Wine DefinitionsAperitifs - Aperitifs, or appetizer wines, are generally served before meals. Champagne and Sherries are traditional aperitifs. Light white wine may also fall into this category.Dessert Wines - Dessert wines are usually served with or in place of dessert, and can be sweet or dry. Dessert wines are officially classified as having an alcohol content of between 17 and 21 percent. Sherry, Tokay and Port are well known types of dessert wines. Rosés (Blush Wines) - Rosés, or blush wines, are light pink in color and made from several types of red wine grapes. Their color is the result of a very short period of contact with the grape skins during the wine making process. Rosés are light and usually have some sweetness. Table Wines - Table wines can be red, white, or blush wines. They contain 7 to 14 percent alcohol and are still, rather than effervescent. They can come from any grape or any combination of grapes and in any style. Table wines may carry varietal names, names describing the color (for example, blush) or region (such as Chablis) or a name coined by the winery.
There are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes cultivated around the world.Here is a description of the most popular: Barbera - This red wine grape is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but with higher acid levels. These grapes commonly produce a deep, intense wine and are commonly used as a "backbone" for California "jug" wines. Cabernet Sauvignon - This red wine grape is known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. A "noble" grape famous as one of the main varieties used to create the magnificent French Bordeaux region blended red wines. Chardonnay - This white wine grape typically balances fruit, acidity and texture. It's the best-known white wine producer grown in France. The Chardonnay vine is widely planted in the Burgundy and Chablis regions. Australia and New Zealand have succeeded in producing world-class Chardonnays in recent years. Chenin Blanc - This white wine grape produces fresh, delicate floral characteristics. It's also known as White Pinot (Pinot Blanco) Gewurztraminer - This white wine grape produces distinctive wines rich in spicy aromas and full flavors, ranging from dry to sweet. Merlot - This red wine grape is important as both a single varietal and as a blending agent. It's known for adding softness to Cabernet Sauvignon. Muscat - This white wine grape makes some of the best sweet wines, both light fizzy ones and heavy sugary ones, as well as fully dry table wines. Nebbiolo - This red wine grape produces strong, long-aging wines with depth and character. Pinot Grigio/Gris - This white wine grape the mutant clone of Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir/Nero - This red wine grape is the premier grape of the Burgundy region of France, producing a red wine that is lighter in color than the Bordeaux reds, such as the Cabernet or Merlot. Riesling - This white wine grape produces wines known for their floral perfume. Sangiovese - This red wine grape is best known as the grape behind the Italian red wine, Chianti. Sauvignon Blanc - This white wine grape imparts a grassy, herbaceous flavor to wine often referred to as "gooseberry" by professional tasters. Semillon - This white wine grape is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc and sometimes with Chardonnay to cut some of the strong "gooseberry" flavor of the latter grape and create better balance. Shiraz - This red wine grape is the clone of the French Syrah grape. Grown in Australia and responsible for very big red wines that are not quite as intense in flavor as the French Rhone versions. Tempranillo - This red wine grape leans on the light side, and tends to be higher in acid and lower in alcohol. Viognier - This white grape is somewhat difficult to grow. Fans of this variety enjoy its peachy, apricot and sometimes spicy flavors. Zinfandel - This red wine grape is used to produce robust red wine as well as very popular "blush wines" called "white Zinfandel". It is known for its fruit-laden, berry-like aroma and prickly taste characteristics in its red version and pleasant strawberry reminders when made into a "blush" wine. 
A turn for the better?
|
