Wine

Varietal

The grape, grapes, or style of wine. Certain regions are known for their blends or styles, and these wines are often referred to by the name of their region or style instead of the type of grape. Depending on the country, the varietal may be spelled or pronounced differently. or sometimes called something different. Depending on the country’s wine laws, the varietal listed may only be a majority and not 100% varietal; every country has different laws that dictate how the wine is made and describe on the bottle

Vintage

The year the wine was produced. *Older wines are not necessarily better; some years the vineyard has better yield and product, so some years are better than others

Vineyard and Production

Vineyards are found all over the world. All factors of a region will influence its taste. These factors, including soil, climate, rainfall, and elevation, are called terrior. Wine is produced by fermenting grapes

Red Wine Production

Red wines are produced red grapes or by leaving the skins on, giving the wine its color and tannin

White Wine Production

White wines are produced with green grapes or by removing the skins

Tasting

Wines are characterized by many factors, some things to look for while tasting wines are acidity, tannin, sweetness, or dryness, alcohol, flavor, and texture. The same grape and styles will have many commonalities between them, and different vintages of the same wine will be more similar still

Tasting Notes: Body

Body describes the intensity of the wine. Cabernets tend to have a heavier body while Pinto Noirs tend to be much lighter

Tasting Notes: Acidity

The acid level of wine will affect how well it will pair with the food they have chosen; for example, white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc are often higher in acidity and pair well with fish, fruit, and mild cheeses

Tasting Notes: Sweet vs Dry

Most wines are evaluated on a scale of sweet, semi-sweet, dry, and bone dry. Most wines, especially reds, are more dry, with some exceptions being proseccos, rieslings, moscatos, and port wines, all of which can be quite sweet

Tasting Notes: Tannin

Tannins are found in red wine, and can be tasted like sourness and dryness combined. It is also felt in the mouth much more than white wines. Dark, rich wine varietals often have high tannin

Tasting Notes: Dryness

Dryness is tasted on the tongue, and is experienced like a dry sensation. Many types of red varietals are known for their dryness. Some examples are Italian reds, Syrahs and Cabernet Franc. White wines such as Pinot Grigio can also be quite dry

Tasting Notes: Common Terms

Used to describe tasting notes and the nose of wines

• Red fruit (strawberries, cherries, raspberries): Lighter reds commonly

• Dark red fruit (black cherries, plum): darker reds commonly

• Minerality (slate, gravel): red wines often from mountainous regions

• Earthy (tobacco, dust, wood): Old World reds often

• Stone Fruit (apricot, peach, pear): Acidic white wines often

• Vegetal (green bell pepper, lemongrass, celery): Dry whites typically

• Oak (vanilla, warming spices, butter): Chardonnay and other heavy whites are often aged in oak and have these characteristics

• Pepper (black, pink and/or white peppercorn): found in both reds and whites, but most often in darker reds

• Floral (lavender, chamomile, rose): whites often have floral notes on the nose

Pairing

Either pairing similar tasting wines with similar tasting foods, or contrasting the flavors of the dish and wine. It’s good practice to match the intensity of wines with that of the food’s flavor. Ex: whites often pair well with fish/poultry, while reds complement beef and other dark meats well

Common Light Reds

Pinot Noir

Grenache

Gamay

Common Medium Body Reds

Valpolicella

Chianti

Malbec

Tempranillo

Common Full Body Reds

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc

Sryah/Shiraz

Common Light Whites

Pinot Gris

Moscato

Prosecco

Common Medium Body Whites

Sauvignon Blanc

Chenin Blanc

Riesling

Common Full Body Whites

Chardonnay

Champagne

Riesling (rees-ling)

White (medium body) - dry versions pair well with fish, chicken, and pork dishes

Tasting profile: high acidity, flavors of green apple, lime, peach, apricot, and citrus, often with floral notes.

Chardonnay (shar-doe-nay)

One of the most popular whites (full body) - can be made sparkling or still. It pairs well with fish and chicken

Often wider-bodied and more velvety than other dry whites, with rich citrus (lemon, grapefruit) flavors. Its typical fermentation in oak barrels adds a buttery tone (vanilla, toast, coconut, toffee)

Sauvignon Blanc (sov-vin-yawn)

White (medium body) - pairs well with seafood, poultry, and salads

Normally has a herbal character suggesting bell pepper or freshly mown grass. The dominating flavors range from sour green fruits of apple, pear, and gooseberry through to tropical fruits of melon, mango, and blackcurrant.

Syrah/Shiraz (sah-ra or shi-raz)

Two names for the same full body red variety (depending on its vineyard of origin) - pairs well with bloodier meats and heavy stews

The syrah variety (France) contains aromas and flavors of wild black-fruit with overtones of black pepper spice and roasting meat. The abundance of fruit sensations is often complimented by warm alcohol and gripping tannins.

The shiraz variety (Australia) has a hearty, spicy flavor that can produce some of the world’s deepest and finest reds with intense flavors and excellent longevity

Merlot (mer-lo)

This medium body red is easy to drink, with a softness that makes it a good “introductory” red wine that pairs well with any dish.

It typically has black-cherry and herbal flavors with a round texture that has a common middle palate gap

Cabernet Sauvignon (ka-ber-nay so-vee-nyon)

One of the world’s most widely accepted and popular varietals, this full body red pairs well with simply prepared red meat

Its full-bodied tasting profile includes hints of “pencil shavings” and bell pepper notes, with hints of vanilla from the oak barreled fermentation process

Pinot Noir (pee-no nwar)

A light bodied red that pairs well with grilled salmon, chicken, and lamb