What Red 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.  But then there are the reds with all their wonderful flavors and aromas!

Red wines can range from being light and delicate to big and bold.  So, here are four common red wines that span the spectrum.

Starting with the light-bodied and delicate end of the spectrum is Pinot Noir (Pee-no-nwarh). Wine from the Pinot Noir grape is known as Burgundy in France, since the wines produced in the Burgundy region are made from greater than 80% Pinot Noir grapes.  The flavors of Pinot Noir can be wonderfully delicate and include cherry, raspberry, and cola. Pinot Noir is low in tannin which means that it is very smooth and has a soft finish. This wine has gained tremendous popularity and the prices reflect it.  But once you get ahold of a really nice Pinot Noir, you'll be hooked.

Next is Zinfandel (ZIN-fan-dell) which is considered a medium-bodied red wine that can have medium tannin.  In Italy, Zinfandel is known as Primitivo. The flavors of Zinfandel include blackberry, black plum, black cherry and jammy fruit.  You'll sometimes hear a Zinfandel referred to a 'jammy' which means that it has big, bold fruit flavor, like you might expect from a jar of jam.  Zinfandel can also be spicy with aromas of bell pepper and licorice. And, with oak aging, Zinfandel can take on flavors of vanilla, chocolate, mocha, coffee and burnt sugar.  These may seem like odd flavor combinations, but they really work together well.

Then there's Syrah (Sih-rah) or Shiraz (Shih-Rahz) as it's known in Australia.  This is a full-bodied red wine that has been described as being floral in its youth, and then developing more peppery and herbaceous flavors as it ages. Flavors include leather and smoky scents, blackcurrant and licorice. Syrah is dark in color with big initial flavor, medium tannin and a notable, lasting finish.  Syrah is often blended with other grapes due to its deep color and tannins. In southern France (Rhône) it is common for Syrah to be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre in the famous Grenache-Syrah-Movrvèdre (GSM) blends.

And finally, Cabernet Sauvignon (cah-bare-ney so-veen-yawn). It is probably the most famous red wine grape variety. It produces a full-bodied wine with bold black-fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry and black currant. Oak aging produces flavors of vanilla, tobacco, licorice, and black pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon is deep in color with bold tannin.  In France, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux wines of Medoc (Left Bank). DNA testing has proven that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a cross of Cabernet Franc (a red wine grape) and Sauvignon Blanc (a white wine grape).

All of these red wines should be served at cellar temperatures of 53 degrees F for the lighter red wines to 62 degrees F for the full-bodied reds.  If these are served too cold (i.e., in the kitchen refrigerator) you really won't get the full flavor these red wines have to offer.  And, if you serve them at room-temperature, they are probably too warm.

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

What Other White Wines Should You Try?

Last time we took a quick look across the spectrum of white wines, looking at Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. These are commonly found white wines and broadly known. So now let's take it one-step further.  If you find that you tend to like one of these white wines better than the others, you may want to venture out and try some other white wines that are similar in their characteristics.

So we started on the lighter, fruitier and sweet end of the spectrum with Riesling.  If you find that Riesling has characteristics that are to your liking you might also want to try Gewürztraminer, Moscato, Torrents or Chenin Blanc.

• Gewürztraminer - An aromatic sweet wine with flavors of grapefruit and pineapple and an aroma of sweet rose. 

• Moscato - A sweet, slightly bubbly wine made from the Muscat Blanc grape, commonly known as Moscato d'Asti.  It has flavors of apricot, lemon, orange, nectarine and peach.

• Torrents - Not quite as sweet as the others, with flavors of peach and flowers

• Chenin Blanc - Not as sweet but having flavors of green apples and honey.

Next was Pinot Grigio. This easy drinking wine has similarities with Muscadet, Soave and Albariño.

• Muscadet - Made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, this wine is has flavors of apple and citrus.

• Soave - Made from the Garganega grape, this Italian wine is crisp and fruity.

• Albariño - Originally from Spain, this wine has flavors of peach and citrus and can have a smooth (almost oily) mouthfeel with a hint of saline (yes, salt)

Moving on to Sauvignon Blanc. If you are a fan then consider Colombard, Grüner Veltliner, Verdejo and Vermentino.

• Colombard - While commonly used in the blending of cognac, this grape makes a light refreshing wine.

• Grüner Veltliner - Just a hint of sweetness with flavors of citrus include lemon, lime and grapefruit along with peach.

• Verdejo - A crisp Spanish wine with herbaceous and nutty characteristics

• Vermentino -This is a refreshing wine with lemon, peach, dried herbs and a bit of saline.

Finally, there's Chardonnay.  This big, bold and rich wine is hard to match, but Sémillon and Viognier have similar characteristics.

• Sémillon - A full-bodied white wine with flavors that include lemon, green apple, pear and even papaya. It too has an oily or waxy mouth-feel and can be rich and creamy like Chardonnay, when aged in oak.

• Viognier - With aromas of thyme, lavender, chamomile and a hint of pine, this full-bodied wine has flavors of apricot, peach and pears.

So now you have a few options to consider if you are stuck on a particular wine and looking to branch out to something different, yet similar.  These are all good choices and definitely worth a try. Cheers!

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!