Introducing Wine
Wine has been around for many centuries, and whether it was considered the drink of everyone, or a luxury for a few, wines can be traced to the earliest history of man. Often used for celebrations, there was a time when wine was poured for the common man as a daily drink, but in today's world, he'll find winemakers who long for world class distinction with their favorite wine.
Wines can be very confusing if you haven't been brought up with them, but in actuality there are a few basic rules you can follow to enjoy a wine at its best. Knowing the basic class designations and when they're used as well as how, can help you decide on a nice wine for dinner or any meal. Trying a variety is a way to get to know your wines; you may want to take notes as you go through different types and mixes of wines.
Red wine has been around for centuries, and recently the medical world has given it heart protecting antioxidant features as well. Red wines are known for bold flavors because they use the grape skins themselves to make the wine. You'll find most red wines will have a deeper color and flavor because they are kept in contact with the actual grape skin . You'll find names such as Pinot Noir, Gamey, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel as well as Table Red wines.
There are also wines with a more delicate flavor and aroma and come in a variety of very dry, or sour tastes, to very sweet wines that are considered whites. Made without the grape skin, they produced a bit of milder, sweeter taste. They are made from both red and white grapes, but the skin is removed before the fermenting process. You'll find names such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and many others.
Then there are the pink wines such as Rosé, and White Zinfandel, which is actually pink in color, and just about as many different pink wines as there are red and white. They're usually made with a bit of fruity taste to them. And although not made from roses, they're made with minimal contact to the grape skin so the color is not as intense.
there are the sparkling wines such as champagne or sparkling rosé, usually for important celebrations. They take a much longer process, which is why they're usually saved for those celebrations. You'll find champagne under this class of wine, as well as sparkling whites, rarely sparkling reds, and quite a few sparkling pink wines.
Dessert wines tend to have a class of their own because they are of a heavier sweeter nature. They're often combined with other week years to increase the sugar and texture of the wine. You'll find wine names such as Sherry, Vermouth, Madeira and Port and you'll often see these wines served after a meal rather than during.
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