Posts Tagged ‘sparkling wine’

Wine is made of mixed chemical substances that come from fruits. The aroma and tastes of wines depend on the fruits, or specifically, grapes that are used to make them.

The color of white wines is more of a golden hew, rather than what its name implies. But as it ages, its color also changes. From a beautiful golden color, which has the distinct fruit taste, to a magnificent amber color that acquires the taste of amber and honey.

Have you ever heard of Chardonnay or Burgundies? They are by far the most popular choices of white wine in constant demand at the market. White wine is available for every occasion and taste. So far, French Chardonnay takes top place when white wines are being compared.

But the label as “most famous of all white wines” goes to Champagne. Many would not believe so, but Champagne too is truly a wine, a white wine to be exact. Champagne is made from a mixture of grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier or Pinot Nior. Champagne was first introduced by the French as a lighter alternative to red wine. Champagne is more commonly known as a “sparkling” wine.

The best way to truly appreciate French white wine is by lightly chilling it for at least 30 minutes. Different people have different ways of appreciating white wine. Most prefer drinking it over dinner with poultry or fish. Some prefer using a chilled glass, while some just pop a bottle and drink it straight up. There is no right way in enjoying white wine, its there to satisfy and excite anyones taste buds.

Author: Jimmy Sturo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff

Of all the Old World wine producers, there is no nation that has become quite so synonymous with wine making as France. Even with the increasing popularity of New World wine makers such as New Zealand and California, there is a certain distinction to wines from France and it remains the haunt of many a true wine lover.

All kinds of wine are made in France, including the erroneous champagne; a sparkling wine can only be referred to as champagne is produced in the specific French region as the same name. This is just one clue to the dominance of France in the wine market in general, and another good example of how the regions of the country differ in their production.

Red wine and France are two concepts that go together effortlessly. Though the country is a fantastic manufacturer of white wine – with the Alsace region being much celebrated amid wine afficianados, thanks to the sweetness of the wine produced – it is with this wine that France really steps into the spotlight. Many of the red wines in the New World take their inspiration from the French wine makers, many of whom have been in operation for hundreds of years. French wine may not be as avant garde and exciting as that produced in California, but it has a touch of class to it that few can measure. It is the traditional of wine making and history in a glass.

France were the first country to coin the use of the phrase ‘terroir’, which is used to describe the type of land vines are planted in. The French have an absolute understanding of terroir, particularly in terms of which terrains and climates will produce the best wine. The French wine regions are thus mapped out according to the terroir of a particular area, with some regions specialising in a particular type of wine over any others. Though the word terroir may not be used as regularly, this understanding of the ground and soil’s effects on the quality and taste of wine has continued into the New World market.

The French red wines are particularly celebrated, with the most dominant red wine region being Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast. Numerous famous red wines are produced in this region, including instantly recognisable names such as Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Margaux.

The Bordeaux French wines are typically a blend of some of the most popular red grape varieties; both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon feature heavily. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced as a varietal in Bordeaux, which is said to be among the best versions of the grape in the world.

With the exception of white wine dominant Alsace, all of the French regions have some production of red wine – the trick to finding the true gems is to go where red wine is the dominant in production. As a rule of thumb, the most southerly the region the more likely it is to produce excellent wine; Rhone and Provence are two other key examples. However, there is likely to be red wine produced locally in most of the regions, and with the French red wines endlessly enjoyable, there is much to see and try in the spiritual home of the wine making industry.

Author: Caterina Christakos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Electric Pressure Cooker