Kinds of Wine

Shatbhi Basu, Mixologist and beverage Consultant explains, “The most common and known wine among the lot is still wine”. I will say they are great wines. They are  better called table wines. These are best for everyday usage and true value for money. Still wine can be further classified into white, rose and red wines. Another set of wines ‘sparkling wines’. They include champagne and wines  form other regions of France and the rest of the world some are Fortified.

Wines, to which additional alcohol is added to incease shelf life. Among fortified wines are “aromatized wines”, flavoured with herbs, spices and other aromatics. An example woukd be Vermouth wine”. Among women the most popular wine is Rose(pronounced as ‘rosary’). It is called so because of its colour and also romantic association.

Before we consider the question of what wine types are hot for 2010, we must first understand the various types of wines and the reasons for their specific classifications. The first category of wines is by color, as red wine and white wine. The second classification is by the type of grape fruits used for preparation of the wines. The third grouping is based on the country or region of origin of the wine and the grapes. The fourth categorization is done on specific qualities or features, such as blush, sparkling, and non-alcoholic.

Types of Red Wines

Red wines are prepared from black grapes, which are fermented as whole grapes, keeping the pips and skin intact. These wines are prepared either as sweet or light and as mellow or fresh. The major types of red wines are Merlot, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz or Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Vines blossom in two fairly small bands of latitude about 30-50° North and 30-40° South of the equator. This is because the climatic conditions required for raising high quality vines are strictly defined.

1. Cool Winters
Vines need cool winters when they can "sleep" and gather strength for the production of the subsequent summer's crop. However, it can't be overly cold, or the roots of the vine will be injured by frost, and the plant will die.

2. Warm, Damp Springs
Spring must be warm and damp (though not too wet) so that the plants can bud and produce the small blooms that will ultimately become bunches of grapes.

Ah, there's nothing quite like a rich, dark hearted wine sitting happily in a sparkling clean decanter is there? Not only does it look lovely, it heightens our sense of expectation. It also looks super-posh, and every once in a while that can't be a bad thing.

So why do we decant? Which wines do we make a point of decanting? How do you actually do it?

WHY DECANT?
There are two main reasons for decanting.

1.To remove sediment in aged (red) wines As red wine ages, a deposit may form. This sediment is totally harmless and natural, but not very pleasant in the mouth. The purpose of decanting here is to make sure the wine pours clear and bright.

According to the tale, the woman lost to the King and wished to end her life by eating spoiled table grapes stored in a jar. The suicide attempt did not go as she planned; instead she got drunk and eventually passed out. When she woke up, she felt as if all her troubles had vanished and this event encouraged her to continue taking the spoiled grapes. So going by this pleasant story, one can say that wine is not an invention of man but was, rather found by chance.

The history of wine is as old as civilization, the agriculture and the man himself. Archeologists suggest that wine was discovered accidentally during 6000 and 5000 BC. in the Fertile Crescent area, an area in between the Nile and the Persian Gulf. Archeological evidence has uncovered the earliest European wine production from crushed grapes in Macedonia 6500 years ago.

The answer is both yes and no. Red wine is full of empty calories, like soda. However, it also contains modest amounts of the chemical resveratrol, which researchers believe may play a large part in maintaining a healthy diet. A university in England studies the effects of resveratrol on the human body and has come to the understanding that the chemical may someday bu used as a dietary supplement. Resveratrol works in conjunction with a gene in the human body that helps promote longevity, which means good health and the possibility of weight loss. The chemical can be found in high levels in red wine, but even if you drink the same, safe amount every day, the amount of resveratrol you're taking in isn't enough to help you maintain or lose weight.