Drinking Wines

Although millions of people across the globe enjoy wine, very few of them know exactly what it is about a particular wine that they enjoy. By understanding each of the different components of wine, you can quickly establish the parts you prefer, and therefore choose your next bottle with more confidence.

Sugar.
Sweeter wines have more sugar than dry wines. During the fermentation process a lot of the natural fruit sugar is fermented. However, in some wines, residual (remaining) sugar may be higher and therefore a sweeter wine is produced.

Alcohol.
Most people know that one of the key components of wine is alcohol! Alcohol is fundamental to the taste of wine. The alcohol volume most wines range between nine and fifteen per cent. Fortified wine can be as high as twenty per cent alcohol.

Tannin.
Tannin comes from the skin of grapes. Therefore, tannin is much more fundamental as a taste component in red wine than in white.

Too much tannin in a wine is not a good thing and can result in the wine tasting spoiled.

However, tannin helps to preserve a wine, which means that some wines can be kept for years and even improve with age.

A small amount of tannin is also a positive taste characteristic to regular wine drinkers, if a little over-whelming for novice wine drinkers.

Water.
All wines contain water that has been extracted naturally from the grapes from which they were produced. Very rarely, if ever, would extra water be added to a wine. In fact, some wines will be criticized for being excessively watery if the other flavors are not sufficiently powerful.

Acid.
Acid found in wine balances against the residual sugar that is left after the fermentation process has finished. There are three key types of acid in wine, tartaric, malic and citric. All of these acids are found in varying quantities in the skins of grapes

Alcohol may react with bacteria within the wine to create acetic acid; this is not generally a good thing as too much acetic acid will make a wine taste more like vinegar than anything else!

Fruit.
This is what tends to differentiate one wine from the other. Fruity tastes are what we look for in a wine and different grapes will produce a myriad of fruit flavors. It is the combination of tastes that makes each wine unique and special.

Carbon Dioxide.
During every fermentation process, carbon dioxide is produced. Most of this is normally released, however, in some wines a degree of fizz can be left in a wine to add a little extra to an otherwise very ordinary wine. Of course, in sparkling wines, the carbon dioxide is retained and is fundamental to the taste.

Oak.
No longer an essential component of everyday quaffing wines, oak barrels are still used on occasions to add a vanilla, oaky flavor. Oak barrels can add an extra dimension to plain wines that will make them much more saleable and enjoyable.

All of these components make the wine that we see in our glasses. Next time you pour yourself a glass of wine, take some time to think about which elements are supporting your enjoyment, and which you could do without.

Since Neil Best first pondered the question Who made the first wine anyway? He’s been recording his findings at Good Glug. This article forms part of the new and free Good Glug Wine Appreciation Mini Course Visit and get your copy now.

No beverage can stir up the senses, curiosity and imagination as wine. Unlike beer or many distilled spirits, a particular wine will smell and taste different every year it?s released. That?s because wine is mostly an expression of soil, weather, place — what the French refer to as terroir. It?s a reflection of what happened during a particular growing season, as well as the decisions the vineyard manager and winemaker made that year.

All these factors can make tasting wine a very exciting and rewarding experience, especially in a group setting. It?s always interesting to hear others? opinions on a wine: what they smelled, what they tasted, what they felt.

If you?ve always wanted to host a wine tasting in your home — or maybe are just interested in finding ways to learn more about wine — then read on. Below are six creative ways to learn more about (and enjoy!) this magical beverage with friends and loved ones.

Basic Wine Tasting

A basic wine tasting can be a unique and fun way to entertain guests. However, they are more enjoyable and rewarding when you limit the size of the group to no more than about 12 guests. Once you get much bigger than this it?s difficult to manage this format.

Keep it simple by deciding on a theme (say, Australian Shiraz, Red wines from the Rhone region of France, or whatever suits you). Set a price floor and a ceiling and have each guest bring one or two bottles that fit the theme.

Make sure to first number each bottle. That will help those taking notes keep track of what they?re tasting. Pour only one wine at a time and give your guests a chance to fully appreciate each one. Before moving on to the next one, try to create some discussion about the wine and even consider handing out scoring sheets (or at least pen and paper). This will allow everyone to record their impressions, along with each wine?s region, grape varietals, price and so on. Move to the next bottle only when everyone has had a chance to appreciate and discuss the previous one.

