“I’m just making lemonade, my friend.” And so began a conversation with Gary Vaynerchuk. Well known for his online creation of Wine Library TV (which just celebrated its 3rd birthday) Gary has become something of a 21st century evangelist for authenticity, motivation, hustle and above all, achieving your dreams.

The Best part of all this isn’t the Business or the Brand Building or the opportunity…though awesome they all FAIL in comparison to the fact that WE are able to meet so many darn PEOPLE! Gary Vaynerchuk (sitting on the floor of the Soiux City Airport)

Gary’s opening comment referred to the fact that his flight from Soiux City had just been canceled, but rather than grumble about it, he simply flipped the situation on its head (making lemonade when life handed him a bag of lemons) and decided to do his favorite thing – connect with people.

Sharing A Common Bond

I’ve been a fan of Gary and his show for years due to his honest approach toward wine appreciation. Having consumed wine for decades, and now judging in two international wine competitions, it’s safe to say that I’m a fan of drinking wine, but not too happy with all the rating systems which often seem to rule the market with an iron fist. I prefer hearing what someone thinks about the wine, and that’s what Gary does like no other.

Known as The Thunder Show, his style is brash, edgy, comical, eccentric, in-your-face, yet also quite serious – he truly wants to educate the public and instill in them the confidence to make up their own mind when it comes to what wines to drink. This is passion at its best. Forget about what’s politically correct, and there’s never a note of condescension in his delivery – just a major dose of spot on opinion without any soft edges.

For those of you trying to make a connection between wine and Global Patriot, my love of wine has been most instrumental in discovering different cultures and our innate connection to the earth. From my early adventures in the California wine country to numerous trips abroad visiting the vineyards of France and Italy, the beauty of wine, food and people has ingrained in me the notion that we’re all connected in a way that transends nationality, ethnicity, religion or ideology.

Breaking Down Barriers

I asked Gary about his own experiences with regard to this idea of wine bringing us all together. “Wine has the ability to break down barriers and while also giving people a respect for terrior.” Loosely translated as “a sense of place”, terrior in reference to wine speaks of the uniqueness of each vineyard – the soil, the vines, the clone of grape, the weather and vineyard management.

In my opinion that philosophy mirrors what we should do in our daily lives – remove the barriers that keep us apart, while also developing a respect for the individuality of each person and place.

Gary went on to describe a wine tasting that he conducted with a group of Israelis and Lebanese, sampling wine from each region. The wines were served blind, with the bottles hidden from view so that the country of origin could not influence their opinion.

“It was such a fascinating experience, as someone’s favorite wine was often from the other country and I could see this common bond develop before my eyes just from tasting wine together.”

The Passion Of You

In the past year Gary has moved beyond expressing his passion for wine and is now a motivational speaker at conferences from coast to coast. While the talk may change from one venue to the next, the fundamental topics center on living your life with passion and dedication, of making things happen, of connecting with others, and not living with preconceived notions of what can’t be done.

This message is extremely powerful in its ability to inspire us to chase our dreams and do whatever is necessary to achieve our goals, and it’s an important message that is fundamental to the vision of Global Patriot, that we all posses the capability to accomplish that which we can envision.

What’s In Gary’s Future?

While he could rest on his laurels, Gary still puts in 12 to 15 hours a day to “make things happen.” He’s working on a half dozen projects at the moment, though not at liberty to divulge details yet. When I asked about his long term goal, the big thing he really wanted to accomplish, he replied:

“I want to buy the New York Jets.”

He often talks about the Jets on his show. In glowing terms when times are good, and in scathing fashion when times are not so good. As with wine, he doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to registering his opinion. Passion through and through, 7/24, hustle till your dreams come true.

As the conversation wound down (he had 50 other people to call back by this time) we returned to the topic of people. In one of his videos Gary spoke of his desire to meet every person on the planet. Not that such an objective was actually possible, he knows that, but living with that frame of mind drives him to connect with as many people as possible – anytime, anywhere – because in the end, above his drive to win, to hustle, to crush it, you will find an overwhelming passion for people.

How are you expressing your passion for people, and living your dream?

There are a lot of tasters around the world from all levels of professionalism. Although I am by no means a qualified professional taster, here are some pointers on what you should be aware of during tasting.

