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What Types of Wine
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Knowing the different types of wine may help in choosing an appropriate wine. There are wines made in the US, Europe, Australia, South Africa, South America and many other countries.
Using your personal preference to buy wine can be difficult when thereare so many to choose. To help you understand the differences of some wines, I've created a few pages with some helpful information on a some of the more popular types. Hopefully, it will help you gain a bit of knowledge on these wines.
One more thing, you should have a little understanding of Tannins, which are an important building block in producing wine. Tannins are found in all types of wine.
Click Here To Learn More On Tannins
Let's start with a common red.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world, mainly in France and California. Cabernets are high in tannins. Tannins can be found in grape skins, grape seeds and are also found in fruits such as pomegranates (seeds) and persimmons. Oak wine barrels contain high amounts of tannins which help to protect wine from oxidation during the aging process.
Some of the flavors and aromas found in Cabs are plum, blackberries, mint, tobacco, cherries and aniseed.
Now that you know everything you need to know about Cabernet, are you ready to go out and purchase that premium bottle?
No? That's what I thought. I still have a hard time finding the right wine. So, for now, I'll try and be your guide . Let's start with some more to less pricey types of wine.
I must say that I am a Cab-man, myself. Lately I've been lucky and have found some really good wines with a vintage of 2001. They have the taste and the aromas that I look for in a good wine and can cost up to $20.00 a bottle. I have also found some nice 2004 and 2005 vintages.
One of those common Cabs you can find at your local wine shop or local supermarket is a 2004 St Francis Cabernet from Sonoma County. This full- bodied Cab definitely has the aromas of berries and herbs. You can find it for $16.00 to $25.00 and at that price, you will not be disappointed.
If you are looking for a lower price, then here's one I found at a local supermarket. It's a 2004 Sea Ridge California Cabernet Sauvignon for $2.50 (no, that's not a typo). You are probably thinking, "Now, that one's gotta cause one massive headache." Not true, in fact, I have yet to experience one after drinking this wine. This is an "everyday" wine (also for cooking a fine cut of beef). I would not save it for a special occasion, by any means, but for the price it is above standard.Try this. Go grab a bottle of Sea Ridge Cabernet ($2.50) and a bottle of "Two Buck" Chuck Cabernet ($1.99) two less pricey (let's face it the cheapest prices out there) types of wine. Do a wine-tasting with a couple of friends or just yourself with these two wines and see which one wins the gold. I have learned to never judge a wine by its price!
Click here for some tips on wine tasting
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Now for the white wine.Here we'll start with "don't say it..." Chardonnay. Chardonnay is made from the white grape and is believed to have originated in Burgundy, France.
Today, due to its popularity in the 80's and 90's, Chardonnay is still one the most commonly harvested grapes in California. Chardonnays are known for their buttery, oaky and fruity overtones.
A great one to try for a great price ($8.00 or so) is Beringer Founder's Estate 2006 California Chardonnay. It is on the fruitier side (apples).
A low priced Chardonnay that you can find at your local Trader Joe's Market is Santa Barbara Landing 2005 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay (around $3.00). Try it at room-temperature which can bring out the flavors and aromas. I believe all types of wine should be served at room temperature.Again do a wine-tasting with a wine of a comparable price ("Two Buck Chuck"). There are so many types of wine that can be used in this wine tasting.
So here are a few examples to start. You might just find a diamond in the rough and save some money.
This is just a start and ever-evolving.
Remember, this is a virtual wine tour where we can all share, learn and even save a buck or two.
Types of Wine (top of page)
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