Blind Wine Tasting

This type of tasting follows the same steps as the basic tasting described above, except that the identity of each wine is not revealed until after everyone has tasted and evaluated all the wines. To do this right, you?ll have to open each bottle first and also fully remove the foil cap (to prevent it from revealing its identity). Then, put each bottle inside a brown paper bag and tie it at the end with a heavy-duty rubber band.

When you?re ready to start tasting, take the wines to the dinner table and number each bag clearly with a marker. Follow each step in the basic wine tasting description above — but again, don?t reveal the identity of any wine until ALL wines have been evaluated.

I find this to be the most intriguing and most challenging format — but also the most fun! It?s amazing how much our prejudices and preconceptions (including the look of a bottle?s label bottle or the price paid) have on our evaluation and perception of a wine. Blind tasting is the only truly objective way to judge.

Wine Party

Again, the formats above work very well with groups of 4 ? 12 people. Once your group gets much larger, a basic tasting becomes too difficult to manage. So what can you do if you?d like to have a wine tasting but have too many guests to make it work? Simple: Have a ?wine party.?

The best wine parties are the kind where you keep things casual and laid back, yet still ask your guests to follow certain rules. For example, you could set a theme such as ?wines from Spain,? and have every individual bring a wine from that country (each couple should bring 2 wines; better to have too much than not enough!). As with the other tastings, set a floor and a ceiling: $15 to $30, for example.

For those that won?t know how to pick a good selection in this price range, suggest they go to a merchant and let an experienced sales clerk know what the wine is for. With this kind of guidance (country or varietal, as well as a specific price range), most merchants will do a good job recommending a wine for the occasion.

As the guests arrive, line up the bottles so that duplicate wines are together (invariably, there will be some duplicates. But that?s OK; more wine for everyone!). You can provide your guest with a tasting sheet if you?d like and use the scoring suggestions outlined earlier. If you?d like to keep it even more informal, skip the score sheet.

?Around the World? Wine Party

Another variation on this theme is to host an ?Around the World? wine party. This is typically the way to go if you?re looking to host a party with 30 or more guests — and a terrific idea if you?re having a ?house warming? party with a lot of guests (you?ll see why in a moment). Follow the same guidelines recommended here, but have your guests bring a wine from any country outside of the U.S.

Then, set up different tables around your living area, each of them ?hosting? a different country and its wines. Have a stack of wine scoring sheets and pens available on each table, and as an option, number the wines with Post-it-Notes for better tracking on the scoring sheets.

If it?s a house warming party, set up a tasting area in each room. That way, your guests can check out every room in your new home.

By opening up the theme to ANY wine from ANY country outside of the U.S., you lower your chances of having duplicate wines, which is the main reason I like to suggest this format when the guest list is large.

Wine Tasting Dinner

Another variation of the traditional wine tasting discussed earlier is to have a 3-course (or 4- or 5-course) dinner and serve a different wine with each course.

You can ask each guest to bring a specific type of wine to match each of your courses. For example, you can ask one couple to bring a Pinot Grigio to have as an aperitif, another couple to bring a Sauvignon Blanc to pair with the first course, another to bring a wine from Rioja to have with the main course, and lastly someone to bring a dessert wine to have with, of course, dessert.

A nice touch would be to have a final cheese course (after dessert) and provide the cheeses and wine(s) yourself.

Tasting wine with friends and family can be fun and educational. Fortunately, there?s really no right or wrong way to conduct one. So whatever you do, keep things lively and relaxed. Keep some structure to the event without getting too serious and you?ll be sure to create a memorable event for all your guests.

Ed Gandia is a wine writer based in Marietta, GA. He is the author of the ?The Bargain Hunter?s Wine Shopping Guide? (http://www.BestWineBargains) — an eBook that teaches wine lovers a simple method to find the best, most consistent $10-and-under wines sold in the U.S.

Having invested possibly hundreds of dollars in your latest bottle of vintage wine (ah well, we can but dream), the next important decision is where to store this prized possession?

The main issue when it comes to storing wine is that it needs to be maintained at a cool temperature of between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius. Shoved under the bed won’t do.

Many modern wines do not need to be aged over a great period of time; therefore extensive cellars are often unnecessary. Having said this, if you have the time, space and resource to excavate a cellar, your wine will surely benefit. A purpose built cellar is not normally an option for most households and so suitable alternatives must be explored.

Ideal areas for storage include a corner of a garage, garden shed, an unused fireplace or a cupboard that is against an outside wall.

Wherever you choose to store your wine, a few basic criteria are worth keeping in mind.

Choose an area that is less likely to be subjected to fluctuating temperatures caused by household heating systems.

