Christmas is a celebratory time of the year, and what says festivities better than a bottle of wine? With that answer, comes a ton of questions. Red or white, dry or sweet, sparkling wine or champagne, all of which are answered with the quick pop of a cork. Whether you are planning a family feast or having a more intimate dinner, choosing the right bottle to pair with the meal adds to setting the mood.
But, before you light candles and turn on the music, it’s always good to know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t have to be an expert in wines to understand the facts. We have some interesting ‘this and that’ facts about wine, that will help turn your table into the talk of the town, or maybe just among close relatives and friends, and help you serve up more than just a good bottle of wine … an all-round good time.
There are nine (9) main styles of wine. Full-bodied red wines have more tannins and are usually richer in alcohol content, above 13.5% to be exact. These are; Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Bordeaux or Zinfandel. Then there are medium- bodied red wines like Merlot and Shiraz, and the light-bodied Pinot Noir red wine which are between 12.5% to 13.5% alcohol. Likewise, full-bodied Chardonnay and light- bodied white wines, such as the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, aromatic white wines like Moscato, dessert or fortified wines like Port, Sherry and Madeira as well as rose and sparkling wines make up for a complex list. Light-bodied and sparkling wines can be found having an alcohol content below 12.5%.
All wines are consumed at different temperatures. Red and white wines can be stored at the same temperature, but the temperature they are consumed affects the taste and how well they are enjoyed. White wines like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc which are full and medium-bodied wines, are better in between refrigerator and storage temperatures (8…C to 10…C) while lighter, fruitier types such as dessert, sparkling wines and champagne can be a little more chilled (8…C to 10…C). Red wines are between storage and room temperature in the range of 12…C to 18…C. The backbone of a white wine is the acidity, while it is the tannins for a red wine (though these have a little bit of acidity as well). For dessert and sparkling wines is the residual sugar. This is the reason white wine needs to be chilled, to lift the acidity unlike tannins in red wines, which are softened by the colder temperatures.
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #8 in a store near you.
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Written by: Stephanie Lyew
Christmas is a celebratory time of the year, and what says festivities better than a bottle of wine? With that answer, comes a ton of questions. Red or white, dry or sweet, sparkling wine or champagne, all of which are answered with the quick pop of a cork. Whether you are planning a family feast or having a more intimate dinner, choosing the right bottle to pair with the meal adds to setting the mood.
But, before you light candles and turn on the music, it’s always good to know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t have to be an expert in wines to understand the facts. We have some interesting ‘this and that’ facts about wine, that will help turn your table into the talk of the town, or maybe just among close relatives and friends, and help you serve up more than just a good bottle of wine … an all-round good time.
There are nine (9) main styles of wine. Full-bodied red wines have more tannins and are usually richer in alcohol content, above 13.5% to be exact. These are; Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Bordeaux or Zinfandel. Then there are medium- bodied red wines like Merlot and Shiraz, and the light-bodied Pinot Noir red wine which are between 12.5% to 13.5% alcohol. Likewise, full-bodied Chardonnay and light- bodied white wines, such as the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, aromatic white wines like Moscato, dessert or fortified wines like Port, Sherry and Madeira as well as rose and sparkling wines make up for a complex list. Light-bodied and sparkling wines can be found having an alcohol content below 12.5%.
All wines are consumed at different temperatures. Red and white wines can be stored at the same temperature, but the temperature they are consumed affects the taste and how well they are enjoyed. White wines like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc which are full and medium-bodied wines, are better in between refrigerator and storage temperatures (8…C to 10…C) while lighter, fruitier types such as dessert, sparkling wines and champagne can be a little more chilled (8…C to 10…C). Red wines are between storage and room temperature in the range of 12…C to 18…C. The backbone of a white wine is the acidity, while it is the tannins for a red wine (though these have a little bit of acidity as well). For dessert and sparkling wines is the residual sugar. This is the reason white wine needs to be chilled, to lift the acidity unlike tannins in red wines, which are softened by the colder temperatures.
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #8 in a store near you.
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