Wine has been known to offer many great health benefits. Everything from lower the risk of a stroke to reducing the risk of heart disease have been associated with drinking a glass of wine a day. There are so many different types of wine that even those who might think they don’t like wine will probably find one they enjoy, even if you just use it to make ice cubes for a slushy drink.
1. Chardonnay is a very popular wine. It was also the most popular white grape wine all the way through the 1990’s. This wine is more velvet and more wider bodied than other types of the dry whites. It is rich in citrus flavor (those citruses being lemon and grapefruit). But it also has a hint of buttery flavor to it as well. This is due to it being fermented in new oak barrels which gives it a hint of toffee, coconut, toast and vanilla.
2. GEWÜRZTRAMINER is best know in Alsace, Germany but can also be found in New York as well as on the west coast. Also a white wine it tends to offer a wide variety of taste. It also is very aromatic. The taste can be described as fruity as it does have a peach flavor but it also smells of rose petals and has a flavor of allspice and lychee as well. This wine has a reputation of not being quite as refreshing as other dry white wines. But it does pair well with pork and sausages which is one reason for its popularity.
3. Merlot is very common and also a very popular red wine. This wine is known for its softness and easy drink-ability. This is quite commonly an introduction wine for new red wine drinkers. This wine has an herbal as well as a black cherry flavors. What is great about this wine is that it pairs well with everything. This red wine has gained it’s popularity all throughout the West Coast as well as Australia.
4. Pinot Noir, another popular red wine has a taste that can be described as fresh and delicate. The aroma of this wine is very fruity offering a mixture of plum, cherry and strawberry. Sometimes even offering hints of leather, or tea leaf as well. Pinor Noir is also difficult to grow. It is one of the noblest of wines, grown in France with no roughness to it’s taste.
5. Another of the white wines is Sauvignon Blanc. This is made in New Zealand and they are known to produce so fantastic Sauvignon Blancs. There is also a warmer variety which is grown in Australia but it tends to lack fruit qualities and be a bit flat in taste. The New Zealand variety however is lighter than Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc has a more herbal taste which offers a taste of bell peppers. But the herbal flavors are not the dominating of the flavors, the flavors that dominate include black currant, mango, gooseberry, tropical melon, sour apple and pear. This wine is unique because of the many flavors sometimes even offering a smokey quality and a bit of a strong acid finish.
Of course there are many many versions of wines all throughout the world. This just happen to be a few of the most popular. This doesn’t even begin to cover everything as there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world. With that being said, certainly there must be a wine out there for everyone’s taste.
3 Things To Look For When Buying Wine
Are you a big wine drinker? If so, you are going to want to be sure that you know exactly what to look for when you are trying to figure out which one to purchase. The key to buying the best wine is going to come down to several different factors. Below, we will be going over some of the top things to look for when you are doing so.
1. Bottle Size.
First, if you are planning on buying wine as a gift, you will want to look for the bottle size. You want to make sure that the bottle you choose shows a good amount of appreciation. While there are many different great wines that come in small packages, these are not the wines that you should purchase as gifts.
2. Type.
Another thing that you are going to want to do is make sure that you find the type of wine that you enjoy drinking. There are different types of wine that you are going to need to choose from. The key to finding the right one for you and/or someone else is going to be determining which one your pallet agrees with.
3. Regions.
Another important thing that you should do is make sure that you choose the right wines from the right regions. If you are planning on trying new wines and you know that you enjoy other wines from the same region, the chances are higher that you are going to enjoy the new wine. There are certain regions that are well known for producing high quality wines. Thus, you want to try to make sure that you find and choose these wines in order to maximize your chances of picking a good one that you agree with.
By following all of the tips above, you should be able to effectively narrow down your options and choose the right wine for yourself. Simply look at the different types of wines being offered on the market and try to find the right ones for your particular tastes and/or situation. If you are planning on buying a wine bottle as a gift, pay close attention to the overall size of the wine. You want to make sure that you give off a good impression. Therefore, you will not want to try to purchase a wine that is packaged too small regardless if it is a good wine or not.
A Few Thoughts On Starting Your First Wine Collection
If you are a wine lover, or someone who is in the process of becoming one, then you might be considering starting a wine collection. This actually does not have to be an expensive undertaking, but you should seriously consider what you are hoping to accomplish prior to starting out. That way you do not get overwhelmed or blow your budget on something you do not need. A few key decisions early can make your collection something truly special in your home or life.
Are you just looking for a home decoration? Many people just like having a small wine collection in their kitchen as part of their interior decor. This might be as simple as a rack for three or six bottles above or on top of their fridge/freezer. If this is the case for you, you might want to just get the cheapest bottles you can find. No one is going to be really able to read the labels when they are stored up there, but a half dozen bottles can make the whole room feel classy.
Will you be drinking regularly? If you are not going to construct a wine cellar in your basement, your wine collection is likely going to be near or in your kitchen. This can prove a little risky if you intend to collect bottles and keep them long-term, as someone might decide to pop one open without you knowing and have a drink. If you intend to drink regularly with guests, then make sure everyone knows the bottles at one end of the rack are okay for consumption, and stock those slots with bottles from your local grocery store that fit within your budget and reflect your economic status and financial class.
If you want a wine collection that serves multiple purposes and gives you broad enjoyment, consider a wine rack of 24 bottles, or some other multiple of 4. Use a quarter of your spaces, obviously marked, for the serious investments of expensive bottles that you hope to keep in your collection for a long time. Use the next quarter of your slots for bottles you pick up from places you travel to, and open them up to share them for a good memory with those you traveled with. Use the third quarter for modestly-priced wines of various styles, so you always have a bottle for any meal. Use the last quarter for truly budget wines available cheap and local; put those out for guests you know who like to drink but are not discriminating or serious about taste. There’s no shame in that occasionally being you!