Wine Tasting Component I: Look

The first step you have to undertake in wine tasting is visual.

1. Fill up the glass up to 1/3 of its volume; never fill it more than half;

2. Hold the glass by the stem. Initially you may find this too pretentious but there are good reasons for it:

а) by doing it this way you can actually observe the wine in it;

b) this will keep your fingerprints off the bowl;

в) the heat from your palm will not change the temperature of the wine.

There?s a good saying by one of the greatest French wine lovers, Emil Painot: Offer someone a glass of wine and you can immediately tell whether he/she is a connoisseur by the way they hold the glass.? Even though you may not think of yourself as a connoisseur, you could still learn how to hold the wine glass.

3. Focus on the color intensity and the transparency of the liquid.

a) the color of the wine, and more specifically its nuances, are best observed on a white background.

б) the wine?s intensity is best judged by holding the glass without slanting it and looking at the liquid from above;

4. Next comes the swirling of the glass. This can also seem too pretentious or even dangerous if you have a full glass or a white top. But this movement is important since it prepares you for the next step in wine tasting ? the Taste. The easiest way to swirl the glass is to place it on a table or other even surface, and to swirl your hand while holding the glass by the stem. Swirl hard and have the wine almost touch the rim of the glass. Then stop. The wine leaves tiny traces with irregular shapes on the inside of the glass. Some ?experts? then read them with as much zeal as coffee-tellers. The truth is however, that they are just an indicator for the quality of the wine ? the more alcohol a wine has, the more wine traces it forms.

What does the color of the wine tell us? The wine?s color tells us many things about its character.

First, the color shows the grape variety. Let?s take two popular varieties as examples ? cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. Cabernet?s grapes are smaller, with a thicker and darker skin than those of pinot noir. As a result, the color of wines made from cabernet sauvignon is usually described as violet to dark while the color of wines made from pinot noir is associated with ruby.

Second, the color is influenced by the climatic conditions. A hot summer and dry fall result in ripe grapes, with a dark, intense color. A cold summer and rainy fall will produce undeveloped grapes with a lighter color. Third, wine-making practices also have an influence on the color of wine. For red wine, the grapes are fermented with the skin. Since the coloring agents are in the grape skin, and not in the juice, the longer the process of maceration, i.e. the longer the skin stays with the juice, the darker the wine color will be.

Fourth, the process of wine aging also has an influence on the color of wine. The young red wines are rich in coloring agents and that makes their color denser and fuller. In the course of time chemical reactions take place in the bottle and sediment is formed at the bottom. The wine?s color gets lighter and is often described as brick or amber.

Let?s go through an example: you pour yourself a glass of red wine and after carefully observing it, you notice a full granite color, good density, and not so good transparency. What conclusions can you draw? Well, you can safely say that the wine is:

- from cabernet sauvignon grapes;

- from a Southern region;

- relatively young;

- from a good yield;

- that the wine-maker has gone for a good long maceration.

If you know the wine, compare what you know with what you see: maybe the wine has a very full color and the yield has been bad ? this speaks of a good wine-making technique; or maybe the wine is too pale for its age ? this speaks for undeveloped grape or poor wine-making technique.

http://www.wines-resource.com

When you have a great taste for wine and want to enjoy it with your family and friends, you have to go to a wine store to look for the best wine you can have. Finding a nearest wine store where you can get all kinds of brands is something you need to do. There are so many varieties of wine available at wine stores to choose from.

In addition to that, you will also find great wine accessories to go with any kind of brand wine you love. If you are planning to give a wine basket as a gift, going to a wine store will prove to be very helpful as there will be a wide variety of wine to choose from.

Wine stores have all kinds of wine; red, white, blush and fruit wine to suit your or your friends taste. Once you step into a wine store, you are going to get an air full of wonderful and fine wine collected from the best vineyards all over the world. You can even buy wine to have a collection of your own combining different brands together.

There are many online wine stores that let you browse through their collection and buy the ones you want. Most of these websites offer special discounts and many other bonus packages that are very attractive for any wine lover. You can even customize a wine basket and have it delivered to your doorstep to enjoy your favorite wine for many days to come.

