Favourite Flavours
Wines are identified by their origins or by the grape variety from
which they are made. To help you choose the best tasting wine, you need
to know what type of grape is being used and from what particular region
it came from. There are thousands of grape varieties for wine,
you may find it as mentioned in the wine label. You've probably seen
most of these when browsing the wine shelves. So it's really a simple
matter to get to know what they're like.
Chardonnay
- Is one of the most well known white grape varieties. You've
probably tried it. Just about every country that makes wine grows
Chardonnay - even in China has some. Its heartland is in Burgundy in
France where it makes wines that vary from crisp and flinty to
nuttier, buttery and aged in oak. New World Chardonnay is often
richer and riper.
Sauvignon Blanc and Cotes De Gascogne
- Sauvignon Blanc is another white grape that gained fame in
France and was taken up by winemakers elsewhere. In France it's
found in the Loire Valley and in Bordeaux. Outside France it's
probably most famous in New Zealand where the fresh flavour of
the grape are exaggerated and taken to extremes.
- Cotes De Gascogne is a region in south-west France which has
made a name for itself with fresh, crisp, fruity dry whites.
This same region is also known in making a high quality brandy
called Armagnac. But they found out that they had more grapes
than they needed for distillation so they make them into wine.
Armagnac
Is one of the world's top quality brandies named after
another region in France. It starts as a wine made from three
types of grapes, the wine is then distilled and the product is
aged in black oak barrels for up to 20 years.
German Whites
These are some of the most misunderstood wines in the world. At one
end, they provide some cheapest wines on the market which also happen to
be some of the best introductions to wine. Some wines became popular and
are widely available and easily drinkable.
But in some ways Germany also produces some seriously fine wines which
will age for years. Look for the term Kabinett on the label if you want
a dry off-dry version or Spatlese if you'd like something a little
sweeter. If you want to stick to branded wines, Blue Nun is one of the
best and reliable.
German wine names can be confusing. The first word or two indicates
the place of origin, the next word the grape and the final word the
quality and sweetness level.
This wine is made on the coldest of winter mornings in subzero
temperatures. The grapes are left on the vine and freeze solid when the
temperature plummets. The grapes are pressed while they are still frozen
- the sweet concentrated juice emerges from the press and all the water
is left behind.
Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde comes from northern Portugal. The name means literally
'green wine' and it's meant to be drunk young. There's a difference
between Vinho Verde as drunk in Portugal and Vinho Verde as exported
abroad. Half the Vinho Verde produced in Portugal is red but its hardly
ever exported.
Sauternes
Sauternes is practically the opposite of Vinho Verde. Instead of
being dry off-dry it is richly sweet, though with good acidity to
balance the sweetness, so it is never cloying. It will last for many
years in bottle if you want to, but you must store it correctly.
Champagne
Its the world's most famous sparkling wine - but not all
sparkling wine is Champagne. Only the sparkling wine of the Champagne
region of northern France is entitled to the name.
Champagne should have a clean, refreshing flavour but also be round
and ripe. Three different grape varieties are used, and different
producers use them in different proportions.
Most Champagne is non-vintage, which simply means it is a blend of
different years; vintage Champagne is made in the best years, but
generally costs more.
Its a complicated process. First of all still, dry wine is made in
the usual way and bottled. At the time of bottling a little yeast and
sugar are added, and a second fermentation begins in the bottle.
Carbon dioxide gas is given off during this second fermentation - but
it can't escape, because the bottle is sealed. So it remains dissolved
in the wine.
The bottles are put in special racks and gradually upended until they
are upside down because the second fermentation leaves behind a deposit
of dead yeast cells and no winemaker wants to sell a bottle of wine with
an unattractive layer of grunge in the bottom.
Asti
Asti is a sparkling white wine from the town of the same name in
northern Italy. It is very distinctive with a sweet, grapey flavour that
is exactly like the taste of fresh Muscat grapes.
Sparkling Muscat
- Muscat grapes are, in fact exactly what this wine is made from. It is
generally low in alcohol and is perfect for summer drinking. But drink
it while its young and fresh. Muscat may taste tired if its too old.
Retsina
Is a resonated wine, it was originated in Greece. Its history goes
back to centuries, to the time when the insides of wine jars were coated
with resin to make them airtight. This resin gave the wine its distinct
taste. Nowadays, the wine is made in a slightly different way. Small
pieces of resin from the Alep pine are added to the grape juice as it
ferments, giving Retsina its unique flavour.
Soave
If you don't want a wine that has too strong a flavour, then try to
look for Soave. It comes from Veneto region in north-eastern Italy and
is made from a blend of different grapes.
In choosing a Soave, always buy the youngest available, and always drink
it chilled. It should taste delicately light and leafy.
A sweet Soave
- Anything labelled Soave or Soave Classico will be dry - but for
a real rarity look for Recioto di Soave. This is sweet wine made by
drying Garganega grapes on racks.
Frascati
Is another Italian white with a delicate and subtle flavour. It is
made from a blend of both Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes.
- Crisp and Clean
- Frascati is a dry wine, characterized by a crisp, slightly
fruity taste and with hint of dried apricots. The best Frascati has
a subtle taste of cream and is not suitable for ageing.
|
