Well Fancied Wine – Its Types and varieties
Wine is made all over the world and there are a great numerous types and variations. There are red wines and white wines, wines from the ‘old world’ and wines from the ‘new world’. Wines from different wineyards also give different flavors and compositions. This article will shortly introduce you to the world of reds since the world of wine is so vast.
Red wines are just one of the common varieties of wine, others are white, sparkling and rose. One of our common misconceptions about red wine is tthat is comes from red grapes; in fact the red colour comes from the skins when they are left to for fermentation with the juice from the grape. World’s most popular sparkling white wine which is the champagne is made from red grapes but skins were removed. Different red wines coming out is enough to show that the variety of flavors found in wines is exceptional. This comes as a surprise to those who are new to wine given that the drink only consists of simple ingredients.
The most significant factor on how the red wine will taste is the type of grape used. When we talk about buying wines, our discussions usually inlcude the type of grape that the wine is made up of such as “Pinot Noir” or “Cabernet Sauvignon”. See http://www.wadebaleswinesociety.co.za/products/wine-online/ for a great selection of wines you can buy online.
There are countless aspects to grapes that will significantly change the taste of the wine. The acidity can differ widely in grape varieties and will alter the taste. Some grapes will have distinctive aromas, such as fruity or floral, this will give those wines the aroma of the grape. Tannin is a term you will hear used a large deal in the red wine world and it greatly changes a wines taste. Thick skins lead to wine with a higher tannin concentration.
Locations where the wine is grown is also important aside from that of the type of grape used. This once refer to several regions in France termed as the ‘old world’ but now it can refer to different countries, such as Australia and South Africa called the new world. Some grape varieties do better in climate than another thus the location of the vines making the grape is important. Certain combinations can develop exceptional wines like Chenin Blanc grapes in the Loire Valley.
Most people who are about to obtain wine will ask this question; which is the best wine here? Some people would think that France would have the best wines as it is the most notable for wine production and that must be for a reason. France does produce some of greatest wines in the world but then the “new world” offers some stiff competition.
When you buy high end wines from the old world, you need to wait for the wine to age for some time before you can drink them as compared to buying wines from the new world which only takes a shorter period to make it drinkable.
Again, the taste of the wine will mostly be affected by the type of grape used thus whether it has been grown in the new world or the old world is vital and it’s not only the location that matters. Old world and new world is as much about location as it is about the way the wine is made. Old world wines typically provide a lighter and more complex taste while new world wines will have simpler and sharper flavors. Wines produced from the new world will also tend to have a slightly higher alcohol content around 13/14%, rather than the 12% found in wines of the old world. Visit WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WINE to learn more about wines.
Wine taste can cross borders and Argentina (solidly in the new world) does create many wines in the old world style. This is largely because when the Spanish (old world) colonised the country they brought their wine making methods with them. Even seasoned sommeliers (wine tasters) have been known to be confused by Argentinian wine! Buy wine from Argentina and it will be an interesting experience.
Hopefully, you will understand that the taste of a wine will depend on many factors and it would be far from simple to say which world of wine is better than another. Although some people use “new world” somewhat condescendingly, there is little truth in it. Even though, the new world produces red wines which compete well with the old world, what matters most is the penchant of an individual.
The new world, as its name would signify, has been producing wine for a much shorter time than the old. Praises continuously flow from sommeliers for the red wine produced from the new world. In a blind wine tasting done two years ago, a new wine from New Zealand was given a high score same as the rate given to some of the best wines in France.
The new world winemakers are learning which soils and locations best suit different grapes thus they are becoming more masterful. Similar to the experience of winemakers from France wherein it took them quite long to determine that Chenin Blanc grows well in Loire Valley, winemakers from new world are also going to the learning process.