Dress appropriately for the tasting

Try to put on some dark clothing to tastings because there is a good chance that you might stain them. Avoid putting on perfumes as a courtesy to other tasters. The most important thing during wine tasting is your sense of smell; make sure it is not clouded by other non-wine-related scent.

Before tasting

Always ask if the tasting involves a fee and ask for a tasting sheet. A guided tasting normally involves a speaker to guide you through the wines, indicating the order of tasting as well as what you as a taster should pick up. If the speaker is a winemaker, always let the winemaker finish his/her story about the wine before beginning your tasting.

During tasting

If it is not a guided tasting, start by tasting sparkling wines, moving on to whites, before coming to reds and ending with sweet wines. Always taste from the least intense to the most intense. Do ask plenty of questions related to show that you are genuine interested in the wine.

Try to clear your mind of other thoughts when tasting, do not look at the labels or surroundings. Remember that first impression lasts the longest so close your eyes and allow your sense of smell to take over while taking your first smell. Although you should approach each glass with an open mind, it is perfectly fine to indicate whether you like the wine you are tasting but if possible, try to indicate a flaw by saying that you prefer another wine more because it has exactly a character which this one lacks.

It is okay to refuse any wine you would not like to taste but do make it clear before it is being poured into your glass to avoid any wastage. It is never polite to ask for a second tasting of the same bottle if you do not intend to make a purchase. If you would really like to have a second glass, make sure that everybody else has had their chance to taste it before asking the host whether you can have some more.

You are expected to spit your wine out into the spittoon provided (do ask for one if it is nor provided) but it is also perfectly okay for you to swallow some. Do exercise caution if you need to drive after the tasting. It is okay to toss the remaining wine after tasting into the spittoon when you are done with one and use the water provided to rinse your palate as well as glass.

Remember that snacks are provided to clean your palate and not fill your stomach, eat in moderation.

Very few people are experts at smelling and tasting. Most people spend a lifetime developing these skills. What steps can you take when you have trouble matching a wine’s description (either on the label or in a review) to its actual taste and smell? For example, when a Chardonnay is called “oaky”, what does that taste and smell like?

Here are five tips for improving your wine tasting and smelling skills:

1. Take a spin on an aroma wheel One of our biggest challenges as wine tasters is coming up with descriptive words for what we’re smelling and tasting. Wouldn’t it be great if we could say, “that Chardonnay tastes and smells like a Chardonnay” and have everybody understand what we mean? Unfortunately, life isn’t that simple. The best way for us to describe a Chardonnay is to use “foody” words such as “apple,” “pear,” “banana,” “nutmeg,” “vanilla,” and “oak.” But when we don’t have an apple right in front of us, it’s hard to recognize that we’re tasting and smelling apple in a particular wine. That’s where an aroma wheel comes in. Aroma wheels give us a list of smells and tastes to look for. Start at the center of the wheel where the major categories are (e.g., fruit, vegetable, floral), and then work your way out as you narrow in on the details, such as “citrus” vs. “tropical,” for example. The original aroma wheel was created in the 1970′s at UC Davis, and it has been modified since then by a number of different organizations. Any aroma wheel that you find will be helpful.

2. Sniff out clues from wineries or reviewers If a winery or reviewer describes a wine as having “hints of raspberry and blackberry on the nose”, use this as a clue to discovering these scents for yourself. Try and remember them so you’ll easily recognize them next time. Also, be more vigilant about observing the smells and tastes of the food you eat. A part of our problem is that we might not be as expert at recognizing the smell and taste of banana, for example, as we think we are. For items that we don’t eat, like leather, take the time to smell a leather belt periodically and really get familiar with that aroma. Focus on the most common descriptive words, and you’ll be in great shape for a good 80 percent of the wines that you taste. Here is my short list: grapefruit, lemon, orange, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, black currant/cassis, cherry, apricot, peach, apple, pear, pineapple, melon, banana, bell pepper, eucalyptus, mint, green olive, honey, chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, oak, smoky, mushroom, rose, licorice, black pepper, leather.

3. Swirl away When you pour wine directly from the bottle into your glass, the wine needs to aerate. If you smell the wine before swirling, you aren’t likely to get a lot out of the experience. Once you aggressively swirl the wine, the aromas are much more prominent. So swirl away! If you’re new to swirling, put your glass on a flat surface and draw circles with your glass.

4. Try a group “drink think” Enjoy tastings with experts or a group of friends, so you can share your ideas about tastes and scents, and learn some interesting factoids from your fearless leader or cohorts.