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including Christmas and blog site. If you want to read more about wines, click over to George wine site.

Wines are one of the most elegant of all drinks. Wine is not good unless it is served properly and chosen correctly. Did you know that there are hundreds of different choices? Did you know that you could make your own? Wine is a wonderful quality drink that can add a lot of flavor and elegance to a dinner party or to a simple dinner with a loved one.

Wines are available to all people over the age of 21 to consume. Do not forget that wines do have alcohol in them and therefore should be drunk in moderation. It is important that you never consume wine when taking medication as well. It can make you very sick.

But, back to the good stuff. Did you know that drinking a glass of wine a day can keep you healthy? It can and does. Think for a moment about the French. The foods they eat are rich and full of calories, yet it is Americans who have the most weight problems. Why do the French get to eat all that good food without gaining so much weight? It is because they drink wines religiously. Wine has some of the most powerful antioxidants in it. Antioxidants help to cleanse the body of harmful toxins. It can aid in digestion as well. So, in this area, wines can be quite healthy.

Wines can be purchased in a variety of flavors. It seems that everyone has their own preferences and choices. There are red and white wines. There are chardonnays and there are zinfandels. There are many options. In order to know which type you like, you are simply going to have to try several!

Wines are made around the world. In general, it is wise to purchase older wines that have aged. That is because as it ages, the flavors become bolder and fuller. If you have the time, patience and expense, you can actually make your own wines. It can be quite a learning experience! Adding wine to the diet can be a great way to add a lot of flavor and maybe even a little bit of health! Why not add wines to your diet?

Tim Jackson
Wines Directory

Wine is commonly produced all over the world on properties we refer to as wineries. In addition to wine production, in order to finish the production processes, larger wineries may also include areas such as: warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, expansion tanks, tank farms.

The grapes which are used in wine production at these wineries can come from vineyards owned by the wineries themselves, or it can be made from grapes that are bought and imported from other vineyards around the world. As wineries are becoming popular attractions for tourists, many different types of wine tours are now offered by many wineries around the world.

Wine touring often includes experiencing the actual production of wine, however, they are often revolved around tasting the wine, as well. To allow everyone to participate in this aspect of touring, many different types of wine tours are being made available. These types of tours most generally include personal guides for the tours, as well as vary with their modes of transportation. Some of the various tours with different modes of transportation include:

• hot air balloon tours
• limousine balloon tours
• bike wine tours
• hiking tours
• bus tours
• train wine tours

With wineries becoming such popular tourist attractions, just about any type of wine touring is now available.

Custom touring plans are often offered by wineries. These type of tours are where a personal guide will go over various touring options with you, and help you to determine which type of tour would best fit the needs of your individual group. These guides will often suggest an itinerary, and revise it any way you may want it to be revised.

Touring options are nearly endless! Your winery tour can include a picnic to gourmet meals, and are great for company picnics! Whether you have a small group of two, medium sized groups of less than 15, or a large group of 15 plus, a wine tour could be the perfect experience. From romantic balloon tours to luxurious limousine touring, a wine tour can be an unforgettable experience for all!

About the author:
Fabien Ponson invites you to read some more articles about wine tours and regions on the website Wine Region Tour.

Actually, there is no such thing as a perfect choice when it comes to choosing wine to go with your meal. Taste is too subjective, and what is perfect for one person could spell a disaster for someone else.

However, there are some rules that do need to be taken into consideration, such as red wines going with beef, and white wines going with fish, chicken, and seafood. Just make sure you choose the best wine you can afford, mainly because they are usually higher quality and provide much more variety when it comes to aroma and flavor.

If you’re planning on a main course featuring beef, it is important to weigh the strength of its flavor against the strength of the wine’s bouquet. If you’re looking for a wine to go with your rather flavorful meal, choose a wine that is equal in its intensity. On the other hand, you could always choose a lighter wine to go with this type of meal, if you’re looking for a contrast. It all depends on what you’re trying to feature, the wine or the food.

