Things To Know About Wine

By: Xav Moldonio

The world of wine is unique amongst drinkable spirits. This uniqueness, however, also can make it an intimidating subject. The following tidbits are designed to take out the intimidation factor.

1. Temperatures When Storing Your Wine – If you purchase wine as a collector, storage is an issue. Your storage area should have a consistent temperature that stays within 53 to 59 degrees.

2. Grape Vine DNA – Ampelography is the most common way to identify a particular grape vine, but modern science is changing this. Yep, DNA tests are actually being used to identify the specific vines. Can the perfect vine be far away?

3. Varietal Characteristics of Wine – This term refers to the presentation of the grape in the wine. If it provides a efficient and clear odor and taste, it is considered to have varietal characteristics.

4. Canopy Management – A term used at wineries that refers to training vines. The goal is to get the vines and grapes exposed to the sun by training them to grow up a trellis structure.

5. Wine Reserve – The term reserve is often understood to mean that a wine has been aged longer than normal and thus is of a higher quality. This understanding is not always accurate, so don’t fall for it when buying.

6. Understanding Wine Vintages – The year a wine is produced is important, but many do not understand why. The year is used to signify the growing season, specifically where it was a good year or not. In short, it is all about the weather.

7. Are Vintages Important – In the old days, the vintage of a wine was important as it defined the growing season for the grape. Bad seasons equated to less than stellar wine. With modern technology, this is really no longer the case.

8. Fat in Wine – As we grow more health conscious, many wonder if wine is fattening. Well, there is no fat in wine, but calories are there as always. An average glass contains just over 100 calories, about the same as a glass of grape juice.

9. First California Grape – The first wine grape planted in California was mission, named for the missions where it was grown. The first vines were planted in 1779 at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano.

10. Bitter Red Wine and Food – The strength of a wine can be to aggressive when consumed alone. With a bitter red wine, try eating a steak with it. The combination will take the edge off the wine as intended by the winery.

Wine is one of those things you will either love or not. Few people seem to fall in the middle of the road on the subject. If you find it enticing, then make sure to become an knowledgeable enthusiasts to maximize your wine experience.