5. Take a sensory analysis class A typical sensory analysis class lasts two days. Day 1 is all about smell. Day 2 is all about taste. You get so much out of the class, that you can take it many times over and benefit each time!

The first in the process of wine tasting, the five S’s, as mentioned in a previous article, is Sight. The visual sense is the first sense one should use in assessing and determining the origin of the wine. Seeing the wine can provide clues on its age, its variety and style, even the winemaker. It can also indicate the alcoholic content. All of these are found from factors such as clarity, color, and viscosity.

Clarity is the term used when one views the wine against a white background and will show any residue or cloudiness. Some wines will be cloudy because they are bad. With modern techniques this is rare unless air has entered through a faulty seal on the bottle. Residue or sediment is most likely caused by age or by lack of filtration. In either case, the wine is probably fine and requires decanting in some fashion. Generally the wine is bright and reflects the light to give brilliance and sparkle.

Typically wines are thought of as Red, White or Rose if one ignores dessert or fortified wines such as port, sherry and sparkling wines such as champagne. Tilt the glass against a white background to judge the color at the interface of the glass and wine. The entire spectrum of colors can now be displayed from pale or lemon yellow to brick red to almost black. The color provides a great clue as to the variety of grape used. Chardonnays will usually be golden yellow whereas a Riesling will be lemon colored. Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots will be a garnet color while a Burgundy such as Pinot Noir will show brick red. Rose wines such as White Zinfandel can be almost raspberry in color. In general, red wines lose a little intensity as they age, whereas white wines tend to get deeper. One notices these differences as one explores wine tasting.

Seeing the wine can also help detect different levels of the alcohol content of the wine, shown by its viscosity. As wine is poured into the bottle, a phenomenon known as “legs” can appear. Simply put, it is caused by the differences in surface tensions between the alcohol and water contents of the wine causing the alcohol to separate, rise up the glass, and then fall down causing the “legs”, also known as “tears of wine”. Normally this is more prevalent in wines of higher alcohol content, but is not an indicator of the quality of the wine. For instance, a German Riesling or White Zinfandel are low in alcohol, around 12.0%, French reds Bordeaux or Burgundy are higher, up to 13.5%. Californian whites and Shiraz can reach 14.5%. All of these are good to great wines, yet the “legs” will show stronger in the higher alcohol wines.

Use this sense of Sight to give you a preliminary idea of the type of wine being tasted.

N.B. Usually when drinking wine it is preferable to use some crystal stemware designed for the specific variety. As tastings are often done blind, a standard red or white wine glass is acceptable.

Stellenbosch is the second oldest city in South Africa, after Cape Town. It’s about a 40 minute drive from the Mother City and the trip is well worth it as Stellenbosch is surrounded by, arguably, the most beautiful scenery in the country. It is renowned wine country and people flock from all over the world to travel its wine route, the oldest wine route in the country. The wines and wine estates have been winning awards for quality and service ever since viticulture came to South Africa’s shores, so it’s no wonder that the bulk of things to see and do revolve around the wine industry.

For instance, most of the wine estates offer wine tasting and many offer combined cheese and wine tasting sessions. Many estates also offer outstanding accommodation; at the very least they have award winning restaurants.

Other wine-related activities include chartered scenic flights over the winelands, walking wine tours and bicycle wine tours. The latter two require at least a moderate level of fitness as you will be busy for a full day.

Spier Wine Estate is one of the most well-known wine estates in Stellenbosch and one that offers the most diverse range of activities.

Perhaps the most famous Spier attraction is Cheetah Outreach. Cheetah Outreach gives visitors the chance to mingle with some of the most majestic wildcats in the world. Cheetahs are a vulnerable species about which little is known. Cheetah Outreach aims to change all that by allowing people to get to know the cats intimately. All funds raised by the centre fund the Cheetah Outreach programme, which includes educational and conservation projects.

From cats to birds: Eagle Encounters is a centre that treats and rehabilitates birds that have been unhoused or injured in any way. The ideal is to release rehabilitated birds back into the wild, but this isn’t always possible and the centre becomes a permanent home to these birds.

Then there is horse riding through Spier’s vineyards. The setting is jaw-droppingly beautiful and the horses impeccably behaved. You don’t need to be an experienced equestrian to enjoy a day out, as tours are available for all skill levels, from absolute novice and up. You can arrange for a picnic to fully enjoy the surroundings.

