Wine Tasting The Art Of Grading Wine

A degree in Oenology, the science of winemaking, is not required in order to understand the art of wine tasting. One need not be confused by the terminology used by professional wine tasters such as: clarity, bouquet, earthly, open, crisp or nostalgic. All that is required is to tune your senses and to become familiar with various definitions on well-known words.

Serving Wine

When first starting out, it is a good ideal to allow someone who is more knowledgeable to decide on how to serve the wine. To acquire the skills of wine serving you will need to gain a little more experience and education to start. White wines in general need to be served chilled, while red wines are usually served at room temperature. Serving wine chilled does not mean frozen; but usually starts at 50F and can be adjusted to taste. Room temperature usually refers to a slightly cooler room, approximately 60F.

Red wine (with the exception of a few brands) should be allowed to breathe first before serving. They should sit in an uncorked bottle and exposed to air for approximately 15 minutes or more. In general white wine should be served right away but there are also various brands of white wine that don?t adhere to this rule. There are also wines that require decanting. This is the process of filtering out the sediments before serving. Wines that have aged considerably and ports may require decanting before serving them.

An ordinary wine glass should be used when pouring wine as opposed to a heavy cut glass where visibility can be poor. You want to make sure to fill it approximately half full. Next you want to swirl the wine a bit to generate an additional winey vapour.

The Scent Of A Wine

Examine the color traits of the wine. Is it Hazy? Opaque? Clear? Take a short sniff and waft the wine vapors into the nose rather then directly holding your nose over the opening of the glass. To help you truly experience the wine you may want to close your eyes to allow you to focus on one or two senses at a time such as taste and smell over the sense of sight. There are even experts who misidentify wines during blind taste testing.

Next you want to try to identify the odour. Does the wine have a fruity smell similar to apples, oranges or grapes? Wines such as Merlots or Cabernet Sauvignon evoke the woody smell of pine or cedar needles. Syrah wines have been known to diffuse a floral or ground black pepper scent; while Chardonnay?s that are aged in oak, can remind one of figs or apples. One can argue that the scent of a wine is purely subjective, but there is often a wide agreement amongst amateurs and experts alike, although impressions differ on some degree.

Wine Tasting

The tongue has many different areas that are attuned to various types of tastes. Some areas of the tongue are more attuned to salty or sour tastes, while others attuned to sweet tastes. You want to take a sip of the wine and make sure you run it around the tongue to stimulate the many different kinds of taste buds. Some of the characteristics when tasting various brands of wines may include:

  • Pinot Noir ? from Burgundy may arise a violet taste.
  • Zinfandel ? this wine may remind you of berries.
  • Gewurztraminer ? evokes peaches.
  • Chenin Blanc ? orange blossom taste.

When moving on to tasting another wine you want to make sure to finish or set aside the wine you have just tested, and to come back on another day. Don?t try to many or too much wine at one time. Ideally one brand of wine is preferred per day, but this can be a slow way to learn. You definitely do not want to try any more than three wines in one day. This may hinder your ability to discern differences in different types of wine.

On the next day you may want to try different red wines. Try to concentrate on sensing that oak storage cask. You will find some California reds to have hints and traces of coffee of chocolate. If you favour stronger scents you may want to try a fine Merlot. They carry a tarry quality.

Remember a good fine wine will not hit the nose over the head, so to speak. Above all the key is subtlety when tasting wine.

About the Author

Joseph Wilson is freelance writer who has written a number of wine reviews. He has featured a number of guides and tips on: wine tasting, wine making and the best wine reviews.

27 December

Wine Tasting The Art Of Grading Wine

A degree in Oenology, the science of winemaking, is not required in order to understand the art of wine tasting. One need not be confused by the terminology used by professional wine tasters such as: clarity, bouquet, earthly, open, crisp or nostalgic. All that is required is to tune your senses and to become familiar with various definitions on well-known words.

Serving Wine

When first starting out, it is a good ideal to allow someone who is more knowledgeable to decide on how to serve the wine. To acquire the skills of wine serving you will need to gain a little more experience and education to start. White wines in general need to be served chilled, while red wines are usually served at room temperature. Serving wine chilled does not mean frozen; but usually starts at 50F and can be adjusted to taste. Room temperature usually refers to a slightly cooler room, approximately 60F.

Red wine (with the exception of a few brands) should be allowed to breathe first before serving. They should sit in an uncorked bottle and exposed to air for approximately 15 minutes or more. In general white wine should be served right away but there are also various brands of white wine that don?t adhere to this rule. There are also wines that require decanting. This is the process of filtering out the sediments before serving. Wines that have aged considerably and ports may require decanting before serving them.

