-Pape: it all begins as unfermented grape juice, or "must," at one point on its journey from the vineyard to the glass. But how do you acquire the ability to distinguish any certain wine from another? And how do you figure out what wine matches your palate? Besides drinking it, the best wine classes will help you decide.
Wine has been a popular beverage for centuries and the reds and whites dominate the front in wine consumption. Many types of wine are produced in Europe, the Americas and other countries. The wines that remain favored classics in restaurants and wine shops tend to be the good introductory types that are easy on the palate, dynamic in flavor and affordable.
Wine has been a part of the Greek culture for at least 4,000 years. Ancient Greek wines are a bit of a mystery, although there is much written about them. The ancient Greeks associated wines with metaphysical or philosophical beliefs about the nature of the universe. This esoteric method of labeling and describing wines is difficult to understand from a modern perspective. Historical accounts of Greek wines indicate that sweet wines were highly regarded, and that ancient Greeks often added honey and spices to their wines. They also liked to mix wine with both fresh and sea water. About 30…
France is known worldwide for its vineyards and superior wine production. France produces more wine than any other country in the world aside from Italy, thanks in part to the ideal grape-growing climate in the country. In 2008, France produced 45,692 hectoliters of wine, with a total of 2,017 acres of land dedicated to vineyards, according to the Wine Institute website. Each vineyard specializes in specific types of grapes, which in turn produce a variety of different French wine types.
The United States produces an astounding amount of wine and American wine is some of the most well-known in the world. This "New World" wine utilizes the traditional European grape varieties, but gives them an American twist with new growing conditions and advanced technology. There are wineries in all 50 states, with California, Washington, New York, Oregon and Texas being the major wine-producing states.
Since the 6th century, winemakers have been using natural corks as the primary wine bottle closure. Natural corks are most often made from oak bark and are used to minimize microorganisms, yeast and mold from entering the wine. Due to recent advancements in technology, winemakers are now using alternative methods for wine closures, including synthetic corks, screw caps and Zorks.
The Canadian wine industry has grown rapidly since 1974, when the nation agreed to lift its moratorium on new licenses to produce and sell wine. Canadian vintners experimented with various types of grapes in different regions, all competing to make the best wines. The result: a wealth of international awards. Canadian law grants each province the right to control the distribution and sale of wines within their borders. As a result, each province has its own liquor control board that grants licenses.
In France, wines are named by the region, or appellation, in which the grapes are grown. The Burgundy, or in French, Bourgogne, region has 100; these are divided into four levels based upon the quality of the land upon which the grapes are grown, known as terrior. Grand Cru is the highest level and makes up only a small percent of the total appellations. Burgundy wines are made out of only a few specific grape varietals. The most widely grown grape varietals are Pinot noir, Gamay, Chardonnay and Aligoté.
Wine is not only categorized as red, white, rose or sparkling; within these categories there are also different flavors and bodies. There are several types of red wine ranging from sweet to dry, light-bodied to full-bodied. Knowing the differences within the red wine grouping can help when pairing wine with a meal.
Get the most enjoyment from your wine by serving it at the proper temperature. As a general rule, white and sparkling wines are served chilled and red wines are not; there is a tendency, however, to serve the former too cold and the latter too warm. This robs wines of their full flavor and aroma. Achieving the correct serving temperatures for different wines is relatively easy.
It can take some time before you are able to distinguish particular flavors and aromas in the wine you're drinking. Isolating particular notes and putting a name to them is often difficult as there are so many flavors mingling together. However, with practice you can pick up on distinct smells and tastes in each wine. Consider putting some of the common spices, herbs, and fruit essences in small jars and keep them on hand to smell when you are tasting a wine to help you identify the flavors.
Port is not truly authentic unless it was grown and bottled in the Duoro Valley in Portugal. During their war with France, the English could not drink French wines and had to come up with a substitute. The Duoro Valley was the perfect place to set up new vineyards. In order to help it survive the journey overseas, brandy was added to help it last longer, making it fortified wine.
Home wine filters provide a way to improve wine's appearance, make wine more stable and shorten its aging time. Wine makers can choose between gravity feed and pressurized filtering systems. Gravity feed systems work by siphoning wine into a filtering unit and cost less than pressurized systems, but are slower at filtering and can only perform coarse filtrations. Pressurized filtering systems force wine through filter pads using either motorized or hand pumps and offer finer and faster filtration than gravity feed systems. Filtering systems are available through home wine making companies. Many companies also offer simple filter-pourers for individual bottles…
Tannins are an acid found in red grapes. These tannins can add a deeper, more intense flavor to wine. The smooth flavor makes a great pairing for red meat dishes and chocolate desserts. Wine high in tannins are also good for your heart and can be imbibed with moderation as part of a healthy diet.