You can also enjoy indulge in some pampering me-time at the spa, wine and dine at the restaurant and shop at the craft market.

If you can drag yourself away from the vineyards you might want to try one of Stellenbosch’s other famous products – strawberries. Mooiberge Farmstall provides visitors with an opportunity to mingle with some scarecrows and spend a leisurely hour or two picking strawberries. When strawberries aren’t in season you can still pop in to the farmstall and buy some local drinks and snacks and, of course, wine.

If the mountains, wines, cheeses, cheetahs and strawberries can’t entice you to visit the beautiful town of Stellenbosch then maybe this little snippet of information will do the trick:

Stellenbosch is also known as Oak Town. Some of the oldest oak tress in South Africa are in Stellenbosch, whose oaks are so renowned that some have been proclaimed national monuments.

Now, isn’t that worth a visit?

Wine growing in New Zealand is still evolving and new areas are planting vines and producing an ever broadening selection of wine varieties with often excellent results. Wine is now one of the New Zealand’s main exports.

Plan your New Zealand Wine Trail Holiday allowing time to spend a few days in several wine regions. Many wineries have their own restaurants and the gourmet food is usually excellent, as the menus are planned to compliment their wines. Some wineries have diversified growing olives and/or other gourmet food specialties. Each has their own architectural style and beautiful scenic surrounds.

Many wineries are in areas featuring beaches, bush or mountains, arts and crafts, historic townships and other attractions for you to enjoy.

If you are not keen to drink and drive – join an organised Wine Trail Day Tour in each location, for a comprehensive wine experience. Or drive yourself on mini tours… tasting the wines and gourmet foods many regions produce.

Vary it with a Winery Cycle Tour in Hawkes Bay or the Kayaking Wine Tour to Omata Estate in the Bay of Islands – and you have the makings of a wonderfully varied and exciting holiday.

I have found that many wine makers love to chat and share their vast knowledge of the wines they lovingly craft…for it is a craft. New Zealander’s are generally innovative and prepared to try new ideas. This shines through in some areas of their wine making too.

The areas listed could all be visited as part of a tour throughout New Zealand. Alternatively you could choose to just tour either the North Island or South Island sections. I have selected the main wine growing areas…….and a suggested route that takes you systematically through the country.

Kerikeri – Northland is not a major wine area but there are a few good wineries. Marsden Estate and Cottle Hill are two wineries well worth visiting in Kerikeri. Both also have good restaurants.

Auckland – Matakana – Waiheke Island -West Auckland- Clevedon – There are many areas around Auckland where wine growing is a feature.

• Matakana is an hour north of the city and there are several good wineries here. Take a day or two and tour the area. With beautiful beaches, potteries, and Matakana township which has an excellent Farmers Market on a Saturday, there is plenty to fill your time in between wine tastings.
• Waiheke Island has many excellent wineries with some acclaimed labels. Either do a Day Wine Tour or spend a few days on the island with a car. Some of the wineries are a little off the beaten track……with glorious views. You can pick up rental cars from the wharf or take your car across on the Sealink ferry.
• West Auckland – is one of Auckland’s oldest wine growing regions with many well established vineyards planted by the many Croatian families that emigrated to the area. Transport is essential. Kumeu, Henderson and Oratia are home to some of New Zealand’s most well known labels. Artisan’s Winery – Oratia has a great restaurant and their wines are supurb.
• South Auckland does not have such a wide choice of wineries but there are a handful around Clevedon. – I recommend Vin Alto as an interesting winery. You can have a wine tasting or enjoy a degustation meal with wine to match, which is a fabulous experience with much of the produce…… even the venison grown on the property. Their limoncello liquor is delicious!

Hawkes Bay – is one of New Zealand’s top wine growing regions with Chardonnay and Bordeaux style red wines their most widely produced. This area has wine, food, art trails and Art Deco Napier to keep any tourist happy for days! You will need transport to reach the many wineries which are spread out. For something different you can do a Bike Winery Tour. You will want to include some visits to the many gourmet food producers as you tour the region.

Gisborne – Known as the Chardonnay capital of New Zealand Gisborne has some excellent wines and wineries with the first grape vines planted as long ago as 1836.This is also an area producing internationally acclaimed gewertztraminer at Vinoptima.