An ordinary wine glass should be used when pouring wine as opposed to a heavy cut glass where visibility can be poor. You want to make sure to fill it approximately half full. Next you want to swirl the wine a bit to generate an additional winey vapour.

The Scent Of A Wine

Examine the color traits of the wine. Is it Hazy? Opaque? Clear? Take a short sniff and waft the wine vapors into the nose rather then directly holding your nose over the opening of the glass. To help you truly experience the wine you may want to close your eyes to allow you to focus on one or two senses at a time such as taste and smell over the sense of sight. There are even experts who misidentify wines during blind taste testing.

Next you want to try to identify the odour. Does the wine have a fruity smell similar to apples, oranges or grapes? Wines such as Merlots or Cabernet Sauvignon evoke the woody smell of pine or cedar needles. Syrah wines have been known to diffuse a floral or ground black pepper scent; while Chardonnay?s that are aged in oak, can remind one of figs or apples. One can argue that the scent of a wine is purely subjective, but there is often a wide agreement amongst amateurs and experts alike, although impressions differ on some degree.

Wine Tasting

The tongue has many different areas that are attuned to various types of tastes. Some areas of the tongue are more attuned to salty or sour tastes, while others attuned to sweet tastes. You want to take a sip of the wine and make sure you run it around the tongue to stimulate the many different kinds of taste buds. Some of the characteristics when tasting various brands of wines may include:

  • Pinot Noir ? from Burgundy may arise a violet taste.
  • Zinfandel ? this wine may remind you of berries.
  • Gewurztraminer ? evokes peaches.
  • Chenin Blanc ? orange blossom taste.

When moving on to tasting another wine you want to make sure to finish or set aside the wine you have just tested, and to come back on another day. Don?t try to many or too much wine at one time. Ideally one brand of wine is preferred per day, but this can be a slow way to learn. You definitely do not want to try any more than three wines in one day. This may hinder your ability to discern differences in different types of wine.

On the next day you may want to try different red wines. Try to concentrate on sensing that oak storage cask. You will find some California reds to have hints and traces of coffee of chocolate. If you favour stronger scents you may want to try a fine Merlot. They carry a tarry quality.

Remember a good fine wine will not hit the nose over the head, so to speak. Above all the key is subtlety when tasting wine.

About the Author

Joseph Wilson is freelance writer who has written a number of wine reviews. He has featured a number of guides and tips on: wine tasting, wine making and the best wine reviews.

20 December

Wine Tasting The Art Of Grading Wine

A degree in Oenology, the science of winemaking, is not required in order to understand the art of wine tasting. One need not be confused by the terminology used by professional wine tasters such as: clarity, bouquet, earthly, open, crisp or nostalgic. All that is required is to tune your senses and to become familiar with various definitions on well-known words.

Serving Wine

When first starting out, it is a good ideal to allow someone who is more knowledgeable to decide on how to serve the wine. To acquire the skills of wine serving you will need to gain a little more experience and education to start. White wines in general need to be served chilled, while red wines are usually served at room temperature. Serving wine chilled does not mean frozen; but usually starts at 50F and can be adjusted to taste. Room temperature usually refers to a slightly cooler room, approximately 60F.

Red wine (with the exception of a few brands) should be allowed to breathe first before serving. They should sit in an uncorked bottle and exposed to air for approximately 15 minutes or more. In general white wine should be served right away but there are also various brands of white wine that don?t adhere to this rule. There are also wines that require decanting. This is the process of filtering out the sediments before serving. Wines that have aged considerably and ports may require decanting before serving them.

An ordinary wine glass should be used when pouring wine as opposed to a heavy cut glass where visibility can be poor. You want to make sure to fill it approximately half full. Next you want to swirl the wine a bit to generate an additional winey vapour.

The Scent Of A Wine

Examine the color traits of the wine. Is it Hazy? Opaque? Clear? Take a short sniff and waft the wine vapors into the nose rather then directly holding your nose over the opening of the glass. To help you truly experience the wine you may want to close your eyes to allow you to focus on one or two senses at a time such as taste and smell over the sense of sight. There are even experts who misidentify wines during blind taste testing.

Next you want to try to identify the odour. Does the wine have a fruity smell similar to apples, oranges or grapes? Wines such as Merlots or Cabernet Sauvignon evoke the woody smell of pine or cedar needles. Syrah wines have been known to diffuse a floral or ground black pepper scent; while Chardonnay?s that are aged in oak, can remind one of figs or apples. One can argue that the scent of a wine is purely subjective, but there is often a wide agreement amongst amateurs and experts alike, although impressions differ on some degree.