Wines benefit from being kept in dark conditions. Although this is not always practical, wine should certainly be stored in an area that is not exposed it to direct sunlight.

As a final point, always store your wine bottles on their side. Corks are designed to be kept moist, so that they remain airtight and do not crumble when a corkscrew is inserted.

Bear in mind that some wines do not benefit from being stored at all. If you have poor or no storage facilities available, consider purchasing wine that matures quickly such as most white wines or new technology reds or, possibly, a new Beaujolais.

Move wine as little as possible once it has been placed in storage, unless of course it is being moved into a glass!

If you have a particularly special wine collection, it may be worth engaging a specialist company to store your wine for you (Oops, I’m dreaming again). Good storage has been recognized as vital for many wines and as such, many companies now provide storage facilities. Of course, this does not come cheap and is best reserved for those very special bottles or for those experts who are considering selling their wine on, at a future date.

Since Neil Best first investigated the history of wine he’s been recording his findings at Good Glug. This article is part of the free Good Glug Wine Appreciation Mini Course. Visit now and get your copy.

The moment you pull that cork, wine comes in contact with air. And once that happens, the oxidation process begins. If you?re not planning on consuming all the wine in one sitting, you need to know how to store the remaining wine so it won?t go bad.

Oxidation is the chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen comes in contact with wine. At first, oxidation is a good thing; it helps ?open up? the wine, revealing different facets of its bouquet and aroma. However, after a couple of hours, further oxidation is a bad thing. It starts to damage the wine and will eventually ruin it.

Many of us have had the experience of leaving an unfinished bottle out all night without the cork back on. The difference in flavor and aroma the next day is striking and unmistakable. Even if re-corked the next day, the wine will usually taste flat, ?raisiny,? and unpleasant — all a product of the oxidation process.

So how do you preserve an open bottle of wine when you don?t want to (or can?t) drink the whole thing in one sitting? There are only four reliable methods of preserving the remaining wine, some more reliable than others:

1. First, put the cork back on and put the wine in the fridge. The oxidative process slows down dramatically in cooler temperatures. This is a very easy — and a fairly reliable — method when you don?t have any other choices. Certainly much better than leaving an open bottle on the kitchen counter overnight.

2. A second option is to transfer the remaining wine to a half-bottle (375ml) and put it in the fridge. Doing this eliminates most of the air that would normally come in contact with the wine in a standard-size bottle (750ml). While more effective that method #1, this involves carefully transferring the wine over, which is only practical to do with a funnel.

3. A third alternative is to pump out the air in the bottle with a ?wine pump.? You can get a wine pump virtually anywhere these days, even in stores such as Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Linens and Things. These pumps are fairly reliable, but I?ve found they work best if you also stick the bottle in the refrigerator after pumping out the air (no pump can completely remove the air from the bottle). Otherwise, you?ll still notice a slight difference in taste the next day, and a more pronounced difference the following day and beyond.

4. Use a wine preserver spray. This, by far, is the most effective and dependable method of keeping wine fresh. While these sprays cost about $10 a bottle, they are extremely reliable and effective. In my opinion, this is the only way to store opened wine. The spray is actually a blend of harmless inert gasses (gasses that don?t react with wine), which keep the wine from spoiling. Spraying the inside the bottle displaces the oxygen already present and leaves a blanket of inert gas over the wine. The amazing thing is, the gas will preserve the wine for days, even weeks! Try a can and see for yourself. Look for them at many local wine shops and online by searching for brands such as ?Private Preserve.?

What about wine that?s already spoiled? Whatever you do, don?t dump it down the drain. Instead, keep it in the fridge (with a cork on) for recipes that call for a little wine. I always keep a bottle of ?spoiled? wine in the fridge for this purpose. And when a sauce calls for a little wine, I don?t have to use the good stuff.

Another idea is to pour it in ice trays and freeze it. And again, when you have a recipe that calls for wine, break off a few ?wine cubes? instead.

Some may argue that it?s best to use fresh wine when cooking. I say do what you?d like. But in my house we never waste a drop of wine!

Ed Gandia is a wine writer based in Marietta, GA. He is the author of the ?The Bargain Hunter?s Wine Shopping Guide? (http://www.BestWineBargains.com) — an eBook that teaches wine lovers a simple method to find the best, most consistent $10-and-under wines sold in the U.S.

A fun way to learn more about different wines?especially those you normally wouldn?t buy on your own?is to host a wine tasting in your home. Here are a few tips for a fun and educational wine tasting:

* First, decide how many people you?re going to invite. The size of your tasting will probably determine the setup you use and maybe even your tasting?s theme.

