Category: Red Wine

Red Wine Grapes Guide

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Have you ever wondered what kind of grapes go in to the wine you drink? There are several types of grapes grown in all different climates and parts of the world. Cabernet franc, Chenin blanc, and Dolcetto are just a few of the types of grapes used for making red wine. Over the next few minutes you will get some insight into the wonderful world of red wine.

The Syrah grape, the Australians know this grape as a Shiraz, this grape is used for a more fancy lighter, fruity wine. Syrah is grown in France this grape produces a full bodied dark colored wine full of Tannin. You may be asking what Tannin is; Tannin is the “feeling” of a dry wine. Better to be explained by biting into a grape seed or even a banana peal and tasting the dry or bitter taste.

The Tannin level is determined by how long the grape stays in full tact with the stem, seed, and skin, the longer intact the more robust the Tannin. On the opposite end of the spectrum with very minimal Tannin is the Pinot Noir, the wine made by using this grape is harder to find.

The Pinot Noir is generally aged in oak barrels to encourage the taste and help bring more tannin into the wine. Merlot is a type of wine people are more familiar with. Merlot often takes on the taste of prunes or even chocolate also very low in Tannins. A Zinfandel can also be red, this is one of the oldest grapes to be grown n California. A red zinfandel is very rich and colorful also the alcohol content is high.

There are so many types of grapes grown to make red wines. Some wine is high in Tannin and some are very low. Now that you know what makes your wine taste the way it does invite all your friends over and make a toast

How To Distinguish Red Wine And White Wine?

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Red wine and white wine has many differences not only in color. For instance, you can taste either of them to test. Red wine tastes much heavier and more complex than white wine. In common, red types are not sweet like white type.

 

White wines are made from white grapes by separating the skin of the grapes from the juice, after which yeast is added for fermentation purposes right until the juice turns into white wine. Then the wine is stored for aging in stainless steel or oak wood containers.

 

On the other hand, when you make red wine, the process is a bit different. It is made of red or black grapes and here the grapes are crushed first and then they are added along with their skin to a fermentation process that takes about 1-2 weeks to end. Towards the end, the skin raises to the surface and forms a top layer which is usually mixed back into the must (the fermenting juice). When the fermentation period is over, the wine is then pressed into a press wine to be first clarified and then stored away in oak containers for a couple of months before it can be transferred into bottles. When you store the red one into oak containers, you transfer to the wine extra tannin that the oak barrels contains, which gives that extra flavor to the red wine that you can’t find in any white wine.

 

This is actually one of the main differences between the two wine types, the amount of tannin they usually contain. Of course the red one has more of it since the tannin is coming from the skin of the grapes, and the white wine is made without the actual skin.

 

Another main difference is the fact that you are likely to find more flavours between red wines compared to white ones. And if you believe what they say about the health benefits that the red type gives regarding resveratrol, one more reason to go with red during your next wine shopping spree:)

 

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Storing Red Wine in Wine Bottle Refrigerators

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When you think of wine bottle refrigerators, chances are, you think of storing white wine there. In North America, most people are accustomed to serving red wine at room temperature and white wine chilled. This is actually not necessarily the best way to go.
 
You see, red wine is meant to be served at room temperature . . . but not the room temperature that we are accustomed to. Consider that for centuries, wine was stored in wine cellars, which were almost always underground. If they were not built below the earth, then they were in heavily walled rooms without windows, providing a cooler “room temperature”.
 
These days, our homes are fairly warm and not really suitable for wine storage. Since the vast majority of people don’t own a wine cellar, we need to improvise. Wine bottle refrigerators offer a carefully controlled climate that you decide. It will help the wine mature correctly and provide better flavor, since the temperature is just right and these refrigerators are built to eliminate the harmful vibrations that most kitchen fridges have.
 
Not everyone will need a wine refrigerator, of course. If you are someone who rarely drinks wine, then it probably isn’t necessary. However, if you drink or serve wine on a regular basis, at least twice a month, you should definitely consider investing in one.
 
Your red wine will have a fuller body to it, better flavor and more complex components when stored at the correct temperature. Every wine expert knows that your red wine should not be kept at the average room temp, but at around 55-60°F / 12.7-15.5°C. This mimics the coolness of a wine cellar where your wine would be allowed to mature at a gentle rate.
 
Most people don’t realize just how bad it is for their wine to be kept in the kitchen fridge or pantry. If you plan to use it for cooking, go ahead and do that, but if you want to really get the most out of your evening cup, then you need to take a little better care. Whether your wine is the finest Italy has to offer, a Chilean brand or something you whipped up yourself, it is vital that it be stored correctly.
 
There’s no reason to ruin a great bottle of red wine. If you don’t have an adequate place to store your wine, it is time to consider investing in a wine bottle refrigerator that will allow you to maintain those bottles at the proper temperature in a cool, dark environment.

