Types and Varieties of Wine – What You Must Know
A lot of different wines are being made in many parts of the world. Red wines and white wines are normally vacant, there are also wines from “old world” and wines from the “new world”. Wines from different vineyards got a distinct flavor and composition. It is a huge world of wine out there and this article will introduce you to the world of red wines.
Main varieties of wine include red wine and others are white, sparkling and rose. Most of us think that all red wine comes from red grapes; truth be unfolded that the red color is from the skins when they are left for fermentaiton with the juice coming from the grape. The world’s most famout sparkling white wine which is champagne is made from red grapes with skins removed. A number of different red wines vacant will show that the variety of wine flavors is really great. Many people who are new to wine surely find this surprising because the ingredients of the wine are simple.
The most important factor on how the red wine will taste is the type of grape used. When we talk about buying wines, our discussions mostly inlcude the type of grape that the wine is made up of such as “Pinot Noir” or “Cabernet Sauvignon”.
Several aspects to grapes can significantly change the taste of a wine. One aspect is the acidity which can differ greatly in grape varieties and will change the taste. Another is aroma since some grapes will have different aromas, such as fruity or floral, this will give wines the aroma of the grape. You will often hear the word “Tannin” in the red wine world and it greatly changes a wines taste. Thick skins lead to wine with a higher tannin concentration.
Locations where the wine is grown is also vital aside from that of the type of grape used. Before, it refers to the “old world” which includes the different regions of France. But now, it can refer to different countries in the “new world” such as South Africa and Australia. Area where the vines producing the grape is also vital since some grape varieties grow better in one climate compare to another.
One of the questions that interested wine buyers will ask is; which is the best wine here? Interested wine buyers would sometimes think that France got the best wines being famous in wine production and that must be for a reason. Although it is somewhat correct to say that France make some of the best-tasting wines in the world but then they are now in stiff rivalry with the “new world”.
For those who are interested to buy high end wines from the old world, you will often need to wait for the wine to age for a certain period of time. But then, if you buy from the new world, you will most likely wait for a shorter period and you’ll be able to taste them much earlier.
For emphasis, the type of grape is what really affects the wine’s taste a lot but whether it has been grown in the new world or the old world is vital and not only the location matters. It is about getting educated the way the wine is produced which is same with knowing the location when comparing old world and new world. Typically old world wines will have a lighter and more complex taste, where wines from the new world will have simpler, sharper, flavours. Furthermore, when you compare the alcohol content, you will find out that wines from the new world will tend to have a slightly higher alcohol content of 13-14% compared to the 12% in the old world.
It is not impossible for the taste of wines to cross borders. Argentina (solidly in the new world) does produce many wines in the old world style. This is mainly because the Spanish (old world) brought with them their wine making methods when they colonised Argentina. Even seasoned sommeliers (wine tasters) have been known to be confused by Argentinian wine! It will be an interesting experience to purchase wine from Argentina.
Hopefully, you will understand that the taste of a wine will depend on many factors and it would be far from simple to say which world of wine is better than another. At times, wine drinkers use the word “new world” condescendingly or with air of superiority but there is little truth to it. Both new world and old world produce great-tasting wines but when you buy wine, it is still about individual’s preference. To find a great selection of new world wines, visit HTTP://WWW.WADEBALESWINESOCIETY.CO.ZA.
The new world has been producing wines for a shorter time compared to the old world. Each year, much appreciation is continuously given by wine experts to the red wine from new world. At a blind wine tasting done about two years ago, not only did some of the best wines from France got a high rate but also those from New Zealand.
Winemakers from the new world are becoming more skilled as years pass by and are continuously learning which spot and type of soil are best for different varieties of grapes. Winemaker from France also underwent the same learning process being learned by new world winemakers today. It took them time to learn that Chenin Blanc grows well in the Loire Valley.