It is fun and gratifying to start your journey in wine. Knowing the basics will enhance your enjoyment and your taste buds. You’ll learn the basics of wine, from definition and styles to tasting and pairing, while enjoying Cellar Beast Winehouse's dry wine offerings and becoming a wine connoisseur.
What Is Wine?
Wine is an alcoholic drink produced by fermenting grapes or fruit. Yeast ferments the fruit’s sugars into alcohol content and carbon dioxide until no residual sugar content remains or the yeast dies off. Wine is millennia old and was already distilled in the ancient cities of Mesopotamia and Egypt. As a drink, wine has developed into an incomprehensible entity central to cultures worldwide.
Understanding Wine Types
There are various styles of wine, each with unique characteristics. Here are the primary types of wine:
Red Wines
Red wines are made from a wide variety of dark-colored grapes and red and black grapes and are fermented with grape skins, seeds, and stems, imparting tannins and deep color. Popular types of red wines include:
- Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022: A full-bodied wine with rich flavors of blackberry and black cherry, aged in French oak barrels for added complexity.
Cellar Beast Wine - Merlot 2022: This medium-bodied red wine offers deep black fruit aromas with earthy undertones. Soft tannins and vibrant acidity balance its smooth and silky structure.
Cellar Beast Wine
White Wines
White wines are typically made from green or yellowish grapes (collectively called "white grape varieties") and are fermented without grape skins, resulting in a lighter color and flavor profile. Popular types include:
- Chardonnay: An award-winning wine known for its crisp flavor and exceptional quality.
Cellar Beast Wine - Sauvignon Blanc: A crisp, refreshing, light-bodied white wine with vibrant flavors and floral notes, perfect for any occasion. Cellar Beast's Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris: A beautifully balanced white wine with aromas of ripe pear, honeydew melon, and hints of citrus, offering a vibrant acidity and smooth finish (French version of Pinot Grigio). Cellar Beast's Pinot Gris
Rosé Wines
Rosé wines are produced with limited contact with red grape skins, giving them a pink hue. They combine the characteristics of both red and white wines.
- Cabernet Franc Rosé 2022: Features vibrant red berry aromas, lively acidity, and a clean, crisp finish.
Cellar Beast Wine
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines contain dissolved carbon dioxide, creating bubbles. These bottles of wine are often associated with celebrations.
- Blanc de Noir 2022: Crafted using the traditional Méthode Champenoise, offering fine bubbles and complex flavors.
Cellar Beast Wine
Dessert Wines
Dessert wines are sweet wines typically enjoyed with or as dessert. While Cellar Beast Winehouse does not currently offer dessert wines, these and fortified wines are notable categories for beginners to explore.
How to Taste Wine Like a Pro
Tasting wine involves more than just sipping; it's about engaging your senses to appreciate its nuances. Follow these five steps:
1. Sight
Observe the glass of wine's color and clarity. Tilt the glass against a white background to examine its hue and intensity, which can indicate age and grape variety.
2. Swirl
Could you gently swirl the wine in your glass to aerate it, releasing aromatic compounds that enhance the bouquet?
3. Smell
Inhale deeply to identify aromas. Primary aromas come from the grapes, secondary from fermentation, and tertiary from aging. Can you recognize a common aroma, or is it more complex or unique?
4. Sip
Take a small sip of wine and let it coat your palate and taste buds. Pay attention to flavors, sweetness, acidity, tannins, and body. Is this a dry style, or is there some residual sugar content? Does it have notes of familiar foods like black pepper or tropical fruit?
5. Savor
Note the finish—the lingering taste after swallowing. A long, complex finish often indicates a high-quality wine.
How to Serve Wine
Proper temperature serving enhances the wine experience, whereas the wrong temperature does not allow the wine to reach its full potential. Consider these factors:
Serving Temperatures for Different Wines
- Red Wines: Ideal temperature is at or slightly below room temperature (60-65°F or 15-18°C).
- White Wine Types and Rosé Wines: Serve chilled in a wine refrigerator (45-50°F or 7-10°C).
- Sparkling Wines: Correct temperature is well-chilled, potentially in an ice bucket (40-45°F or 4-7°C).
Proper Wine Glass Selection
- Red Wines: To allow the bouquet to develop fully, use a full-bodied red wine glass with a wider bowl, which allows a larger surface to develop. The standard pour size is five ounces of wine.
- White Wines: Use a medium-sized bowl shape to preserve floral aromas and maintain a cooler temperature. A glass of wine should be five ounces.
- Sparkling Wines: Use a flute with a narrower bowl to concentrate bubbles and aromas. These pours should be four ounces.
Decanting and Aeration
Decanting involves pouring wine into a vessel to separate it from sediment and allow oxygenation, which enhances flavors and aromas. Depending on personal preference, this process is especially beneficial for older red wine bottles and full-bodied young reds.
