Tag: Wine

The Short History of Malbec Wine Grapes

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Geography and History

Malbec wine is in popularity for last forty years.

The major cause is the name. It is known under many diverse names which Malbec wine is at France means too little. Oxford Companion for Wine lists few 400 synonyms for the Malbec so it should have been very popular at certain stage. But now it is known as the minor blending varieties.

Another nail at coffin for the French Malbec came along with disastrous frosts during 1956. This provided the perfect excuse for re-planting some fashionable & robust varieties. But it isn’t all bad as well. Malbec is a dominant red varietal at Cahors region.  Appellation Controlee systems for Cahors requires minimum content of seventy percent Malbec in wines created from an area.

Only historic reference to Malbec shows that it’s coming from surname of Hungarian peasant who 1st spread the variety all over France and further afield. During 1869 Professor Poet introduced the Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot cutting from Bordeaux till Argentina. In a warm & dry Southern American climate it flourish & soon thriving all over. Argentina & Chile. Ironically, Argentina ‘vine pull’ program at 1980’s left 11,000 acres of the Malbec in a ground. That is now back till 26,000 acres producing astonishing rich, complex, ink wines with smoother tannins & ripeness Europe may only dream about. In contrast, these 25 thousand acres with roughly 150 thousand acres of the Malbec in ground prior to ‘vine pull’ & you may better appreciate certain loss.

Chile appears to have escaped madness & it is now Chile’s 3rd most largely planted variety. On contrast Australia have just 1,230 acres of the Malbec in a ground at 2002 & that region has been lessening over the years.

1st mention of the Malbec in Australia arrives from 1901 where Himmelhoch establishes his own ‘Grodno’ vineyard in Liverpool nearby Sydney planted to Malbec and Shiraz.

As most famous grapes, Malbec moves under most different names however these are more commonly used when compared to others. In Bordeaux it is known as the Pessac or Cot, in French Alsace & Cahors regions it is called as Argentina, Auxerrois gives it a name of the Fer, Portugal refers that as Tinta Amarela & here at Australia we call it as Portugal Malbec.

Wine Characteristics

The major aromas from rich Malbec includes: cherry, plum, coffee, chocolate, raisins, leather & raspberry.

A key flavors which nice Malbec exhibits includes: plum, cherry, dried fruits, chocolate, and balsamic.

Aging at oak releases vanilla aromas & flavors.

What Foods Pair Well With Merlot Wine?

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When serving or ordering a dish, one of the details that people spend the most time worrying over is: What wine would go well with this food? Many novices to wine are afraid to experiment with wine and food combinations, thinking that ordering the “wrong” wine with their food would be a major restaurant gaffe. While certain wines certainly do go better with certain foods, there are few choices that could be considered downright wrong.

Matching Tastes

The key to matching a wine with your food is finding a wine that complements the flavors of the food. If when you taste a food you don’t think “Ah, (fill in the blank) wine would go very well with this”, do not fret. It takes experience with wine to get a feel for food and wine combinations. If you are a novice wine drinker, start by trying different types of wines and noting the flavors that you taste. These are the major hints to what foods would go best.

Another detail to consider is how strong the food is. Fish and dishes with cream sauces are generally considered to be light flavors, while steaks, stews, and other hearty dishes are strong flavors. Typically, white wines go better with light foods and red wines with stronger tasting foods. This is an oversimplification of the art of wine and food pairing, but it is a good initial rule of thumb to follow.

The Flavors of Merlot

When you taste a Merlot, see if you pick up on certain tastes. Merlot wine is typically described as being a strong red wine with a hint of spice, berry, and herbs in the smell and taste. These qualities are referred to as “tones”. Smell the wine and see what tones immediately come to mind for you. The tones will vary based on vineyard, year, and method of storage.

Because Merlot is a stronger wine with some spice, it goes well with steak and other meats such as pork, lamb, and duck. Stews are also a good choice, as are hearty pastas that use a tomato sauce base. Once you feel comfortable tasting the tones of Merlot, try branching out and pairing the wine with some of your own recipes that you feel would be a good match, or try pairing food with a different type of wine. There are many varieties of wine from vineyards all over the world, and experimenting with the infinite pairing possibilities can add joy and excitement to everyday cooking. Be brave, and enjoy!