As wine consumption rises, so does the use of accessories such as decanters, wine keys and chillers. Wine chillers vary from tableside ice buckets to ice jackets, electronic chillers and wine refrigerators.
Turning juice into wine involves a process called fermentation in which yeast, an anaerobic bacteria, is introduced into and allowed to interact with the juice from the grapes. If certain other bacteria become trapped in the juice with the yeast, however, the outcome may be very different than expected.
Amber wine is made from stalkless black grapes. It is a type of wine that is sweeter and pinker than typical red wine. Amber wine is also called blush or rose wine for its distinctive pink color. It is produced from grapes that have their skins removed soon after they are pressed and fermented. This technique limits the transfer of color from the skin of the grapes. Amber wine ranges in taste from dry to medium sweet.
Madeira wine originates from the island of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean near Portugal. Madeira wine was created in the 15th century by sailors. In order for the wine to last on their long journeys, they fortified it with brandy, which gave Madeira its famed longevity. Madeira wine is labeled in four major types, based on the grape used: Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malmsey. Madeira also has four grades, based on the age of the wine: reserve, which is aged for at least five years; special reserve, aged for at least 10 years, and extra reserve, aged for 15…
Grappa is distilled from fermented grape pomace (the skin and seeds left over from the winemaking process). With its high alcohol content, grappa is considered the "brandy" of Italy. Grappa is distinguished into categories based on age, aroma and types of grapes used.
To create the wine you want, much depends on the kind of yeast you use. There are thousands of different wine yeast strains, all with unique properties that influence each wine differently. Yeast is the catalyst in wine's fermentation, and without it you would simply end up with a syrupy sweet grape juice.
Many people drink wine to relax at home, as a taste-enhancing addition to a meal or to be social at get-togethers. Dozens of wine varieties exist, at least one for every taste, which may seem intimidating to those that don't often drink wine or those looking for a wine they can enjoy. However, a little vocabulary and basic knowledge about wine's main categories can help people choose wine by category rather than taking a shot in the dark, so to speak.
Of all the factors that affect the qualities of wine, pH is among the most important. The pH of a wine affects the flavor, texture, color and smell of the wine. Different wines typically stay within certain pH values. Most white wines are between 3 and 3.3 pH. Most red wines are between 3.3 and 3.5 pH.
Pink-hued wines go by many names: rosé, vin gris, rosato, weissherbst and blush, to name a few. Consistently popular in parts of Europe for its versatility and refreshing quality, blush wines are often looked down on in the United States. The lasting backlash against pinks goes back to the 1980s, when poor quality, overly sweet White Zinfandel became ubiquitous. Despite its reputation, pink wine can be complex and is often dry. There are certainly many high-quality pink wines.
Champagne vinegar and white wine vinegar are both wine vinegars, which are milder in flavor and acidity than other types of vinegar. Champagne vinegar is derived from champagne, while white wine vinegar is made from white wine.
The three main types of wine are red, rose and white. While similar in appearance, red wine and rose wine have a few significant differences.
How to tell the difference between champagne and sparkling wine; learn more about champagne and sparkling wine in this free instructional video.
Goblets have three parts. There's the mouth, the bowl and the stem. The shape of the first two determines the purpose. You can drink wine and water from any goblet, but matching the glass to the purpose adds to the enjoyment.
If you love wine and are building a great collection, but don't have a vintage cellar in which to store all the bottles, do not refinance your home to afford such a place. A simple closet, preferably located in the interior of your home or in your basement, is all you need to prepare an ideal place for your wine. With a few inexpensive pieces, you can design an area that will both store and protect your beloved wines.
Wine storage is not about temperature only. Humidity levels, either too high or too low, can have a detrimental effect on wine. Many of the smaller wine refrigerators that have come into the market do nothing to control the humidity inside their storage level. You can solve that problem without a great deal of expense and keep the wine at the ideal humidity level of between 50 and 70 percent.
Defining the difference between a sweet wine and a dry wine is fairly simple; however, how sweet or dry a wine actually tastes is influenced by many factors. Use your taste buds and a little knowledge to discover the wine most pleasing to your palate.
Chile is known as a "new world" wine country, and is considered among the best wine producers in South America. Known for its "value" wines, Chile's production of moderate to expensive bottles is on the rise.
Although not traditionally a wine-producing country, Sweden has, for centuries, produced wines made with fruits other than grapes. In recent years, many small vineyards have appeared which produce wines from grapes through both conventional and innovative methods.
