The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
www.TheNewsyNeighbour.com
May Issue 115
When you enjoy a glass of wine, you're tasting the end result of a
complex process, with a lot of different factors involved in creating that
final product. The soil and altitude of the vineyard, the fermentation
techniques used and whether or not the wine is oaked are just some of the
variables that play their part, but it all starts with grapes.
If you're learning to taste and appreciate wine to its fullest,
discovering the effects of different grapes is a great place to start
understanding how all the processes involved work together. Here are some of
the more common grapes, and the sorts of flavours you can expect them to bring
to your glass.
White wine grapes
Chardonnay
One of the most popular white grapes and arguably the best known,
chardonnay provides flavours of citrus and tropical fruit. Its delicate taste
can vary dramatically depending on the methods used by the producer, but expect
a refreshing off-dry wine with plenty of body.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc tends to add green, grassy, herbal overtones to a wine.
Often less complex than a good chardonnay, sauvignon blanc can still compare in
terms of quality if it's handled well.
Riesling
The most widely grown grape in Germany, riesling can vary from sweet to
very dry, depending on how it's grown and processed. Dry wines made with
riesling typically have floral and citrus fruit flavours, while the sweeter
ones tend towards stone fruits and honey.
Chenin Blanc
A versatile grape that's used to create an array of different styles.
Chenin blanc can be found in both crisp, dry whites and sweet dessert wines.
You can expect to find citrus and melon notes in a chenin blanc, sometimes
alongside honeysuckle-like floral elements.
Pinot grigio
Also known as pinot gris, depending on where it's grown, this grape
produces a dry, zesty, floral wine with a light body that makes excellent
summer drinking.
Red wine grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon
This widely-used and incredibly popular fruit is considered by some to
be the finest of the red wine grapes. It has an excellent balance, with medium
sweetness, and typically has dark stone fruits and berries, sometimes with a
touch of spice.
Merlot
Often on the sweeter side of medium, merlot wines are produced and
enjoyed throughout the world. Its berry and fruit flavours are not a million
miles away from cabernet sauvignon, but its easy-drinking style has made it one
of the more popular grapes.
Shiraz/Syrah
Shiraz wines are full-bodied, with deep, complex flavours of spices and
dark berries. Look out for hints of liquorice and black pepper and a touch of
fresh-cut grass on the nose. This can be one to really test your tasting
skills, as you may be able to pick out quite a range of flavours.
Tempranillo
Mainly grown in Spain, tempranillo grapes make a rich, bold, fruity wine
with a measure of cinnamon thrown into the mix. It's high in tannins and often
has a distinct earthy undertone.
Grenache
Surprisingly soft and light, grenache provides sweet fruit flavours that
have made it one of the world's most popular grapes. Expect strawberries,
raspberries and, depending on where it's grown, possibly tobacco and spice
flavours too.
Now you have an overview of the typical characteristics of some popular
grapes, you can experiment with tasting. First of all, try a selection of wines
based on different grapes and see if you can pick out the types of flavours
mentioned here.
Another fun activity is to arrange a tasting around one particular
grape. Notice the things each wine has in common, but also find out what
differs from one bottle to the next and around the world. Not only is this an
enjoyable way to try wines, it will also increase your expertise as you become
more familiar with the different styles.
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