One popular pairing is a Grenache, with its rich black pepper bouquet, and Steak au Poivre (steak with pepper). If you happen to find a Grenache from the Gigondas region of the Rhone Valley in France, you’re in luck. A more subtle dish, such as Steak Tartar, goes best with a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, as these wines are less intense in flavor and bouquet.

When it comes to white wines, there’s a reason why they go best with seafood, chicken, turkey, etc. These are usually lighter meals, and as such are complemented well by the more subtle flavors of white wines. It is usually the sauces these meals are prepared in which help determine the wine to be enjoyed. The Alsace region has a great Pinot Blanc, which has a spicy taste to it, and thus it goes well with a turkey dish flavored with paprika. One should not count out a Burgundy, though, as it has its place among spicier poultry dishes.

There are some forms of poultry which are richer than others, and duck is a good example. Dishes like this are best served with an acidic wine, such as those from the Sangiovese area of Tuscany. If you’re going for a grilled chicken or turkey dish, though, you should probably choose a German Riesling or Chardonnay.

Sometimes, people focus too much on what meats to serve with wine. Cheese and fruit are often forgotten, but these foods can bring out a wine’s flavor in different ways than meats can. There is an old tradition followed by many Portuguese involving serving a high quality Port with fruity desserts. A touch of a fine Gew?rztraminer can often bring out the best in some of the stronger cheeses on the market.

Perhaps you’re looking for something to complement your bisque, or cream based soup. You can’t go wrong with a Chardonnay, with its hint of apple or pear flavor. But, perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc would be more to your liking, as it has vegetable undertones and would emphasize the flavors of your soup.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as wine gift baskets at http://www.gourmetgiftbasketsplus.com.

Forward thinking winemakers and grape growers are changing the face of the winemaking industry in Australia by bringing in new varieties of grapes and experimenting with them in new regions. The Australian wine industry has actually exploded onto the international scene in recent years with the success of making quality wines and offering them at very good prices, a feat that has led many to brand the wines down under as being lackluster.

Just as with the original pioneers of Australia, the innovative free spirit of the winemakers is causing a revolution in the country with a large assortment of grape varieties being experimented with.

Although there are well over a hundred varieties of wine grapes grown in Australia, the wine industry leans heavily on the classic varieties which are all of French origin. The whites are Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc with the reds being Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, and Grenache. Another thirty varieties consisting of thirteen whites and seventeen reds also contribute and are considered second tier varietals according to the leading wine journalist-author James Halliday. The other seventy or so varieties are only used by about ten wine producers, but these are also the producers who are pushing the Australian Wine Industry into a new era.

Some of these are exotic grape varieties such as the Graciano from Spain, the Petit Manseng of France, Italy’s Lagrein, and the Russian Saperavi. In addition there are also grapes of Australian origin and mutations of others that are being experimented with.

The traditionalist vineyards and winemakers are aghast over the developments of some of these more aggressive winemakers and their use of such a wide assortment of varietals to develop new wines but the fact of the matter is that these new pioneers are introducing new wines that could very well birth the next premium Australian Wine.

These forward thinking winemakers are taking cast off and lesser thought of grapes and blending them into much desired wines. The Viognier variety underwent a similar process in Europe in the 1960s when it was nearly gone with just a few acres in the Rhone Valley and now it is all over France and California as well as being used by over a hundred winemakers in Australia alone.

If you want to take a vacation to Australia and are a wine connoisseur you should consider a vacation in November when the Australian Alternative Wine Varieties Show is held on the banks of the Murray River in Midura. During this event you will find grape growers and winemakers from all over Australia and New Zealand showing and introducing new products with the goal of introducing a growing variety of new wines to the wine loving community.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Find out about personalized wine bottles at http://www.winebottlespersonalized.com

Barbera is a wine grape variety from Monferrato in Piemonte, Italy. Babera produces an intense red wine with deep color, low tannins and high acid and is used in California to provide backbone for so-called jug wines.