Wine Tasting

The tongue has many different areas that are attuned to various types of tastes. Some areas of the tongue are more attuned to salty or sour tastes, while others attuned to sweet tastes. You want to take a sip of the wine and make sure you run it around the tongue to stimulate the many different kinds of taste buds. Some of the characteristics when tasting various brands of wines may include:

  • Pinot Noir ? from Burgundy may arise a violet taste.
  • Zinfandel ? this wine may remind you of berries.
  • Gewurztraminer ? evokes peaches.
  • Chenin Blanc ? orange blossom taste.

When moving on to tasting another wine you want to make sure to finish or set aside the wine you have just tested, and to come back on another day. Don?t try to many or too much wine at one time. Ideally one brand of wine is preferred per day, but this can be a slow way to learn. You definitely do not want to try any more than three wines in one day. This may hinder your ability to discern differences in different types of wine.

On the next day you may want to try different red wines. Try to concentrate on sensing that oak storage cask. You will find some California reds to have hints and traces of coffee of chocolate. If you favour stronger scents you may want to try a fine Merlot. They carry a tarry quality.

Remember a good fine wine will not hit the nose over the head, so to speak. Above all the key is subtlety when tasting wine.

About the Author

Joseph Wilson is freelance writer who has written a number of wine reviews. He has featured a number of guides and tips on: wine tasting, wine making and the best wine reviews.

5 December

Wine Tasting The Art Of Grading Wine

A degree in Oenology, the science of winemaking, is not required in order to understand the art of wine tasting. One need not be confused by the terminology used by professional wine tasters such as: clarity, bouquet, earthly, open, crisp or nostalgic. All that is required is to tune your senses and to become familiar with various definitions on well-known words.

Serving Wine

When first starting out, it is a good ideal to allow someone who is more knowledgeable to decide on how to serve the wine. To acquire the skills of wine serving you will need to gain a little more experience and education to start. White wines in general need to be served chilled, while red wines are usually served at room temperature. Serving wine chilled does not mean frozen; but usually starts at 50F and can be adjusted to taste. Room temperature usually refers to a slightly cooler room, approximately 60F.

Red wine (with the exception of a few brands) should be allowed to breathe first before serving. They should sit in an uncorked bottle and exposed to air for approximately 15 minutes or more. In general white wine should be served right away but there are also various brands of white wine that don?t adhere to this rule. There are also wines that require decanting. This is the process of filtering out the sediments before serving. Wines that have aged considerably and ports may require decanting before serving them.

An ordinary wine glass should be used when pouring wine as opposed to a heavy cut glass where visibility can be poor. You want to make sure to fill it approximately half full. Next you want to swirl the wine a bit to generate an additional winey vapour.

The Scent Of A Wine

Examine the color traits of the wine. Is it Hazy? Opaque? Clear? Take a short sniff and waft the wine vapors into the nose rather then directly holding your nose over the opening of the glass. To help you truly experience the wine you may want to close your eyes to allow you to focus on one or two senses at a time such as taste and smell over the sense of sight. There are even experts who misidentify wines during blind taste testing.

Next you want to try to identify the odour. Does the wine have a fruity smell similar to apples, oranges or grapes? Wines such as Merlots or Cabernet Sauvignon evoke the woody smell of pine or cedar needles. Syrah wines have been known to diffuse a floral or ground black pepper scent; while Chardonnay?s that are aged in oak, can remind one of figs or apples. One can argue that the scent of a wine is purely subjective, but there is often a wide agreement amongst amateurs and experts alike, although impressions differ on some degree.

Wine Tasting

The tongue has many different areas that are attuned to various types of tastes. Some areas of the tongue are more attuned to salty or sour tastes, while others attuned to sweet tastes. You want to take a sip of the wine and make sure you run it around the tongue to stimulate the many different kinds of taste buds. Some of the characteristics when tasting various brands of wines may include:

  • Pinot Noir ? from Burgundy may arise a violet taste.
  • Zinfandel ? this wine may remind you of berries.
  • Gewurztraminer ? evokes peaches.
  • Chenin Blanc ? orange blossom taste.

When moving on to tasting another wine you want to make sure to finish or set aside the wine you have just tested, and to come back on another day. Don?t try to many or too much wine at one time. Ideally one brand of wine is preferred per day, but this can be a slow way to learn. You definitely do not want to try any more than three wines in one day. This may hinder your ability to discern differences in different types of wine.

