How to Select a Good Wine

"Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy."

-- Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) the Scottish bacteriologist credited with discovering Penicillin in 1928

Sometimes it seems like selecting a good wine is more complicated than inventing a cure for the H1N1 virus. Obviously the selection of a specific type, year and brand of wine is a matter of individual taste - and all of these factors will alter the flavor, aroma and price of the wine. But differences aside, there are some broad guidelines.

When considering some of the more common red wines, some wine lovers find Zinfandel too heavy, while others complain that a Merlot has no depth. Most readily available red wines are meant to be consumed shortly after purchase. For the wine connoisseur with the desire and budget to taste the finest, patience really is a virtue. Cabernet Sauvignon would better suit those willing to age than a Pinot Noir.

A cool climate Chardonnay, such as those from Canada or the California's Columbia Valley, will interest those who enjoy a young wine with prominent acidity. But it can also be favored by those who want to experience it's nutty, buttery character that comes with aging, especially from French vintners. The German white wines range from the fairly dry Rieslings to the rather sweet Gewurztraminer. The latter goes particularly well with spicy foods and is perfectly suited to Thai cuisine.

Descriptions by class can be helpful. Class 1 wines, often labeled 'Light Wine' or 'Red Table Wine' will have an alcohol content between 7% and 14% by volume. Class 7, by contrast, will have an alcohol content of not less than 15% by volume. This type has usually been compounded with Brandy and flavored with herbs. Those with greater concentrations are considered 'fortified'.

Don't forget to look on the label for a declaration of the amount of sulfites. Did you know that sulfur is often added during the wine making process to guard against growth of unwanted organisms? Sulfur dioxide is also sometimes sprayed on the grape itself to reduce pests and can leach into the skin. Some wine drinkers are unknowingly sensitive to sulfites and can experience an allergic reaction. Concentrations of below 10 parts per million are fine for most, but these days one can easily find wine that is sulfite free.

What about wines from France? The names are hard to pronounce and what's the difference between a Bordeaux, a chateau and Beaujolais nouveau? It's all enough to make a wine novice give up and grab a beer.

One easy solution to these headaches is to join a wine club. choosing the best wine club for your taste and budget is far easier than figuring out which wine to select. Most of the best wine clubs allow you to decide if you want all red wines, all white wines or a mix of both. Some wine clubs specialize in domestic wines while others find small, boutique wineries in the United States. Best of all, the best wine clubs have experts that personally taste and select the best wines for their members. The best wine club understands that a happy customer, a customer that is receiving good value, is a loyal customer.

Next time you are trying to figure out whether to bring home that bottle of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris, think about how simple and wonderful it would be to have an expert hand-select great wines especially for you and deliver them directly to your door. It's the best way to select a good wine. http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Select-a-Good-Wine&id=3425295

Grapes That Make the Best Wine

The wine making process can make wine out of any fruit that contains residual sugar after harvesting. I can guarantee that many of these wines will have some alcohol in them, but most will not be very tasty since they are usually sweet and poorly balanced. The grape has emerged as the champion wine making fruit over the years because it contains the highest sugar of most other fruits and yields about 11 percent alcohol. The tartaric acid and tannins found exclusively in grapes is responsible for its unique tastes. There probably is also a little snob appeal since grapes have royal origins, and fruit wines are more associated with home brews during prohibition.

The variety of grape is the most important factor in your wine's style and taste. Of course red grapes make red wine and white grapes make white wine, but many other factors such as levels of sugar, acidity, and tannins make a huge difference in taste. The varieties discussed below have proven over the years to make the best wine and are the most popular. Any new research in developing new vines looks at tweaking these varieties to be more disease resistant, more productive, and to grow in colder climates. Most of these wines originated in Europe, but now are planted around the world in temperate climates.

Top White Wines

• The Chardonnay grape variety is a classic white wine grape grown all around the world. Origins are in the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France. It makes a full bodied, complex wine that is often aged in oak.
• The Sauvignon Blanc grape from Loire and Bordeaux can be grown in warmer regions and are higher in acid that most whites. It is often identified by its grassy flavor, and is often called Fume Blanc.
• The Pinot Blanc grape is used to produce light, dry, pleasant white wines. It originated in Alsace region of France.
• The Pinot Gris grape variety is known as Pinot Grigio in Italy and Rulander in Germany. In general it produces wines of average quality except in Alsace and Tuscany.
• Riesling makes wines from very dry to very sweet but are usually made in semi-dry styles that accent the fruity flavors. They are originally form the Moselle and Rhine valleys of Germany as and the Alsace region of France.
• Gewurztraminer originated in Germany and Alsace and is known for its floral fragrance and spicy flavor. It grows well in cool climates..
• The Viognier grape from the Rhone valley is becoming more popular as more is planted in California. It makes wines of medium body with a fruity flavor..
• Chenin Blanc is a white grape from the Loire Valley (Vouvray). It makes white wines that are fragrant and high in acid, and is often used as a base for jug wine.
• The Muscat family makes wines that are generally sweet and very floral. It is known as Moscato in Italy and Moscatel in Spain and also is often used for sparkling wines.

Top Red Wines

• The premier red wine grape is Cabernet Sauvignon and is the dominant grape in the Bordeaux region of France. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape produces distinctive wines that are tannic and full bodied. They are always barreled in oak and may age for up to 10 years in the bottle..
• The Merlot grape is very similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but makes a wine lower in tannins that matures faster and is softer in texture. Merlot is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to make the famous "Bordeaux Blend" which is know as Meritage in the US.
• Pinot Noir is the top wine in the Burgundy region of France. It is also a major grape in most fine quality Champagne and sparkling wines. It low in tannin and relatively high in acid and produces a medium body wine with exceptional flavor.
• Known as Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia, this grape originated in Persia. It produces full bodied wines of intense color and flavor.
• Zinfandel's origin is unknown and it is grown almost exclusively in California. It probably arrived in the US from Italy or Croatia. This grape makes solid red wines with good fruit and structure. It was popular with home winemakers during prohibition and were the only vines that survived those "dark ages".
• Sangiovese is the primary grape grown in Italy's Tuscany and is used to make Chianti. Sangiovese wines are spicy, have a smooth texture, medium body and good acid levels,.
• Barbera is a red wine grape grown mostly in Italy. It has some of the flavor characteristics you would find in Cabernet Sauvignon but with higher acid levels
• Cabernet Franc is a grape most often used in Bordeaux blends to add acidity and aroma. It is lighter and fruitier than Cabernet Sauvignon and was first planted in the Loire region of France.
• Carignane grapes are widely planted throughout the world. They originated in Spain and grow well in Mediterranean climates. Wines are full bodied with strong fruit and tannin characteristics.
• The Gamay grape started in the Beaujolais region of France. These wines are light, low in alcohol, high in acidity and very fruity. They should not be aged very long
• Grenache grapes are a sweet grape that started in the Rhone valley. It is one of the most popular because its wines are fruity, full in flavor, and have overtones of spice. It is often the base for jug wines. http://ezinearticles.com/?Grapes-That-Make-the-Best-Wine&id=2042383