Century-old Barbera vines still exist in many regional vineyards and allow production of long-aging, robust red wines with intense fruit and enhanced tannic content. In Italy the best known varietals made from it is Barbera d’Asti, made in Asti, and Barbera d’Alba, made in Alba, which can produce a high quality wine with some ageing potential.

Probably one of the most underrated grapes in the world, Barbera can be used to make an incredible range of styles, ranging from young and spritzy to powerful and intense wines that need extended cellaring. It is a deep ruby color, full bodied, with low levels of tannins balanced by higher levels of acidity.

Barbera, the ultimate Italian summer red is also known as the perfect pizza wine for many. Barbera’s tooth jarring acidity, high alcohol, low tannin and lush fruit, make Barbera an ideal food wine that will stand up against anything you throw on the barbeque.

No other wine has the versatility that can cut through tomato sauce or compliment a steak as nicely as Barbera wine.

Wine Ratings – Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

Perhaps you have noticed that the 2004 Sauvignon Blancs are hitting the market. Depending upon where they are from, some are being touted as being the result of one of the all-time great vintages in years. So what makes a Sauvignon Blanc stand out from one year to the next?

Most great winemakers will tell you that a wine is made in the vineyard.

In other words, you can’t turn bad grapes into a great wine. To get the best grapes, a winemaker will put a lot of work and experience into massaging the grapes to their optimum flavor. Irrigation, canopy management, thinning and careful timing are major factors. The name Sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage, which means wild, and wild is what the vines quickly become without careful management.

What else is needed? Well, you’ll need to be in the right place with your vineyard. The soil and micro-climate will put a stamp on your wine that’s often referred to as terroir.

All great wines are terroir wines. Without the terroir influence, even an otherwise beautiful wine is nothing really. Why? Because the beauty of what the grape can do is replaceable from region to region, but no one can mimic terroir. It’s unique. It is character as opposed to looks. The movie star compared to the swimsuit model. Great Sauvignon Blanc wines come primarily from the Loire region of France (Sancerre and Pouilly Fume), the Styrian region of Austria, New Zealand, South Africa and California. However, it is when the influence of terroir comes into play that each region crafts the best of what can be made. A Sancerre Sauvignon done right will never be mistaken for one from New Zealand.

Next to terroir, the winemaker’s philosophy and taste play a major role. He will craft a wine accordingly, employing different vinification methods to create the desired balance between sweetness, acidity, alcohol, tannins as well as primary and secondary fruit flavors.

For the famous Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc of New Zealand, ?ultra-reductive vinification? is used. This means that the wine is made in a way such that it is exposed to as little oxygen during the process as possible. The result is a wine whose fruitiness almost jumps out at you from the glass: big bold notes of blackcurrant bud, the note most typical for this grape, announce themselves right up front. This process also results in wines that are not meant for long term cellaring, so drink them while they are still young and fresh.

In the Styrian region of Austria, a process of reductive (not ultra-reductive) vinification is used for the line of wines called Classic. The result is again wines that are very fruit-forward (though not as full-throttle as those from New Zealand), fresh, and meant to be enjoyed while still young. Two excellent examples to seek out would be the Sabathi Classic and the Jaunegg Classic.

The great single vineyard Sauvignon Blancs from Austria, such as those from the Poharnig, Possnitzberg and Czamillonberg vineyards, are crafted more like those from the Loire region of France, using an oxidative vinification process; that is, allowing the wine to come in contact with more oxygen during fermentation. The wines are then aged in oak barrels of varying size, which also greatly influences the final result: wines that are fuller bodied, with more mineral, hay or herbal notes and less fruit, but with great structure and depth and longer cellar potential.

Last but not least a vintage will leave its mark on a wine. Hot and dry or cool and wet, a year’s climatic conditions influence the grapes balance of acid, sugar and extracts. So what about these 2004?s?