On the next day you may want to try different red wines. Try to concentrate on sensing that oak storage cask. You will find some California reds to have hints and traces of coffee of chocolate. If you favour stronger scents you may want to try a fine Merlot. They carry a tarry quality.

Remember a good fine wine will not hit the nose over the head, so to speak. Above all the key is subtlety when tasting wine.

About the Author

Joseph Wilson is freelance writer who has written a number of wine reviews. He has featured a number of guides and tips on: wine tasting, wine making and the best wine reviews.

26 November

A Quick Guide To Red Wines

Wine lovers tend to take sides when proclaiming the best vintages. Here is a quick guide to the reds, which often are picked as the best.

A Quick Guide to Red Wines

Ask a wine aficionado what type of wine they like and they almost always will pick red or white. Rarely will they proclaim a love for both. This is somewhat ironic given the fact that each goes with particular dishes, but who am I to quibble? Here?s a quick introduction to the various red wines one can experience.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the standard bearer when it comes to a red. If you are just getting into the wine experience, it is pretty hard to go wrong with a ?cab?. This wine has undergone a unique expansion wherein it was originally associated with Bordeaux, France wineries, but is not produced from California to Australia. The wine is either medium or bold in taste and often is noted for its black currants aroma and flavor.

Quickly gaining on cabs in popularity is the Merlot red wine. Merlot is a traditional wine produced in Bordeaux, but has also found popularity in vineyards in California and Chile. This a full blooded red wine with a lot of taste and higher alcohol content than a cab. It is also much smoother than a cab, which may make it a better choice if you are just starting out with the wine experience.

Pinot Noir is the next well-known red wine in our cellar. This is a hit and miss wine for most wineries and most wine drinkers. Whereas producing an acceptable Cabernet Sauvignon can be relatively simple, the same cannot be said for Pinot Noir. The vintages are noticeably different and some can be awful. On the other hand, many a wine expert has opined that Pinot Noir done right is the finest wine possible. Unlike cabs and Merlots, this wine is not produced in mass quantities due to its temperament. The best comes from Burgundy, France, but acceptable vintages are produced by wineries in California and Oregon.

There are a variety of other red wines that are also produced by wineries around the world. To the surprise of many, zinfandels come in a red in addition to the far more popular white vintages. Regardless, the three reds mentioned above make up a majority of the reds on the market and are a good place to start your wine tasting experience.

Xavier Moldini is with WineriesforYou.com - a directory of wineries.

7 October

Making Red Rose And Sparkling Wines

As touched upon in the preceding article, ?Making White Wine, a Labour of Love? making wine is a very time consuming and difficult job. Timing must be perfect as does combinations of ingredients. The same goes for all other types of wine: red, rose and sparkling.

Ros? wine is a red wine that is made with the same methods of a white wine. The production is the same except that the skins are thrown in with the juice. Few winemakers prefer to make ros? wine by mixing some red wine into white wine, but this is not the popular method. When using the skins to make ros? wine most important thing is to only leave the skins in with the juice for a short period of time, long enough to give it that rose color and make it ever so slightly tannic.

Making red wine involves using the entire grape except for the stalks. The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, but instead of filtering the skins from the juice the skins are transferred to open top tanks where they are continuously stirred so the flavor and color from the skins will become infused with the wine during fermentation. The wine is then filtered to remove the skins and put into barrels to age from six months up to two years before being bottled and sold.

Then you have sparkling wine or Champagne. Because of the Treaty of Madrid in 1891 and the Treaty of Versailles in, only wines from the French region of Champagne are allowed to be called as such, which is why everything else is referred to as sparkling wine. However it is important to note that the United States never ratified the treaty and therefore some wine makers today use the term Champagne on their bottles, only if the original place of origin is on the label as well to prevent confusion. The wines most commonly used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier. The first step is to have a ?base wine? which is usually made from very acidic grapes giving it a horrible taste. The next step involves getting the bubbles into the wine.

There are three methods that can be used to get bubbles into wine, carbonation, transfer method and m?thode champenoise. Carbonation, the same method used in soft drinks, is the cheapest. Carbon dioxide is pumped into a wine tank and then the wine is bottled under pressure to prevent the case from escaping. The transfer method is when a sweetened base has yeast added to it and is allowed to ferment a second time in an enclosed tank so the building carbon dioxide cannot escape. After fermentation, the wine is then clarified and re-sweetened if necessary before being bottled under pressure. This method is used to produce medium price range sparkling wine. The final method is m?thode champenoise, which is when the wine has a second fermentation in the bottle. This method is used to produce the best quality wines.