Red Wine Health Benefits

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“French Paradox” may be the reason which might have sparked the interest of numerous people in red wine, considering its health benefits. This is the reason of which we may normally find a lower rate of heart related diseases in France. As such the diet of the French people is highly rich in fats, but then this seems to be against their good health, doesn’t it! Also the French people are highly found of eating more of cheese, butter, and beef as compared to their neighbors in Europe.

But now one general question which may arise in your mind is that in spite of taking a food so high in fats, how they can keep themselves away from the heart troubles. Answer is simple. According to many researchers, their food along with a lot of fats also consisted of a reasonable amount of red wine intake as compared to the rest of Europeans, and for that matter, even Westerners. Thus, this opened many windows for the researchers to study regarding the health benefits of consuming red wine, which was the answer to the above mentioned puzzle. So after conducting several thorough research, they found out that a temperate intake of red wine (one glass in case of women, and may be two in case of men) indeed helped one to protect himself/herself against diseases related to heart, cancer, and hypertension. Also it has a constructive effect over cholesterol levels.

But again, the key to this game is “moderation”. This isn’t really a case where one is good, two better, and ten best! But then, every coin always has two faces. Hence, the medical society is very vigilant to suggest red wine routines, and for some obvious reasons. Various studies have shown that in case of women who consumed alcohol daily were prone to be the potential victims of breast cancers.

As per a report in 2004 by the American Society of Cancer, the increase in the death rate due to breast cancer was 30% high in case of women who consumed alcohol daily. But if the consumption is only at the most two drinks every day, then the risk of diseases related to heart lowers from 30% to 50%. And since heart disease is the major slayer annually in case of women, these facts and figures happen to be important. Hence, if taken in a limit, wine has an overall positive impact on the female death ratio.

Scientists have pinpointed the beneficial element in red wine which is called resveratrol. Recent studies have dubbed resveratrol as an anti-aging miracle supplement.

Red Wine Types

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Red wine has a lot of different types, among which, the most popular include Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Moreover, some specific types of red wines are better if you use them together with particular foods like fish or meat.

 

How do you know if that Burgundy you ordered is matched well with your food? And how about the light-bodied or full-bodied wines that wine lovers always talk about? So if you are like most people who do not know anything about wines and food and wine pairings, here is a short guide on the different types of red wine.

 

There are eight major types of red wine: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah or Shiraz, and Zinfandel.

 

Starting with the most popular, Cabernet Sauvignon is considered to be one of the most well-known red wine varieties. It is also described as full-bodied, meaning that its flavors are fuller and more complex than others. The cabernet sauvignon grape variety, from which the Cabernet Sauvignon wine is taken from, can be blended with merlot or cabernet franc varieties. It can also be a varietal wine, meaning it only used a single grape variety. Cabernet Sauvignon is best paired with red meat.

 

Merlot is also one of the most popular types of red wine. People who are new to wine tasting usually start with Merlot. It is good for introducing wine tasters to other stronger types of red wine. Merlot is less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon, and has herbal flavors. You can also pair any kind of food with Merlot.

 

One of the most difficult grapes to grow is the pinot noir variety, from which Pinot Noir red wine comes from. Pinot Noir is rarely blended; it is usually a varietal wine. This is because of the soft, light tannic taste. It is also known for its fruity aroma, and often it smells like damp leather or tea leaves. Pinot Noir is a very good match for chicken, salmon, and lamb.

 

Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is known to produce the darkest types of red wine with complex and intense flavors. It can both be a blended wine or a varietal wine. Syrah also has a high tannin level and high acidity. Wine drinkers could usually taste strong blackberry flavors when drinking Syrah. Syrah is an excellent wine for meat because of its tannic flavors.

 

Just like merlot, malbec is usually blended with other grape varieties, such as cabernet blanc, cabernet sauvignon, and petit verdot. As a varietal, Malbec is a dark and inky wine that tastes like berries and plums. Malbec is great with meat just like most red wines.

 

Zinfandel is considered to be the most versatile grape variety among types of red wine. It produces a strong-flavored red wine, but it can also produce a semi-sweet rose wine. Flavors associated with Zinfandel depend on the climate where the grapes were grown. For cooler climates it tastes more like raspberry, while for warmer climates there are notes of anise and pepper. Zinfandel can be paired with meals that have tomato sauce and barbecued and grilled meats.

 

The sangiovese grape variety originated from Italy. Sangiovese wine is known for its oaky flavor when it is stored in barrels, but fruity and a little bit spicy when it is young. It is the main component of the Italian wine Chianti, but it can also be made into a varietal wine. Being an Italian wine, it is perfect for Italian and Mediterranean food.

 

And last but not the least, there is barbera, which also originated from Italy. The barbera grape variety is the third most planted variety in Italy. Barbera is also known as a versatile type of red wine, with the aroma of blackberries, and flavors of berries and plums. Aging can also add an oaky flavor to the wine. Barbera also has high acidity and is great for many kinds of food, just like Zinfandel.

 

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