For More Information

To learn more about wine and food pairings and new recipes to match with your wine selection, please visit the interactive, innovative cooking website CD Kitchen here.

Pinot Noir: A Fine Wine

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One of the finest wines is the Pinot Noir from the Burgundy Region of France. Of course it goes without saying that this wine is produced in many parts of the world now but the original Pinot Noir comes from Burgundy in France and the vintages made from the burgundy wines are rather expensive. The burgundy based Pinot Noir is one of the most complex red wines and the grape producing this wine is extremely difficult to grow.The Pinot Noir Grape thrives in cooler climates. Cool climates, with ocean breezes, early morning mist and fog, all affect the Pinot Noir grape and affect the taste of the final bottled product. Possible because of the fact these grapes are easily affected by the climate and thrive in cold weather; well grown Pinot Noir grapes create a wine that is lighter in color as compared to the normal full-body red wine. And it may be possible that it is this light color and delicate flavor and texture that attract the Pinot Noir fans to this fine wine.The light and delicate wine has a very soft texture that tastes almost the same as a piece of silk on the body. Depending upon where the Pinot Noir grape was grown, it can also have many flavors including earthy, spicy, herbal, floral, cherry and even light tannin flavors. red winesuits all people from the regular wine drinker to the new wine drinker as well and is a perfect accompaniment to any meal. The kind of wine it is, the Pinot Noir can also be paired easily with any kind of food but generally goes best with Seafood, Beef, Fowl, vegetarian dishes, mushrooms and more. Pinot Noirs are best served in the large balloon like burgundy glasses. These glasses allow for a lot of swirling around and the aroma that spreads amplifies the taste of this beautiful Wine.

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.

 

Red Wine 101 ? The Basics and Benefits of Red Wine

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Red wine is one of the more popular types of wine and this wine is almost always synonymous to romance, passion, and love. Wine in itself is already a symbol of all these things and the deep red color of the wine only enhances this symbolism. Red wine can be purchased at specialty stores that sell just wine or even at your local grocery store.

 

Red wine can be sweet or dry. Apart from the taste that people enjoy, there are many health benefits when you drink red wine. Grapes are naturally rich in resveratrol, an agent that is known to raise HDL levels in the body. HDL is good cholesterol and resveratrol also helps prevent blood clotting. In studies, it has shown that red wine can even lower your risk of heart disease by preventing plaques from forming in the arteries and by assisting in the healing of damaged blood vessels.

 

The recommended intake of red wine is one glass per day for women and two glasses per day for men. This is of course considering that you are already drinking alcoholic beverages. If you are not a habitual drinker, do not immediately change your drinking habits and take wine daily. This can even be harmful as this has been associated with the risk of cancer and weight gain due to empty calories when drinking wine. If you choose to add red wine to your diet, then gradually increase your intake over the course of a few months. This will allow your body to adjust to the processing of the alcohol.

 

There are many grape varieties that produce many varieties of red wine as well that are truly distinct from one another. Barbera is a red wine grape variety that has the same attributes as Merlot. A classic Italian red wine, Barbera has a silky texture and is best to be paired with tomato-based dishes. Zinfandel also works best with tomato-based dishes but also with grilled meats. This grape variety produces a red wine that has a zesty zing to it, almost spicy. Cabernet Sauvignon is the one that popularized the red wine and meat pairing. Perfect for almost any meat dish, this variety is full-bodied and its rich taste is due to its oak treatment.

 

Red wine will always be present no matter what the occasion is. Whether it is a delightful reunion with the family, a romantic candlelit dinner, or just enjoying an elegant dinner treat for yourself, the presence of red wine will truly add a splash of color and romance in every meal.

 

And just as with any other alcoholic beverage, drinking in moderation should be done because even if there are many health benefits that you can get, too much can be bad for you. Drink moderately and remember to enjoy your company no matter what type of wine or wine and food pairing that you have. After all, wine can only be enjoyed whenever you savor the moment, whether alone with your crystal glass or with the company of family and friends.

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