Making wine is an art form. It takes knowledge, skill but most of all patience. The process of making wine from picking the grapes to bottling can be months or years, which is why winemakers are so passionate about their work. So the next time you pour yourself a glass, think about the voyage those little grapes have made.

Finest Wine Racks is a major supplier of a variety of wine racks including wood wine racks, wrought iron wine racks, counter top wine racks, free standing wine racks, hanging wine racks, and wine rack kits.

Ken Finnigan - CEO
Finest Wine Racks

8 September

The Basic Wine Essentials

Whether you are serving it to your guests while entertaining, using it to create luscious dishes, or simply enjoying its’ company, whatever the occasion, this libation reigns the kingdom of fine indulgence and has been doing so for centuries. The conception of wine has been dated as far back as 8000-4000BC in Mesopotamia. Having thousands of years to further perfect the wine making process, this sexy beverage is a palate pleaser like no other providing a continuous adventure for pleasure seekers in this arena where no bottle is quite like the other. Each and every wine has its’ tale to tell, so indulge and listen carefully, for this libation is quite capable of taking you to places you have most likely never been before!

Wine is an enormous subject that is constantly evolving which can often lead to intimidation. Where do you begin? The important thing is that you do! The enormity of wine is not justification for not trying any, but it is reason to be shy about it. So let’s get down to the basics and get you on your way to a life happily filled with wine!

Creation

Wine is created through the fermentation process of crushed grapes. Grapes are pressed to release their juices which are combined with yeast to initiate the fermentation process. This process converts sugar into alcohol and concludes once the alcohol reaches such a level as to kill the remaining yeast. This yeast is naturally occurring in the skin of grapes but is rarely used in today’s wine making process as isolated yeast strains now exist that can not only act as a fermentation catalyst but contribute a unique style to the wine as well.

What’s in a name?

Every wine is derived from either a single grape or from several. These grapes are also referred to as varietals. Each varietal has a unique name which in turn represents certain characteristics. A wine characteristic refers to anything that reflects a resemblance to a scent, taste, or flavor and also includes mouth feel such as the weight of the wine when on the palate. Let’s use the chardonnay grape as an example. Chardonnay classically presents characteristics of citrus, pear, and pineapple to fig, honey, vanilla and butter. This wine can also be characterized as being full and rich, or simple and crisp. This variance in characteristics is what makes wine so mind-blowing and mind-boggling!

There are several factors that contribute to the final result of a wine. Geographic location of where the vines are planted, the weather of that region, the vines themselves, soil conditions and of course the actual wine making process. With all of these factors considered it is understandable why someone who may enjoy one chardonnay, may not enjoy the next. All the more reason to not give up and keep on trying!!

All varietals exude certain characteristics which can aid in determining one wine from another. This differentiation also contributes to your own approval and disapproval of certain wines. Some are light bodied and fruity, others are full bodied and earthy, whatever your style, there is bound to be a grape varietal that will satisfy.

Our chart below is an excellent tool to use when purchasing and/or tasting wine. The left column represents several popular wine varietals while the right column displays typical characteristics of that particular varietal.

White Varietals and Characteristics

Riesling - Light; Sweet/dry. Tangy, fruity. Citrus, apple, pear, melon, nectarine, peach, apricot.

Gewurztraminer - Light; Sweet, dry. Grapefruit, lychee, apple, nectarine, nutmeg, clove, ginger, spice, floral.

Semillon - Med-Full; Often rich. Lemon, lime, honey, butter.

Chenin Blanc - Light; Off dry. Peach, pear, quince, melon, herbal tea, mineral.

Viognier - Light-med; Floral, honey, apricots, pear.

Sauvignon Blanc - Light-Med; Citrus, gooseberry, lemon, melon, herbal, bell pepper, grassy.

Pinot Blanc - Light-Med; Dry, crisp. Citrus, apple, pear, melon, sweet pea.

Pinot Gris/Grigio - Light; Fruitier and soft. Citrus, apple, pear, peach, melon, honey, vanilla.

Grigio - Crisper, more citrusy.

Chardonnay - Med-full; Dry, rich. Citrus, apple, tropical fruit, fig, honey, hazelnut, butterscotch, butter, popcorn.

Red Varietals and Characteristics

Gamay - Light; Tangy, fruity, cranberry.

