Dec 05 2007
Choosing Great Wines - Wine Clubs
Wine clubs are a fun and easy way to experience wine. With some you automatically receive a number of bottles of select wine twice per year. Another great way to experience or choose great wines is to host or attend a wine tasting party. You should note, wine tasting etiquette is the same, whether it is wine tasting in London, wine tasting Temecula, wine tasting in France or a wine tasting Tuscany tour.
Check out our home page for some great wine tasting tips.
Beginners Guide to Choosing Wine
- Wine can get people flustered. Not just drinking it but making a selection. Some people know little about wine. Knowing the different types of wine will help you to make a more educated choice the next time you are out shopping for a bottle.Wines from the Canada or the United States are named first for the type of grape used in them and then for the place they were made. European wines are named by the place they were made and then by the type of grape. This simple explanation will help you to immediately define a domestic wine from an imported wine.The different types of wines are based upon what is used to make them and sometimes by the process in which they are made. The following list explains each type of wine.
- Red wine - These wines are made form dark skinned grapes or dark colored grapes.
- White wine - This wine is made from light skinned grapes or from dark skinned grapes whose skins have been removed prior to processing or fermentation.
- Rose wine- This is made from leaving the skins on dark grapes just so the wine is tinted and then removing them. A Rosé (Italian: Rosato) is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and winemaking techniques.
- Sparkling wine or champagne- This is made as a regular wine and then goes through a second fermentation process. Wine that undergoes a secondary fermentation in a vat (charmat process) or bottle (champagne) and thus becomes effervescent through the formation of bubbles of carbon-dioxide. To put it simply carbonated wine.
- Dessert wines - These are made the same as the others, but have a higher sugar content.
- Fruit wines - These wines are made from fruit other than grapes.
- Kosher wine - Made for those of the Jewish religions, these wines follow a rabbinical production process.
- Organic wines - This type is made from grapes that are grown organically. Wine is labeled “organic” or “made with organic grapes” with the strict organic rules set by the USDA National Organic Program.
- Ice Wines - A dessert wine made from ripe grapes grown in very cold climates that have been left on the vine and allowed to freeze. The grapes are pressed so as to leave the frozen water behind concentrating the sugars, acidity and flavour. A Canadian specialty.
- Homemade wine - high alcohol content avoid!! Instead, use it to peel wall paper. This usually relates to vino given to you and not wine you have made yourself.
- Nonalcoholic wines - These wines begin as a traditional wine and then go through additional processing to remove almost all of the alcohol.
When choosing a wine you really should go with your gut and from your personal preference or experience. Taste the wine and consider its flavor and the flavor of the food you are pairing it with. You do not want the wine to overpower the food. The wine is expected to compliment the food. If you are unsure purchase champagne which goes with anything.
Having some knowledge and a little background on wine can help you to make a more informed and confident decision. Having an idea of the general type of wine you want before arriving at the store will expedite your selection process.