Wairarapa – Martinborough – Best known for their excellent Pinot Noir, you could plan to stay a night or two and enjoy the gourmet food and wines in the region. Martinborough is a popular destination for a weekend break and wine tours being near to Wellington.

South Island

Marlborough – Nelson – Sauvignon Blanc is the trademark wine for this region and is considered by many internationally to be the best in the world – although their Pinot Noir is also becoming a flagship wine for the area. This region has much to keep you here for several days if you have time – with arts and crafts, hiking and kayaking the stunning Abel Tasman National Park, and beautiful beaches.

Canterbury – The oldest South Island wine area, Reisling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are some of the best wines in this region. Take a Wine Tour or drive yourself to Banks Peninsula or Waipara Valley. French Farm is a lovely winery for tasting and lunch.

Otago – This may be a relatively new wine growing area, and those who were the first to plant grapes here were told they were “mad”! However, they have had the last laugh as the wines in the region have won international acclaim. Pinot Noir and aromatic whites grow very well on the rocky hillsides. A wine tour will take you to several fascinating wineries from Waitiri Creek Winery based in an old Church to Gibbston Valley with it’s wine cave.

With Queenstown and Wanaka central to the area, you will enjoy stunning scenery and find a plethora of exciting activities and attractions when you tire of wine tasting. Enjoy your New Zealand Wine Trail Holiday!

Selecting wines that are decent and affordable is not that difficult. I have found that one of the best ways to make good wine selections, and have a lot of fun doing it, is to throw a wine tasting party with a few friends.

The first step is to find a good discount wine store in your area. If you don’t know of one, go online and do a Google search. Since we are going to be looking for wines in the $10.00 to $20.00 price range per bottle, you will want to get the best value for the price.

In the beginning, I would suggest focusing on domestic wines, primarily because many foreign wines, especially French and Italian wines, can be expensive. There are some exceptions to this, but for now just stay with domestic wines to keep it simple.

To start, I would suggest the following red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Zinfandel. For the white wines: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Muscadet. Naturally, you don’t have to buy all of these. But, if you are interested in becoming familiar with the taste characteristics of different wines, this is a good way to start.

Since our price range is relatively low, especially for the red wines, it can be useful and interesting to choose one particular wine, for example, Cabernet Sauvignon. Then buy at least three different Cabernets, and then have your wine tasting guests rank their first, second and third, choices, and see if there is a consensus as to which is the best Cabernet.

If you decide to do a wine tasting trying all of the wines that I have suggested, at once, then again, do a ranking of first, second, third and fourth. Do one tasting for the reds and one for the whites. To make the tasting even more fun, cover the label on each bottle and designate a number for that bottle, making sure to note what number corresponds to each wine. This is known as a blind wine tasting, and I think it is the best way to do it. This way your guests are not influenced by seeing the wine labels.

Then, after the blind tasting, if there is a consensus among your guests for one, or even two wines that they prefer, say, for example, Pinot Grigio and Muscadet. Then, for your next wine tasting party, go out and buy at least three different bottles of Muscadet and three different bottles of Pinot Grigio and then, of course, do the blind tasting as before.

Finally, there are some procedural matters and suggestions worth making: Note that for each bottle of DIFFERENT wine being tasted, each guest must have a corresponding glass. For example, if your guests are tasting four(4) red wines and four(4) white wines, each guest will need to have have eight(8) glasses. Each glass must have a number to identify each wine. Write the numbers on peel-off labels. You will need a LOT of glasses, so buy clear plastic ones. Create a simple ballot form for each guest, so that they can rank the wines and make notes.

It is very important to provide lots of French baguettes, and plain brie cheese, so that your guests are able to clear their palates BEFORE each DIFFERENT wine. By doing this, they will be able to truly get the BEST sense of the qualities of the next wine. As the host, you should encourage all of your guests to follow this procedure. Make it part of the ritual, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!

If you missed my other article about wine, be sure to read it: “How Any Person With A Good Sense of Taste Can Select Good Wines On Their Own.”

The moment you pull that cork, wine comes in contact with air. And once that happens, the oxidation process begins. If you’re not planning on consuming all the wine in one sitting, you need to know how to store the remaining wine so it won’t go bad.

Oxidation is the chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen comes in contact with wine. At first, oxidation is a good thing; it helps “open up” the wine, revealing different facets of its bouquet and aroma. However, after a couple of hours, further oxidation is a bad thing. It starts to damage the wine and will eventually ruin it.

