How to understand wines?
Types of Wine
Red, White, Rosé, Sparkling, Dessert, Fortified.
There are over 6000 different varieties grown around the world, but the most popular grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, Trebbiano... for red wine. Airén, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sémillon, Viognier, Virua ... for producing blanc. Except Chardonnay and Pinot, some varieties can make sparkling wine too, such as Glera, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel.lo ...
Nearly 70 countries produce wine commercially. The most significant regions are concentrated in Europe (the Old World), such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and the Americas (the New World), such as the United States, Argentina, Chile, Canada, and other regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Lebanon, and others like China. and Japan.
The Body and Flavour
Tasting wine involves four steps :
1. Visual - Observe the Wine
- Colour & Clarity - Red Wine: Deep purple as Young, Brick red as Aged. White Wine: Pale straw as Light-bodied, Golden as Oaked or Aged. Rosé: Pink as Provence, Salmon as Spanish Rosado.
- Legs (Tears): Swirl the wine - thick legs suggest higher alcohol or sweetness.
2. Nose - Identify Aromas
- First Sniff: Before swirling, get initial scents.
- Swirl & Sniff: Release volatile aromas - Fruits, Floral or Herbal, Earth or Spice, Faults.
3. Taste -Sip & Analyze, 5 Flavour Components
- Sweetness, Acidity, Tannin, Alcohol and Body.
4. Assessment - Evaluate & Describe
- The finishing of Balance, Complexity and Typicity
How Wines are Valued
Wines are valued based on a combination of various factors that influence their price, quality, and desirability.
- Vintage
- Wine Region and Appellation
- Producer or Winemaker
- Quality and Score
- Age and Cellaring Potential
- Rarity and Limited Production
- Condition and Storage
- Packaging and Presentation
- Marketing Demand
- Historical Significance
Some wines are considered investment-grade, with their value increasing over time.