* Second, decide on a theme. You could choose a country, a region within a country, or a varietal (a grape). For example, wines from the Southern Rh?ne, or maybe New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, or red wines from Chile. You could even settle on an ?ABC? theme: ?Anything but Cabernet? or ?Anything but Chardonnay.? However, I?ve found that the narrower the theme, the more interesting and fun the event.

* Third, decide who will provide the wine and the food. You may chose to stick to cheese, crackers and provide those. And if that?s the case, you could ask your guests to each bring a bottle or two of wine (based on your specified theme).

* Lastly, determine how formal you want the even to be. In other words, will you be pouring one wine at a time and then encouraging comments and observations from everyone? Or will this be a more casual event that merely has a wine theme and no ?wine talk?? There are no rules; it?s completely up to you.

Here are some ideas for you to consider:

Your Basic Wine Tasting

* Invite just a handful of friends and ask each couple to bring a bottle of wine. Decide on a theme?Syrah, for example?and set a price ceiling of, say, $30 and a floor of $20. The country of origin is up to the buyer.

* Go to the market and buy a variety of quality cheeses. Consult with the cheese specialist. Let her know the type of wines you?ll be serving. Pick up a couple of baguettes, some olives, a decent olive oil, some sliced cured ham (prosciutto, for example), and some gourmet crackers. Also, pick up a bottle or two of a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Ros? so you have something to serve while the guests arrive.

* Give each of your guests a piece of paper and a pen. You may even want to have scoring sheets prepared to help everyone evaluate the wines. But don?t let that intimidate anyone. Make sure your guests know there?s no right or wrong here, and it?s just for fun anyway. Some simple suggestions on how to judge and score wine:

- Color: You?ll want to make sure to look at the wine?s color by tilting the glass about 45 degrees and looking at the liquid against a white background (such as your tasting sheet). Pay particular attention to the rim of the liquid. That?s where the true color will show. The deeper the color, the younger and more concentrated the wine will probably be. Amber, brick-like tones in a red wine are typical indicators of some age. Deep, golden colors in a white typically indicate richness and concentration. Don?t worry about scoring for color. We?ll save the scores for the other elements.

- Aroma: Make sure to give the wine a good swirl. Then, stick your nose in there and take a deep breath. Swirl again and try this one more time. Thoughts on aroma? What do you detect? Write it down. Then, give the aroma a score from 1 ? 10, based on YOUR opinion, not others?.

- Flavor: After a few swirls and sniffs, it is time to taste the wine. Start with a small sip and hold it in your mouth?on top of and around your tongue?for a few seconds. Swish the juice inside your mouth. It?s also helpful to open your mouth a bit and lightly clamp your top teeth on your lower lip. This creates a very small opening through with you can suck air in rapidly, letting the air run through the wine, and releasing more of the aroma and flavor inside your mouth.

Think about the wine for a few seconds before you swallow. How?s the acidity? The fruit? The tannins? The body? Does it seem balanced? What does it taste like? Does it remind you of something: nectarines, strawberries, vanilla, figs, currants, blackberries? Use your imagination and don?t worry about what others may think; there are no right or wrong answers here. Give the wine a flavor score between 1 ? 10.

- Overall Impression: Finally, I like to assign a score based on my overall impression of the wine. Think about what you?ve just tasted. How impressed are you with its overall quality? With the balance and finish? With its overall character? Did it ?wow!? you? Was it disappointing? Did it seem flabby or spineless? Give it a separate score between 1 ? 5 based on this overall impression.

Now, add up your scores and multiply the total by four. This will give you an overall score based on a 100-point scale.

Tip: Ask everyone to keep their scores secret until everyone has fully evaluated the wine and added up their scores. This will ensure everyone writes down their honest opinion. Compare scores with others (this is always fun) and see how you and the others judged the wine. Repeat this process with the other wines.

Wine tastings can be a ton of fun and a great way to meet interesting people. And guests tend to remember these get-togethers for years. I have friends who still tell me how much fun they had 5 or 6 years ago at a wine tasting party I helped them organize. Follow these tips and you, too, will have friends talking about your ?legendary? tastings for years to come.

Ed Gandia is a wine writer based in Marietta, GA. He is the author of the ?The Bargain Hunter?s Wine Shopping Guide? (http://www.BestWineBargains.com) -? an eBook that teaches wine lovers a simple method to find the best, most consistent $10-and-under wines sold in the U.S.