Ordering a blush wine at a restaurant has been known to make wine purists, well, blush. They're as beloved by casual drinkers as they are reviled by snobs, but one thing is certain: they're a refreshing, not presumptuous summertime classic. No picnic basket would be complete without a bottle tucked in for a jubilant sunny-weather swig.
Wine can be a delicious complement to any fine meal. Although wine is an alcoholic drink, in moderate portions it may actually be good for your health. Try serving a bottle of fine wine at your next dinner party for your friends to sample and enjoy. Find out which type of wine goes best with which foods so the wine complements the meal and brings out the flavor of the food.
Boxed wine has increased in popularity with recent improvements in quality and design. Boxed wine is available in several sizes, though the most common are 1-liter Tetra Paks, similar to what certain juices are packaged in, and 3-liter boxes that contain an inner plastic pouch. Below are five types of boxed wine.
Lambrusco is a light, sweet, sparkling wine, usually red but also white or pink, made all across Italy's Emilia-Romagna region a little south of the Alps. It's made of the red lambrusco grape, and its most common commercial name in America is Riunite. Unless you settle on just a couple of substitutes, to find a wine comparable to lambrusco you'd have to decide whether you want to drink something sweet or fizzy, or red or white. Lambrusco's exact taste profile can be hard to replicate.
Greek wines have been made for centuries and are respected and enjoyed all over the world. There are over 300 different cultivars of Greek wines including red, white, blanc de gris, and grape varieties.
Originating from places around the globe, thousands of different varieties of wines exist, with their flavor largely influenced by the breed of the grape, its heritage and the geographical site of cultivation. Along with the grapes, however, the fermentation process defines each distinct type of wine.
Fortified wines are wines whose natural alcohol levels have been strengthened (fortified) by the addition of extra alcohol, such as a neutral-tasting grape brandy. Fortified wines are often exposed to more oxygen than ordinary wines, which gives them a tangy flavor and brownish color. This style of wine making probably got its start as a way to preserve and improve very acidic or bad tasting wines.
The various types of wines differ as much as the characteristics of wine itself. The first step in finding and appreciating a good wine is understanding the fundamental types of wine, from dry to sweet, and red to white.
Burgundy is a region of east central France famous for its wines, both red and white. Although good, economical Burgundies exist, the very best wines are scarce and expensive. The only grapes used in fine Burgundy are pinot noir and gamay (red), and chardonnay (white).
Wine types and styles start with red and white wines, but also involve different grape varieties, new and classic styles and what region they come from. Find the wine to best suit a particular mood and style with ideas from a wine connoisseur in this free video on wines.
Wine glasses are available in a large array of sizes, shapes and heights. Riedel manufactures 20 designs for all different types of varietals. The large range of choices can seem daunting, but those who choose to indulge in special glasses will find that flavor and color is enhanced. However, good all-purpose glasses work for everyday wine enjoyment.
No doubt, we've all run across a recipe or two that calls for a little cooking wine as one of its ingredients. Sometimes, you may just skip it as a component, or substitute something you readily have on hand. You might even wonder if the wine you opened the night before would work in a pinch. But is there an actual difference between wine and cooking wine?
If you're an admitted chocoholic, you can take your chocolate obsession to the next level by learning to tantalize and refine your taste buds. If you're not sure where to start, you can order chocolate tasting kits online, which contain a preselected variety of fine international chocolate brands. Invite a few friends over, compare notes and find out what you've been missing.
Dessert wine is a broad term that covers, literally, hundreds of types of wines and wine-making methods. There are dessert wines made in practically every country and region that make non-dessert wines, and there are a few common methods that are used. Understanding these methods will better help you understand dessert wine in general.
Blended wines are made from several different types of wine grapes. Learn more about blended wines from an expert sommelier in this free specialty wine video.
There's more to bubbly wine than just champagne! There are different types of sparkling wine from all over the globe that are made in a variety of ways. After tasting, you will see just how varied the bubbles can be.
An important distinction to remember when wine tasting is the difference between the aroma and the bouquet of wine. An aroma is the smell directly from the grape. Bouquet is the smell created by the wine making process or fermentation. When you smell fruit in wine, that is the aroma. A yeasty, oak smell is the bouquet. Follow these tips to determine a wine's aroma or bouquet.
How to know the difference between Chardonnay and Merlot wines; learn about the wide diversity of wine in this free instructional video.
Most famously known for its straw-covered bottles served in small Italian restaurants, Chianti is one of the world's most famous red wines. Like an old friend, Chianti is open, inviting and approachable. Read on to learn how to choose a Chianti.