Many of us have had the experience of leaving an unfinished bottle out all night without the cork back on. The difference in flavor and aroma the next day is striking and unmistakable. Even if re-corked the next day, the wine will usually taste flat, “raisiny,” and unpleasant — all a product of the oxidation process.

So how do you preserve an open bottle of wine when you don’t want to (or can’t) drink the whole thing in one sitting? There are only four reliable methods of preserving the remaining wine, some more reliable than others:

1. First, put the cork back on and put the wine in the fridge. The oxidative process slows down dramatically in cooler temperatures. This is a very easy — and a fairly reliable — method when you don’t have any other choices. Certainly much better than leaving an open bottle on the kitchen counter overnight.

2. A second option is to transfer the remaining wine to a half-bottle (375ml) and put it in the fridge. Doing this eliminates most of the air that would normally come in contact with the wine in a standard-size bottle (750ml). While more effective that method #1, this involves carefully transferring the wine over, which is only practical to do with a funnel.

3. A third alternative is to pump out the air in the bottle with a “wine pump.” You can get a wine pump virtually anywhere these days, even in stores such as Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Linens and Things. These pumps are fairly reliable, but I’ve found they work best if you also stick the bottle in the refrigerator after pumping out the air (no pump can completely remove the air from the bottle). Otherwise, you’ll still notice a slight difference in taste the next day, and a more pronounced difference the following day and beyond.

4. Use a wine preserver spray. This, by far, is the most effective and dependable method of keeping wine fresh. While these sprays cost about $10 a bottle, they are extremely reliable and effective. In my opinion, this is the only way to store opened wine. The spray is actually a blend of harmless inert gasses (gasses that don’t react with wine), which keep the wine from spoiling. Spraying the inside the bottle displaces the oxygen already present and leaves a blanket of inert gas over the wine. The amazing thing is, the gas will preserve the wine for days, even weeks! Try a can and see for yourself. Look for them at many local wine shops and online by searching for brands such as “Private Preserve.”

What about wine that’s already spoiled? Whatever you do, don’t dump it down the drain. Instead, keep it in the fridge (with a cork on) for recipes that call for a little wine. I always keep a bottle of “spoiled” wine in the fridge for this purpose. And when a sauce calls for a little wine, I don’t have to use the good stuff.

Another idea is to pour it in ice trays and freeze it. And again, when you have a recipe that calls for wine, break off a few “wine cubes” instead.

Some may argue that it’s best to use fresh wine when cooking. I say do what you’d like. But in my house we never waste a drop of wine!

Wine Facts: Quick WineTasting Tips

What is the ideal temperature for wine?

Whites: chilled (45-55 degrees F) for a few hours in the refrigerator.
Reds: slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees); Younger fruity reds benefit from chilling.
Sparkling Wine: thoroughly chilled; refrigerate several hours or the night before serving.
Dessert Wine: room temperature.

Chilling tones down the sweetness of wine. If a red wine becomes too warm, it may lose some of its fruity flavor.

Should I ever use a decanter for my wines?

A decanter is used mainly to remove sediment from older red wines. Also, it can be used to open up young red wines. Otherwise, wine will “breathe” enough in your glass and decanting is not necessary.

Why should I swirl wine in my glass before I drink it?

By swirling your wine, oxygen is invited into the glass, which allows the aromas to escape.

Do not let anyone beat you when it comes to tasting wine. Read on for some grape “specs” for your mental wine facts library.

An expert in wine tasting already? Share your opinion with others in winery-explorer for a chance to win a trip.

Wine Facts: Basic Wine Varieties

You may be an experiences wine drinker… But even experts may confuse wine varietals when tasting blindfolded. Be prepared for the next blindfolded wine tasting by reading these wine facts ahead of time – impress your friends, and keep the secret to yourself. Or, if you’d rather share, it’s okay too – knowledge is free!!!

Sauvignon Blanc – Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine best known for its grassy, herbal flavors. Sauvignon Blanc is also called Fume Blanc, and is a popular choice for fish and shellfish dishes.

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) – The low acidity of this white varietal helps produce rich, lightly perfumed wines that are often more colorful than other whites. The best ones have pear and spice-cake flavors.

Chardonnay – Chardonnay is a white wine which can range from clean and crisp with a hint of varietal flavor to rich and complex oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture. This varietal goes well with everything from fish and poultry to cheeses, spicy foods and nut sauces.