Food and Wine Pairing Guide
Pairing wine with food enhances both. Here are some principles and classic pairings from wine experts:
General Pairing Principles
- Complimentary Pairing: Match similar flavors and intensities, such as a Cabernet Franc Rose and soft cheese or aged wines and a block of nutty cheese.
- Contrasting Pairing: Balance opposing flavors, such as pairing a sweet wine with a spicy dish.
Classic Wine & Food Pairings
- Chardonnay with Grilled Asparagus: Cellar Beast's Chardonnay's crispness and green apple notes complement the green, zesty notes of the asparagus.
Cellar Beast Wine - Old Vine Zinfandel with Grilled Lamb: The bold flavors of Zinfandel pair well with the rich taste of grilled lamb.
Where Wine Grapes Are Grown
Wine grapes are cultivated in diverse regions worldwide, each offering unique climates, soils, and growing conditions that influence the character of the wine. Here's a breakdown of key wine-growing areas and what makes them unique:
Old World Wine Regions
Old World regions are traditional wine-producing areas with centuries of history and established winemaking practices. These include:
- France: Home to renowned regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. France is known for its diverse terroirs, from full-bodied reds to elegant whites.
- Italy: Famous for regions like Tuscany (Chianti) and Piedmont (Barolo), Italy offers many wines, from rich reds to crisp whites and sparkling Prosecco.
- Spain: Rioja and Ribera del Duero produce bold reds, while Rías Baixas specializes in crisp Albariño whites.
- Germany: Riesling is its most famous wine; German wines like Riesling and Gewurztraminer excel in expressing crisp acidity and floral aromas.
New World Wine Regions
- United States:
- Napa Valley: Known for full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc. Napa Valley wine varieties are among the best-known wines from wine lovers in the United States.
- Willamette Valley (Oregon): Famous for elegant Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
- Washington State: The Columbia Valley produces vibrant and balanced wines, particularly Syrah, Merlot, and Riesling, with bright acidity and concentrated fruit flavors. Red Mountain AVA is best known for full-bodied red varietals.
- Australia: Renowned for Shiraz and bold Chardonnays, especially from the Barossa Valley and Margaret River regions.
- New Zealand: Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs are iconic for their zesty, tropical flavors.
- South America:
- Argentina: Known for Malbec from Mendoza, with an almost black grape complexion.
- Chile: Produces elegant Carménère and Sauvignon Blanc from the Central Valley.
- South Africa: Focuses on Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. South Africa is known for types of wine that balance Old World structure and New World fruitiness.
Emerging Wine Regions
While less traditional, these regions are growing in popularity:
- Eastern Europe: Countries like Hungary and Georgia offer ancient winemaking traditions and unique varietals like Tokaji and Saperavi.
- Asia: China and India invest in vineyards, producing wines with distinct local characteristics.
- United Kingdom: Cool climates lead to impressive sparkling wines comparable to Champagne.
Varietal Wines vs. Blends
Varietal wines are crafted from one grape variety (typically 75-85% or higher, depending on the region's rules) and showcase the specificity of that particular grape, like Cabernet Sauvignon’s cadence or Chardonnay’s crispness. On the other hand, blends use multiple grape varieties to produce a good mix of flavor, texture, and complexity (for example, Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon blends or Merlot blends create a rich, complex wine). Both are unique styles of winemaking.
About the Author
Author Matt Check is the Head Winemaker and Co-Founder of Cellar Beast Winehouse, bringing over a decade of experience in the wine industry. He holds a Level IV Sommelier certification from the Wine School of Philadelphia, reflecting his deep expertise in wine.
Under his leadership, Cellar Beast Winehouse has garnered significant acclaim, including 28 wine awards in just three years. Notably, his creation "Dark Angel" earned 97 points at the 2023 Sunset International Wine Competition in Sonoma, CA.
Matt's passion for winemaking is evident in his dedication to crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of each vineyard. His commitment to quality and innovation continues to elevate Cellar Beast Winehouse's reputation in the wine industry.
References
- Cellar Beast Winehouse - Meet Our Team
Learn more about the Cellar Beast Team, including their award-winning wines and expertise. - Wine School of Philadelphia
Explore certifications and education that contribute to wine expertise. - Wine Folly - Wine Basics
A comprehensive guide to understanding wine styles, tasting, and pairing. - Sunset International Wine Competition Results 2023
Discover the wine awards earned by Cellar Beast Winehouse and other top wineries. - MasterClass - How to Taste Wine Like a Pro
Learn the steps for evaluating, appreciating, and tasting wine like a sommelier. - Wine Enthusiast - Serving Temperatures for Different Wines
Guidance on ideal serving temperature for wine to create the best experience. - Wine-Searcher - Old World vs. New World Wines
Compare wine-growing regions and their unique characteristics. - Decanter - Emerging Wine Regions
Discover up-and-coming wine regions and their contributions to the global wine scene.
