Wine 101

“Sharing some information when buying your wines!

How to store wine:

  • Keep in a cool dark, dry place no matter what type of wine. If the wine is exposed to too much light, it could interact with the compounds in the wine.  Too much light exposure can ruin the flavor of the wine.  If you don’t have a cellar, just use a dark pantry or a closet to store the wine.  Just make sure the wine bottle is in a place as dark as possible.

  • Avoid shaking the bottle of wine.

  • Store the wine bottle sideways if possible. The reason why is that just once the wine is exposed to oxygen, it will start to oxidize.  The oxidation process turns the natural sugars into acid which will then give the wine a vinegar taste.  Wood expands when moist, so storing the wine sideways will keep the wine in contact with the cork and will stay moist and in turn prevent oxygen from getting into the wine.

  • Once the wine bottle is uncorked, let it aerate for about 5 minutes.  Then enjoy!

Types of Wine: 

White:

  • Chardonnay: dry, flavors of apple, citrus, and tropical fruit flavors, medium-bodied.

  • Riesling: ranges from off-dry to sweet, fruity flavors of green apple and lime, light-bodied.

  • Moscato:  sweet, juicy fruity flavor, light-bodied.

  • Pinot Grigio: off-dry, light fruit flavors like peach and citrus, light to medium-bodied.

  • Sauvignon Blanc:  off-dry, green fresh fruity flavors, light to medium-bodied.

Red:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon:  dry, flavors of black cherry and black currant, full-bodied.

  • Merlot: dry, flavors of black cherry and chocolate, medium to full-bodied.

  • Pinot Noir: off-dry, flavors of cherry and raspberry, light to medium bodied.

  • Zinfandel:  off-dry, berry and fruit flavors, medium to full body, high alcohol level.

  • Malbec: dry, flavors of dark fruit and chocolate, full-bodied.

  • Syrah: dry, flavors of blueberry, plum, and chocolate, full-bodied.

Other Types of Wine: 

  • Rosé Wines:  The wine is made from red/black grapes, but they’re lighter in color than red wine because the skins are only left to soak (macerate) in the grape juice for a short period of time. Types of Rosé can vary just as much as Reds and Whites, from dry to sweet, and are made from all different types of grapes.

  • Sparkling Wine: The difference between wine and sparkling wine is the bubbles, a result of carbon dioxide that gets trapped in the wine during a second fermentation process. These can also be made from various types of grapes, and range in flavor, sweetness, and more.

  • Riesling Wine:  Has a beautiful and rich fruit aroma with noticeable flavors of apricot, green apple, peach, and pear. The Riesling wines have a distinctive high acidity that prolongs their shelf life, adds to their crisp, delicious taste, and can enhance their juiciness. 

How to Choose a Good Wine: 

Choosing a “good wine” starts with understanding what you like and don’t like.  Have some fun, and have a wine-tasting party with friends!

Here are some questions to figure out what type of wines to choose: 

  • Do you prefer sweet or dry wine?

  • Do you like light fruity flavors, or do you prefer richer flavors?

  • Do you prefer wines that are tart or smooth?

  • Do you like full-bodied wines or light-bodied wines?

  • What kind of aromas or flavor notes?  

Personal Tip: Try a variety of types and flavors to decide which wines you like.  Plus you could take a photo of the wine bottle; save the label and create a book to jot down the wines you like.

Enjoy your wine tasting! 

Thanks for Stopping By!