| Many people with even just a basic understanding | | | | grapes, why go so far so as to even make rules |
| of wine know that there are certain | | | | about what foods to serve it with? However, |
| "rules" about what is and is not proper | | | | think about the difference between coffee and |
| when it comes to your menu and your choice of | | | | tea. Typically you think of coffee as a |
| red or white, specifically, red meat means red | | | | "heavier" beverage and tea as |
| wine, and everything else means white. But what's | | | | something lighter. Coffee has a much more |
| the real difference between these two choices, | | | | pungent flavor and is typically stronger than tea. |
| and how can you tell which is going to be best for | | | | You can also compare cola with lemon-lime soda; |
| your particular menu? | | | | cola is a heavier drink while the lemon-lime soda is |
| It's important to remember that wine is just a | | | | crisper and lighter. In the same way, red wine is |
| beverage made when you ferment grapes or | | | | typically "heavier" than white, and |
| other fruits; the fermentation process is when | | | | usually has a much stronger flavor. It is usually |
| sugars are converted to alcohol. When you make | | | | more pungent in taste. White wines are usually |
| beer, the natural starches in the barley or other | | | | crisper, lighter, and have a fruitier flavor. |
| grains is much like sugar, and this is what | | | | The main reason that certain wines are |
| converts to alcohol during that fermentation. Many | | | | recommended with certain foods is that you |
| people assume that any type of wine is just | | | | never want the food to interfere with its flavor, |
| made from grapes, but there are many fruits | | | | and vice versa. You also want something that's |
| that can be used, including apples, bananas, | | | | strong enough to complement the flavors of the |
| strawberries, elderberries, blackberries, and so on. | | | | food as well. For example, people rarely have tea |
| Wines are named after the fruit they are made | | | | with chocolate; the strong flavor of the coffee is |
| from, and when they are made from grapes, it is | | | | a better fit for the sweetness of the chocolate. |
| the type of grape it is made from. For example, | | | | Of course, recommendations for wine are not |
| Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Merlot are all types of | | | | hard and fast rules, and there's no reason you |
| grapes. If not named after the grapes, they are | | | | can't mix things up and stick with the flavor that |
| named after the area they are grown in, such as | | | | you prefer regardless of what you're eating. Try |
| Bordeaux, Rioja, Chianti, or Cotnari. | | | | a few different combinations and see what |
| You may not think that there is much difference | | | | makes you palate the happiest. |
| then between red or white wine; since it's all | | | | |