What White Wines Should You Try?

When it comes to getting acquainted with wines, it's common to start with white wines. They can be fruity, zesty, refreshing and easy to drink. And, because they are chilled, they are often more approachable when starting to explore wines.

White wines can range from being light, sweet and fruity to bold, rich and creamy.  So, here are four common white wines that span the spectrum.

Starting with the lighter and sweeter end of the spectrum you'll find Riesling (REEZ-ling). With Rieslings you'll find that they can be somewhat sweet or they can be dry. And remember, dry refers to the amount of residual sugar in the wine, not the way it feels in your mouth.  So, a slightly sweet, or 'off-dry' Riesling can have bright flavors of green apple, lime and a hint of honey-like flavor.  And, Riesling has high acidity, which means that it gives you a mouth-watering feel when drinking.

Next along the spectrum would be Pinot Grigio (Pee-noh GREE-gee-oh) or Pinot Gris (Pee-noh GREE), as it's known in France. This light-bodied wine is also zesty and thirst quenching. American Pinot Grigio is typically very fruity with flavors of lemon, melon and peach and tend to be mildly sweet. 

Moving up the spectrum of white wine takes us next to Sauvignon Blanc (so-vin-YAWN-Blonk). Again, this is a light-bodied white wine that's zesty with flavors of grapefruit and honeydew melon. In addition to these fruit flavors, Sauvignon Blanc is described by some as having very subtle 'green' flavors of green pepper and grass. This is a fruit-filled wine that can be slightly sweet.

And finally, at the bold and rich end of the white wine spectrum is Chardonnay (Shar-doe-Nay).  But even within Chardonnays, they can range from light and fruity to rich and creamy.  This comes from the fermentation process. The light and fruity Chardonnays are fermented in stainless steel tanks while the richer Chardonnays are fermented and aged in oak. And, when the oaked Chardonnays go through a second process (malolactic fermentation), the malic acid which is tart and tangy is converted to lactic acid (think milk) that can yield a rich, creamy and buttery Chardonnay.

While all of these white wines should be served chilled, they aren't chilled to refrigerator temperatures.  If you do chill your white wine in the refrigerator, just take them out about 30 minutes before you serve them. Or, if you have a wine refrigerator, store and serve them in the 45 to 55 degree F temperature range for optimum flavor.  The lighter, zestier wines should be the coolest with the oaked Chardonnay on the warmer end of the temperature range.

So, there's a quick run through the spectrum of a few basic white wines.  Next time we'll explore some other white wines that are similar to those discussed here to help expand your white wine drinking options. Until then, cheers!

What is Orange Wine?

It was recently brought to my attention that there is another type of wine out there.  It's called orange wine. But what exactly is this orange wine?

We are all familiar with red wine, white wine and rosé.  These are commonly produced throughout world. And, as a quick reminder, here is how they are produced:

• Red Wine - Amazingly, the juice from a dark skinned grape is actually quite light, practically clear. But, in the making of red wine, the juice is allowed to remain in contact with the grape's dark skin during the fermentation process. With prolonged skin contact, the juice takes on the dark purple-red coloring from the pigment of the grape's dark skin.
• White Wine - The juice from light colored (green) grape is immediately separated from the skins. The juice remains light in color throughout fermentation, but can turn a bit more golden and deeper in color when aged in oak barrels.
• Rosé Wine - Here, like a red wine, the juice from dark skinned grapes is allowed to remain in contact with the dark skin for a relatively brief portion of the fermentation process. Then, the juice is separated from the skins, leaving it a wonderful pink color.

So, now on to orange wine.  These wines are produced using white wine grapes, but the juice remains in contact with the skin of the light colored grape during the fermentation process, just as in red wine making.  The skin contact during the fermentation process darkens the juice color to anything from a deep yellow color, an orange color, or even to a golden-brown color.  Thus, 'orange' wine.

And it's not just the color that's different in orange wines. Since the juice has had so much skin contact, these wines can take on bigger, bolder flavors and they can be quite tannic, like a red wine.

Although orange wine has been around since the beginning of wine making, the jury is still out on today's orange wines.  As for me, I think a need to do a little further 'hands-on' research on these orange wines.  I'll get back to you.  Cheers!

Wine Tasting Etiquette - Things to Avoid

Last time we addressed all the things you should do when visiting a winery and tasting their wines.  Along with all the things that you should do, there are also some things that you really shouldn't do while wine tasting.  Avoiding these will ensure that you have an enjoyable experience at the winery.