Pinot Noir - Light-Med; Cherry, strawberry, clove, mint, truffle, cloves, smoke, sage.

Sangiovese - Med; Sweet and sour, dark cherry, tobacco, earthy, almond, herbs, tea.

Barbera - Med-Full; Ripe red fruit, currant, cherry, herbal.

Cabernet Franc - Med; Dry, berry, fruity, herbal, smoky.

Grenache - Med; Black fruit, anise, smoky, herbal.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Med-Full; Cherry, plum, currant, pepper, bell pepper, cedar, vanilla, mint, chocolate, tea, tobacco.

Shiraz/Syrah - Full; Raspberry, spice, black pepper, blackberry, plum, tar.

Zinfandel - Full; Juicy, robust, jammy, berry flavors, spices.

Red vs. White

So what’s the deal with color? We all know wine to be red, white, and rose, or blush as some call it, but the juice is really all the same! Have you ever looked at the flesh of a red grape before? It is the same as a green grape, therefore if wine exists in a variety of hues then the color must come from….of course, the skin! Often white wine is made from red grapes, in fact, most great champagne would not exist without, so don’t be fooled, pink grapes do not exist! Yes, red and white grapes appear the same in juice form but when their skin is added to the wine making picture a whole other story begins!

The many gorgeous hues of red evident in red wine is a result of allowing red grapes to ferment with their skins, however color is not the only thing affected by the skin of a grape. I am sure you have tasted a wine, a red wine in particular that makes your mouth pucker; an astringent sensation on the palate if you will. What you experienced is known as tannin.

Tannin is a natural substance found in the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes. You can experience this sensation in young whites however it is more commonly found in red wines. Allowing the juice to ferment with skins will in turn generate a higher level of tannin to exist in the resulting wine. It is no secret that many people have a preference for either white or red wine. A very tannic wine is often a reason for dislike especially if you are new to wine. There are several varieties associated with being quite tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, are to name a few however in the game of wine you will not know until you try!

Every wine will possess its own unique color. A wine’s color can reveal its story, and to experienced blind tasters, provide necessary clues in pinpointing a correct assumption. Each grape variety generally exudes a certain range of hues however age and wood barrel aging will also have an affect on color. So evidently there is much more to color than just red and white!

Wine is an endless educational journey even for those most experienced in this subject so it is vital to explore and try new and exciting wines as often as your time allows!

So get out there, get tasting, and have fun!

Jennie Wills has been a hospitality expert for 10 years whose passion for home renovation, food and drink has lead to the successful launch of http://www.thesexykitchen.com ; a web-site dedicated to kitchen design, renovation, party planning, hospitality and much more. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you?d like to write about. Discover how to turn your passion into a successful website, visit http://www.succeed-from-your-passion.com to learn how.

11 August

Why Australia For Fine Wines?

Australia, the land DownUnder, has become a major and exciting force in international wines. Australian wine is taking the world by storm, due to the quality of the grape stock combined with the skill and experience of our winemakers. This enables us to produce a superb and wide range of Australian wine styles.

Our island continent features wines as varied as its terrain. Most people know of Australian Shiraz ? that fruit-forward wine now known and enjoyed around the world. These fabulous ?fruit bombs? represent but a small part of the overall Australian winemaking scene.

Australia is sometimes described as the perfect wine producing country. It has a land mass as great as the United States or Western Europe, with a diverse climate from cold to cool to warm, and a wide variety of soil types, including the famous Coonawarra terra rossa. These natural advantages coupled with the irrepressible free-spirited character of the Australian people, has encouraged Australian winemakers to build on the great traditions of winemaking, to create delicious wines of stunning quality, diversity and uniqueness.

Wines from Australia are usually denoted by their grape variety. Aside from Shiraz, Australia also produces fine Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and plenty of Cab-Shiraz blends plus some distinct Aussie wines. And don?t forget our Australian sparking whites and reds ? just the wines to keep your taste buds tingling.

Delicious concentrated ripe fruit, harvested at the peak of perfection is easier to obtain in Australia than almost anywhere else in the world. Australian wines are a delight on your palette with their different aromas, flavours and taste sensations crafted from each of the different grapes, blends and regions.

Please come and visit us DownUnder, but if you don’t have the time just now, take a Wine Tour around our amazing country through our AussieWinesOnline website and experience the people, places and our incomparable wines.

Lindsay Lewis is the Marketing Director of http://www.AussieWinesOnline.com an Australian company providing worldwide home delivery of fine, estate-grown Australian wines, from independent Australian Wineries.

10 August