All Things Wine

There are many interesting points of view, out there, about wine. From being a replacement or a less taboo option to traditional alcohol; to a beverage for a healthy heart; to a status symbol; you’ve probably heard it all! Wine, like a lot of other things in life, is an acquired taste. Now whether you’re a newbie to this world (of wine) or trying to fit in with your wine-drinking friends, or downright curious; this post will give you everything from its classification, identification of various varieties, how to read a wine label, wine etiquettes, to what to buy from where. Have fun (hic) reading!

Made from fermented grapes, wine grapes, are usually sweeter and smaller, with thick skin and seeds. While there are over 1300 wine grape varieties, more than 75% of the vineyards are made up of only about 100 of these grape varieties.

Wine Classification (Based on basic groups)

Red Wine

Still wine (wine that is absent of any carbon dioxide) is made from black grapes, and red wines range from light to bold. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache, and Pinot Noir are some important red wines. Here is a list of the best Indian red wines for your shelf.

White Wine

Some still wines are made from white and occasionally black grapes and the flavors range from light to rich. White wines are straw yellow, yellow-green, or yellow gold. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio are some of the popular white wine grape varieties. Find a list of the 10 best white wines in India here.

Rose Wine

This type of wine has some of the red colors of the grape skin but not enough to classify it as red wine, this effect is achieved by removing the skins of the grapes before they taint the wine a deep red. A blend of red and white wine also comes under this category. The flavors range from dry to sweet and they can be still, semi-sparkling or sparkling wine.

Sparkling Wine

This type of wine has a significant amount of carbon dioxide which makes it fizzy, the winemaking process involves a secondary fermentation that makes bubbles in the wine. Sparkling wine ranges from lean and dry to rich and sweet; it can be red, white, or rosé. Champagne is the most popular sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France.

Dessert Wine

Sometimes called pudding wines in the United Kingdom, these wines are typically served with dessert. a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine, drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines drunk before the meal and the red fortified wines drunk after it. 

Wine Classification (Based on the Era)

Old World Wines

The Old World Wines date back to the Roman era. The Romans were the first to cultivate, plant vineyards, and produce wine; which was then distributed to their soldiers and the citizens of Britain and Gaul. Famous Old World wines include Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. These are characterized by a lighter body, lower alcohol content, and more mineral than fruity flavors. Regions responsible for producing Old World wine include France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Hungary.

New World Wines

New World wines are produced in regions that were not traditionally wine-producing but have become so, with modern experimentation and expression of wines. The new world includes the countries and winemakers that borrowed traditions from other wine-producing countries in the first place. New World wines include Burgundy, Champagne, Sherry, Port, Hock, Shiraz, Sauvignon blanc, and Riesling. These are characterized by a full-body flavor, low acidity, and higher alcohol content. Regions responsible for producing New World wine include North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Thailand.

Wine Varieties

More than 20 varieties of wines are made from as many grape varietals, but the really popular ones include:

Merlot: Quite similar to and often overshadowed by the Cabernet Sauvignon, this is another grape variety from Bordeaux. Merlot is a favorite of wine lovers across the globe for its boisterous cherry fruit flavors, supple tannins, and chocolatey finish. It is a great wine to experiment with as it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of food, however, try to stay away from fish dishes, light salads, and spicy food!

Barbera: This red wine from the Italian region of Piedmont, has juicy notes of cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, and is low on tannins. One of the highest-rated Barbera, often considered a Bible by winemakers, is the Marchesi di Barolo Barbera Maraia Red Wine, with the characteristic and enticing aroma of dark berries, spice, and a hint of vanilla.

Riesling: Made from aromatic German grapes, these wines have intense aromas of fruits like apricots, pear, honey apples, and lime peels. While the notes go from dry to sweet, on the palate, a Riesling tastes acidic, almost like lemonade.

Sauvignon Blanc: Made from a special green-skinned grape variety, Loire Valley in France and Marlborough in New Zealand are the best-known regions to produce this dry white wine. Depending upon the climates the grapes are grown in, Sauvignon Blanc can be crisp and grassy (cold climate vineyards) or juicy and tropical (warm climate vineyards).

Chardonnay: Chardonnay first originated in the Burgundy wine region of Eastern France. The taste of this wine can vary depending on where the green-skinned grape has been grown but typically, it is a medium to full-bodied wine with moderate acidity and alcohol. When aged with oak, it has a subtle flavor of vanilla and other prominent flavors range from apple and lemon to papaya and pineapple. Chardonnay can be crisp and clean or rich and oaky, when it comes to this wine there is something for everyone, which is why it is the most popular white wine in the world!

Shiraz: This dark full-bodied red wine has a large amount of mouth-drying tannins and flavors such as berries, pepper, and, well, tobacco. Penfolds 2014 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is super-smooth, with layers of rich fruit and scents of smoke and olives.

Zinfandel: Originally from Croatia, Zinfandel is most commonly prepared in California. It has bold flavors, moderate tannins, and high acidity. Original Grandpère Vineyard Zinfandel Sierra Foothill 2017 comes from a vineyard planted in 1869 and is packed with aromas of cherry, dried oregano, and thyme aromas.