What you should avoid when wine tasting:

• Don't put on cologne, aftershave or perfumes. You, and those around you, are going to want to smell the aromas of the wines, not strong personal scents.
• For the same reason as avoiding wearing strong scents, don't introduce anything else into the tasting room that has a strong smell. So, don't walk in with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Leave it in the car or outside.
• Avoid chewing gum or breath mints.  These will really affect your ability to taste the subtle flavors of the wines.
• When you arrive at the winery, it may be very tempting to take a walk in the vineyards, pick a grape, or poke around some of the other buildings at the winery.  Check with your host in the tasting room to see if tours of the winery are available.
• Since wine tasting is an adult activity, leave the kids at home.
• While winery dogs are very common, leave your pets at home.
• Don't assume your tasting room host is going to be an all-knowing wine expert.  You may get lucky and have the winemaker as your host, or you may get a college kid earning some extra spending money. 
• It's a winery tasting room, not a bar.  Conduct yourself with some sophistication. Avoid being loud and trying to turn the activity into a party.
• Don't try to haggle over prices of the tasting or a wine purchase. Save it for the car dealership.
• Never reach for the wine bottle and pour your own taste. Let your server do all the pouring.
• If you are on a tour bus that is serving alcohol, avoid it.  If you arrive at a tasting room and appear to be intoxicated, you will not be served. It's against the law to serve someone who is intoxicated.  And, please don't walk into a tasting room with a beer, glass of wine or a cocktail.
• If you choose to have lunch at a winery's picnic grounds, you may only drink wine purchased at that winery. No outside wines may be consumed on their property.

Following this simple list of things to avoid and those posted last time in "Wine Tasting Etiquette - Things to Do" will ensure that your visit is pleasurable for you, those working at the winery, and your fellow wine tasters.  There's no better way to learn about the world of wines than to get out into wine country and visit the wonderful wineries they have to offer. Cheers!

Wine Tasting Etiquette - Things to Do

Visiting a winery and tasting their wines is a wonderful experience.  But, it's not like going out to a bar.  Wineries are most often small businesses. When you go into a winery's tasting room, you are a guest at a place of business. And, therefore, there are certain norms of behavior when visiting.  While tasting room etiquette may seem to take some of the fun out of a visit, it shouldn't.  You should have fun and enjoy your visit.  But, there are a few things to keep in mind.

What you should do when wine tasting:

• Wine tasting is an adult activity. Be classy and act like an adult.
• There is a subtle sophistication that goes along with wine tasting. Look nice for your visit.
• Take your valid ID with you. You'll only be served if you are of legal drinking age.
• Wear comfortable shoes. A vineyard tour or barrel room tour will require comfortable, sturdy shoes.
• If you would like to have a picnic lunch at a winery, please ask before eating on their grounds.
• Make reservations if you have a large group (greater than 5 or more).
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water in between winery visits.
• Eat in between winery visits.
• Pay attention to your host. Ask good questions. Learn.
• If the tasting bar is crowded, make room for new arriving guests.
• Do feel free to use the bucket to dump your glass, if you choose not to finish the tasting, or to spit out the wine. Or you can ask for a cup, if you'd like to be more discrete with your spitting.
• Be polite to your host and express your gratitude for their service. 
• Tipping your host is not expected. But, buying a bottle of wine is a great way of expressing your gratitude.
• If you did take a large group or receive some special treatment, then you can consider tipping your host.
• If you must take your children to a tasting room (which is really discouraged), do supervise them.
• If your tasting was complimentary, seriously consider buying a bottle of wine.
• Another way to express your gratitude to your host is to send an email or a message through social media to the winery and give special thanks to your host.
• Do 'revisits' of wines when you are serious about re-evaluating a wine that you are considering purchasing.
• After completing your visit, ask your host for recommendations of other wineries to visit. They are usually very good about making recommendations based on your preferences and they may also provide you with coupons or referral cards.

While you should do the items listed above, there are also a number of things that you should not do while visiting a winery's tasting room.  We'll get to those next time.  For now, happy wine tasting!  Cheers!

How to Get the Most from a Wine Tasting Visit

Once you are in the winery's tasting room and have chosen the wine tasting option for you, then the fun really begins.  There is so much to experience. And the wine is just part of it.

As stated previously, you can simply work your way down the tasting menu or you can focus on particular varietals.  Working your way down the list is always interesting since you get the option to compare and contrast the wines. But definitely tell your host what kinds of wines you prefer. Based on your preferences, your host will be able to pour other options directed at your preference.  That's when you can really have an aha moment and say, "That one's really nice!"

If you continue to give your host feedback on how you like the wines, you'll often find them saying, "Ok, if you really like that one, here's another you might like."  And often, those will be wines that are not on the standard tasting menu.  Remember, they are hoping to sell you wine, and if they can find a wine that you think is amazing, you'll both benefit.

Also remember to take your time.  Don't rush through the tastings.  Plan to spend 30-60 minutes in the tasting room.  Use the time to listen to your host, ask questions and learn.  They'll not only tell you about the wines, but also give you details about the vineyards, the owner, and the wine maker.  It's these little tidbits that make a difference in your appreciation of the winery and their wines.

And, please, let your host do all the work. They are there to serve you. Let them direct the tasting, do the pouring and manage your glass.  Usually your glass will not require rinsing, but if it does, let your server take care of it. They'll usually rinse with wine, not water, since the water can leave behind unwanted flavors. But, you can feel free to dump any remaining wine from your glass in the dump bucket, that's fine.

You may also want to eat a water cracker or un-seasoned bread stick in between each wine, just to neutralize your pallet. That can help you re-set your taste buds in preparation for the next wine.

And once you get through the tasting list, you are allowed to "revisit" a wine.  This gives you the opportunity to retry the wine to confirm your initial impressions and make final decisions on wine purchases.

There are also a bunch of do's and don'ts when wine tasting. So, we'll address wine tasting etiquette next time. Until then, cheers!