In 2004 Austrian winemakers were lucky to see many of the climatic factors work in their favor, but they had to be on top of the grapes to not miss the boat. The diligent vintner who timed things just right was able to get that terroir into the glass, and the best examples are seriously exceptional wines. In the Loire region of France, 2004 brought wines that were very typical for the area. The Sancerre Sauvignon Blancs are bright and crisp, while those from the Pouilly-Fume appellation across the river are creamier, but still showing a bolt of acidity. New Zealand enjoyed a bumper crop of fruit that shows clean, well-balanced and strong flavors.

Now is the time to hunt down some bottles from this vintage. Find some Classic Austrian or New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to enjoy right now, and buy some single vineyard or French examples to put down in your cellar. You will not be disappointed.

Emily Schindler is a wine importer based in Los Angeles. To read more of her wine writing, and to find the wines she imports and sells direct to consumers, visit http://www.winemonger.com

The Carignane grape variety is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world. It’s popularity stems from the high crop yeilds that it produces as well as the characteristics that it can bring to a wine. Wine made from Carignane usually has red-fruit characteristics, deep violet and purple color, strong tannin structure and high levels of alcohol content. It is sometimes peppery like Syrah. These characteristics have made it very popular as a blending agent in the vast quantities of local table wines (jug wines) that are consumed around the world. It often provides the ‘backbone’ of these wines and is blended with other grape varieties that bring additonal flavor characteristics.

Carignane is thought to have originated in northern Spain and grows well in a ‘Mediterranean’ climate. As a result, it is widely grown in many of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea including France, Italy, Spain, and Algeria. Carignane is the most widely planted grape in France. It has also found a home in almost every other wine producing country around the world.

Carignane Wine Tip:

The Carignane wines are generally dry and range from medium to full-bodied. They have lots of life to them, are recommended with fuller-bodied foods and are best served at cool room or cellar temperature. Carignane grapes produce more red wine than any other grape variety.

Wine Ratings – Wine ratings, wine and winery related information for the enjoyment of fine wines.

In 2006, there are ten federal holidays. Those are holidays such as New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Beyond that, however, are even more holidays (not recognized by the Federal Government) that we celebrate such as: Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s & Father’s Day, Halloween, anniversaries, and birthdays.

With so many occasions to celebrate, there is a question that must be answered several times a year: what gift should I give, bring, or send?

With so many different people with such different tastes, it becomes stressful to think of a present every holiday. There is one present, however, nearly guaranteed to make anyone happy. What present could this be? Wine gift baskets.

Wine baskets are appropriate for nearly every occasion, holiday, or event. They are always a nice, appreciated gift which you will find, fits right in with your holiday.

Not only are they a nice gift, but they are easy to pick out, pay for, and send! Similar to how you send flowers, you can send a wine gift basket by getting online and ordering it, or calling in by phone. You can get it delivered to yourself, and then personally give it to the recipient, or you can simply have it sent straight to them!

Wine gift baskets go beyond just wine. You can pair the wine with many different types of accessories such as: chocolate, cheese, cookies, breadsticks, biscuits, crackers, pasta, nuts, meats and more!

While you can simply place an order for a certain amount of money (and have the company choose the basket which best fits your budget), it is encouraged that you decide the composition of the basket. For instance: you could order the same wine from different wineries, or you could order a specific wine and choose the accessories best suited to the recipient’s taste (for instance: if they are a chocolate lover, you could pair your wine with chocolates).

Choosing the composition of your basket makes it more personal, and gives you the chance to show your special concern for the recipient. Wine baskets appeal to a very diverse crowd: people of all ages, social class, genders, locations, etc.

Wine baskets are always a well-responded to as a gift, especially since many people don’t spend money on wine for themselves, but almost everyone enjoys wine. Not only is wine nice for the person receiving it to drink, but the person can enjoy it in other ways as well, by serving or sharing it at something like Thanksgiving dinner. They will keep you in mind and appreciate the tasty gift that they can share with people they love.

So the next time one of many holidays comes up, and you find yourself trying to decide on the perfect present, remember that wine baskets are easy to get, fun to accessorize, and often greatly appreciated by a large assortment of different people.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Fruit and Wine Baskets at http://www.fruitandwinebaskets.com