Cabernet Sauvignon: A full-bodied, bold tannin and high acidity red wine, first made famous by the wines of  Bordeaux, it can be typically described as rich and robust. Black currant, black cherry, baking spices and cedar (obtained from the oak in which it is aged) are the prominent tastes. It is recommended to pair this wine with grilled meat like steaks. The top regions producing this variety of wine are Bordeaux, France, and Napa Valley, California, U.S.A.

Champagne and Sparkling wines: From the Champagne region of France, this wine is often associated with special occasions and celebrations. It is a sparkling white wine made primarily from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes and has prominent citrus, cherry, or peach flavors. The winemakers are very particular about this wine, in fact, it is illegal to label any product Champagne unless it came from the Champagne wine region of France and is produced under the rules of the appellation. Dom Pérignon from the house of Moët & Chandon is a classic.

Pinot Noir: Another popular red, the Pinot Noir grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy wine region of France (although, it is produced in various regions of the world), and wines made primarily from this grape are called Pinot Noir. It is a dry, light-bodied wine with high acidity and a soft, smooth low tannin finish. The taste varies depending on the region in which the grape is grown but the best Pinot Noir wines have a complex flavor of cherry, mushroom, raspberry, and forest floor along with vanilla or baking spice if it has been aged with French oak.

Reading A Wine Label

Have you ever looked at a wine label and thought to yourself what the heck does this all mean? Reading a wine label can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what you want. But with a few tips and tricks in your arsenal, you can buy a bottle of wine with confidence, knowing exactly what’s inside.

Wine labels can be very confusing, but not impossible to understand. There are mainly two types of labels: Old World (mostly on wines from Europe) and New World (mostly on wines from the U.S.A, Oceania, South America, and other non-European companies). The Old World or European labels indicate the wine’s appellation credentials and relies on the appellation’s quality and level rules and regulations to indicate what is in the bottle (an appellation is a defined geographical indication or region used to identify where and how the grapes for a wine were grown). On the other hand, the New World labels mention the brand of the wine and also indicate the grape variety the wine is made from (for example, chardonnay or pinot noir). The New World labels are fairly straightforward and more often than not, provide the grapes, region, subregion, and even a description of the wine’s aromas and flavors, usually on the back.

Basic Components of a Wine Label

1. Producer Or Name: the name of the producer or brand of the wine is either mentioned quite obviously or at the bottom of the label in small text.
   
2. Region: the region mentioned is where the grapes for the wine were sourced from. The more specific the source is, the better would be the quality and the higher the price.
   
3. Variety or Appellation: the varietal of grapes used (example: chardonnay) or the Appellation followed (example: Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) gives clues as to the blend and profile of the wine.
   
4. Vintage or Non-Vintage (NV): Vintage refers to the year in which the grapes used for the wine were harvested. Usually, a multi-vintage (NV) wine is cheaper than a vintage.
   
5. Alcohol By Volume (ABV): The alcohol level says a lot about the wine, many European wine regions only allow the finest quality wines to have 13.5% ABV and above whereas in America the high ABVs indicate the richness of the wine.

The Etiquette Of Drinking Wine

You might be new to the pleasures of wine but that doesn’t mean you have to be the person who doesn’t know how to hold the glass and is left embarrassed in front of their bosses or potential in-laws! The etiquette of wine drinking is quite simple and easy to follow, here are the basics:

1. Hold the bottle from the base when pouring the wine.
   
2. Offer wine to other people on the table before pouring seconds for yourself.
   
3. Fill the glass less than halfway to give room for breathing.
   
4. Try to keep your portion equivalent to those around you.
   
5. Hold the glass from the base or stem.
   
6. Smell your wine, swirl it around, taste it, and think about it.
   
7. Try to drink from the same position on your wine glass so as to avoid unsightly marks.
   
8. When clinking glasses, clink the bells to avoid breakage and look into the eyes of the other person.

Serving Wine

When it comes to wine, the temperature is crucial and can affect the taste and entire experience of drinking wine. A common saying says to serve a red wine at room temperature, however, this originated from the castles of Europe where the room temperature was around 12℃. In the Indian context, room temperature simply does not work and you are left with red wine which is too warm and seems alcoholic and flabby, thus it is advised to chill your red wine in the fridge for about 20 minutes before serving to bring it to a temperature between 14°C and 15°C. Similarly, white wine should be served at a temperature between 10°C and 13°C, and sparkling wine and champagne at an even lesser temperature about 7°C to 10°C. For more detailed and specific temperature requirements, refer here.

Gifting Wine

Wine is the perfect gift for any occasion, be it a formal business dinner and you don’t want to show up empty-handed or a gift for a friend throwing a party, it is always a good idea to get the host a bottle of wine. There are many options out there for you, and I have compiled a list of the best Indian wines to gift:

Wines are much more than just a drink, they are an experience! And even though they may seem complicated and intimidating at first, before you know it you will be enjoying your days drinking red wine out of a coffee mug and bingeing on the new TV show or reading your favorite classic!