Muscat - The white Muscat grape produces spicy, floral wines that often do something most other wines don’t: they actually taste like grapes. Muscats can range from very dry and fresh to sweet and syrupy. This varietal is often served with puddings and chocolate desserts.

Gewurztraminer – Gewurztraminer is a white wine that produces distinctive wines rich in spicy aromas and full flavors, ranging from dry to sweet. Smells and flavors of litchi nuts, gingerbread, vanilla, grapefruit, and honeysuckle come out of this varietal. It is often a popular choice for Asian cuisines and pork-based sausages.

Riesling – Rieslings are white wines known for their floral perfume. Depending on where they’re made, they can be crisp and bone-dry, full-bodied and spicy or luscious and sweet. The flavor is often of peaches, apricots, honey, and apples and pairs well with duck, pork, and roast vegetables.

Champagne/Sparkling Wine – These wines are made effervescent in the wine-making process. Champagnes and sparkling wines range in style from very dry (Natural), dry (brut) and slightly sweet (extra Dry) to sweet (sec and Demi-Sec). Many sparkling wines are also identified as Blanc de Blancs (wines made from white grapes) or Blanc de Noirs (wines produced from red grapes).

Pinot Noir - Pinot Noir is a red wine of light to medium body and delicate, smooth, rich complexity with earthy aromas. They are less tannic than a cabernet sauvignon or a merlot. Pinot Noirs exude the flavor of baked cherries, plums, mushrooms, cedar, cigars, and chocolate.

Zinfandel - Primarily thought of as a Californian varietal (though recently proven to have originated from vineyards in Croatia), Zinfandel is a red wine with light to full body and berry-like or spicy flavors. The Zinfandel grape is also widely used in the popular off-dry blush wine known as White Zinfandel. The Red Zinfandel pairs well with moderately spicy meat dishes. Syrah (Shiraz) – Syrah can produce monumental red wines with strong tannins and complex combinations of flavors including berry, plum and smoke. It’s known as Shiraz mainly in Australia and South Africa.

Petite Syrah - Petite Syrahs are red wines with firm, robust tannic tastes, often with peppery flavors. Petite Syrahs may complement meals with rich meats.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. It is full-bodied and intense, with cherry- currant and sometimes herbal flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon may have noticeable tannins.

Merlot - Merlot is a red wine with medium to full body and herbaceous flavors. Merlot is typically softer in taste than Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s flavors and aromas include blackberry, baked cherries, plums, chocolate, and mocha.

I hope the next glass of wine you drink will taste a bit different! Enjoy!

There are many different uses of wine. It is not only for consumption as it is a beverage with significant value and considered sophisticated. Wine is significant to many different cuisines, religions, and it has many different health related benefits.

There are many different wines used for cooking purposes. Many deserts have wine in them, such as the Black Forest Cherry. Many people like to marinade meats in wine before grilling or baking in the oven.

Wine has many religious uses. Because wine induces a mind altering state, the Dionysus used it as a sacramental entheogen. It is an integral part of the Jewish laws, such as Kiddush. This is a blessing which sanctifies the Jewish holiday with wine.

The Christianity religion uses wine also during the Eucharist. The last supper shows Jesus Christ sitting with his disciples drinking a glass of wine and sharing bread. There are many denominations that believe in the Eucharist, including the Roman Catholics and the Protestants.

Islamic law forbids wine. Although Iran used to have a thriving wine industry it was abolished in 1979, due to the Islamic Revolution. Any type of alcohol is strictly forbidden.

There are also many health benefits of wine. Red wine contains a chemical called resveratrol. This chemical has cardio protective and chemo protective effects in studies of animals. Procyanidins are known to have heart benefits and they are most commonly found in red wines. Procyanidins suppress the process in the body that constricts the blood vessels.

Sulphites are contained in all wines due to the fermentation process. Some wines have more than others. Sulphites have been known to cause problems with people who have asthma.

Wine is known to be healthy to drink occasionally. If you drink one glass of wine a day it is considered to be healthy for your heart. Pregnant women are also okay to drink a small glass of wine each day. It is known to be a heart healer and healthy for the body because it provides a relaxing affect on the muscles and the brain.

Excessively drinking wine can lead to problems and cause health issues if it is on a constant basis. It is not advised to drink excessive amounts of wine due to the high alcohol content in most wines.