Wine is one of the ancient drink humanity could offer that is still around today and being enjoyed by people around the world. With rich history and culture, diving head first into the idea of wines can be pretty daunting. There are surely a lot to learn and things to remember to learn the art of white wines.
Grapes
Grapes are the fruits that are responsible for giving us this elegant drink. They have been around the Earth for 65 million years. With a long history, a lot of variety of grapes has been created throughout the ages. Scientists actually do not classify them as fruits, they classify them as berries. The Romans, who cultivated them in their era, are the first ones to call them by different names, one for each variety.
There are currently 8000 species of grapes, but only 1800 of them are used to create wine. Planted in vineyards, there is an estimated number of hectares that are planted with vineyards which are 7.5 million. The top countries that cultivate wines include the United States of America, Spain, China, Turkey, France, and Italy.
Color
The color of the wines depends on the grapes used. Red wines come from grapes with the color purple or blue grapes. White wines, on the other hand, come from green grapes. Upon fermenting, the winemakers include almost every part of the grapes to make the wine look darker and deeper. White wines only include the grape juice. This makes the white wine citrusy in flavor. White wines actually keep people’s lungs in health. In reality, wines don’t only come in two different colors, there are also wines that are colored pink, gold, even orange.
Region
The soil the vineyards are planted upon determines a key factor in cultivating them. The soil should be perfect along with the sunshine the vineyard can get, moisture, and the temperature. Grapes that are planted on sandy soils make for softer wines, making them less acidic. Red wines get their boldness from soil rich with clay. Sparkling wine as what they call a wine with a lot of carbon dioxide bubbles can be grown in any place. However, sparkling wine that’s planted in the Champagne region of France can only be called champagne.
Taste
The term “flavored” is usually used by winemakers but in reality, wines are not flavored. The grape that was used to create a specific wine gives the wine the flavor. Wines that are infused with another grape other than the grape it was created from can only be called “flavored”.
The first stage of tasting a wine is to look at its appearance. Taking note deep color and the thickness of the wine can give the person an idea of how the wine will taste. The second stage is to smell the aroma of the wine. Wine experts will stick their nose into the glass closely to inhale its complex aroma. Take note that all wine’s aromas are restricted to the grapes used. It could also give off different kinds of perfumes such as tobacco, chocolates, etc. The first aroma that wine experts will notice are the grapes that are used, next will be the handling process of the wine and its age. After that, the wine experts are allowed to take a sip. They will let it roll in their tongue for quite some time to notice the complex nuances of its taste.
Pairings
Red wines should be served with glassware with a wider opening to soften out the aroma and also to support the oxidation. On the other hand, Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne Montrachet, a white wine, should be served with taller and slimmer glassware.
In terms of food, red wines are better with heavier kinds of meat such as beef and lamb or any kind of red meat. White wines are better paired with chicken and fish, lighter dishes. If you have no idea about food pairings, there are wines that have food suggestions on their labeling.
There is a general rule in serving wines: White wines should be served first, then the red wines. Also, older vintages should be served last. 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit is the best temperature for white wines. Keep the red wines warmer for as about 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Takeaway
There are a lot of things to keep in mind if you want to discover the world of wines. In order to appreciate its art and beauty, one should go back to the first time it was cultivated until the moment it touches your lips. There are lots of wines that are being produced today with different tastes and aromas. The world is changing, and it’s no wonder that in the near future, wines will still be trending in terms of celebrations.