| Wine is a broad term that refers to the | | | | wines, such as champagne, have bubbly |
| fermentation of plant matter for the purpose of | | | | characteristics that are caused by the addition of |
| producing an alcoholic beverage. Of course, most | | | | carbon dioxide. This effect is achieved by |
| people think of grapes as the basis for wine, but | | | | fermenting the grape juice two times. The first |
| other sources include rice (sake), various fruits | | | | time, the juice is fermented in open containers, |
| (elderberry, grapefruit, cherry, etc.), barley, and | | | | which allow the carbon dioxide to escape. During |
| even honey (mead).For the purposes of this short | | | | the second fermentation, the juice is kept in |
| explanation, we ll stick with wines made from | | | | closed containers, trapping and infusing the |
| grapes. These are categorized several ways, | | | | gases.TasteMost wines are described as dry, |
| including by vinification methods, taste, and | | | | off-dry, fruity, or sweet. Technically, this refers to |
| vintage. Many casual drinkers pay little attention to | | | | the amount of sugars left over after |
| the differences in these categories. After all, for | | | | fermentation is completed. Dry has a tiny amount |
| most folks the sole consideration is good taste. | | | | of residual sugar content, while sweet has high |
| However, for many aficionados wine is serious | | | | sugar content.Beyond this basic taste classification, |
| business. The variety, taste, and vintage must all | | | | wine-tasting experts have developed a system of |
| meet high expectations before serious collectors | | | | classifying wines by the more in-depth tastes and |
| will consider owning a bottle.VinificationVinification | | | | aromas they exude. Many outsiders find this a |
| simply means the method by which grape juice is | | | | somewhat bewildering system, but tasting pros |
| fermented into wine. The practices followed during | | | | consider the ability to discern subtle elements of a |
| fermentation are what determine the type of | | | | wines taste to be a badge of honor. As one |
| wine you end up being able to purchase. A | | | | example, Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular variety |
| common misunderstanding by the average drinker | | | | that wine tasters claim contains a combination of |
| is that grape juice colors vary, which is what | | | | black currants, chocolate, mint, and tobacco |
| produces red, white, or rose wines. Actually, all | | | | flavors.VintageVintage is a straightforward |
| grapes produce clear (or very close to clear) | | | | classification. It refers to the year of the grapes |
| juices. What creates the color of the wine you | | | | harvest from which a bottle of wine was made. |
| buy is whether the grape skins have been left in | | | | This is important because many grape growers |
| contact with the juice during the fermentation | | | | have exceptionally good harvests only during |
| process. Red wines have been fermented thusly; | | | | certain years. Also, the best grapes are usually |
| whites have not fermented in contact with grape | | | | singled out for use in a producers vintage bottles. |
| skins; rose is a combination of the two.Sparkling | | | | |