Posts Tagged ‘wine industry’

So full disclosure, I’m not a native of California (although by some accounts I should be counted as such), but I’ve lived here for the past twenty two years….so I am partial to big, robust, powerful wines from Napa and Sonoma.

For the record, this is the classic comparison in the wine industry, largely because Bordeaux and Napa are the two preeminent wine regions in the world today and both focus on exactly the same type of grapes.

The differences are vast between the wines themselves though, largely because of the conditions that they are grown and produced in. To start weather is a vital concern in France as their grapes can, in some years, struggle to reach full ripeness because of inopportune cold spells in the summer. In Napa, there is no such cause for concern. The summers are almost always hot during the day and mild at night, perfect ripening conditions for grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon.

All of this is not to say that colder weather makes for bad wine, in fact far from it. Many people, myself included, believe that grapes which need to work harder to ripen often carry more intense flavors because they grow in small quantities as well as in smaller bunches.

The biggest difference between the two regions is tradition. In many parts of France winemaking has not changed much, if at all in the 1,600 years wine has been being made there. Often Americans are shocked by their wine tasting experiences in France because they arrive to find an old musty, dirty wine cellar that is producing some of the greatest wine they have ever had the opportunity to taste. They are also shocked when they find that tasting often comes directly from the barrel, with any unused wine being poured back into the barrel.

Compare this type of picture to what you can find in Napa where wineries have state of the art facilities. I do find it interesting that perhaps the most expensive facility in Napa, Vineyard 29, has spent so much money in order to produce wine in the most historic way possible. Their goal is to have a wine made without pumps, totally gravity driven….which despite all this technology is amazingly similar to what the French winemakers produce on a yearly basis in their antiquated facilities.

Add it all up, which wines do I prefer? Simple, depends on what I am eating. Honestly I do enjoy a great Bordeaux, especially when paired well with food, while I find it hard to believe that anything tastes better with a piece of grilled meat then a great California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Author: Mark A Aselstine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker

First, let’s decide: what we will drink. A French wine has its own ranking system.

Table wine has the lowest rank. It is the cheapest and the simplest. Local wine is ranked slightly higher. It is produced in certain regions of France.

The next stage is higher-quality wine produced in a limited territory. Its production techniques is under the strict control. Manufacturers are required to use only certain varieties of grapes growing on the particular wine industry castle’s soil.

Finally, the highest ranked wine category – aristocratic “controlled by descent” wine. This wine is bought by collectors and sold at auctions for the crazy money. Requirements for its manufacturing are much more rigid. For example, even if the grape harvest has been abundant, there is a strict limit of producing elite wines. Prestigious wine must me limited!

How to choose elite wine?

First of all, pay attention to the label. It should not be garish or colorful. Typically, the better the wine, the label looks more modest. And if you choose the higher-class wine, it must have three words in its inscription. First – Appellation (winemaking community), or Chateau (Castle). Then the name of the community or castle. And the key word “control” means that the wine is controlled by descent.

Very often these three words are typed in very small font. But they are the key! If they are not on the label, the wine could not be considered elite. The best French wines have also “Grand Cru” classification. Most often this inscription can be found on the label after the name of vineyard.

What should you pay attention to when choosing wines from different regions of France?

The most famous are Bordeaux and Burgundy wines.

Individual wine-making households – Chateau – are located Inside the Bordeaux wine-growing areas. Therefore, when choosing Bordeaux wine you must draw your attention to the name of the castle.

Each Chateau has its unique flavor, identity and bouquet. Even if a few castles are located in the neighborhood and use the same sort of wine grapes, they produces quite different wines. Indeed, each Chateau has its own secrets, which are handed down for several centuries. Unlike Bordeaux, Burgundy is famous by wine-growing communities, which may belong to several tens of producers.
Pay attention to the producer of the wine – its taste and smell depends on its producer.

How do size and length of the bottle corks characterize the quality of wine?

The real connoisseurs of French wine knows what the cork means. Firstly, it must be made from cork oak bark. Secondly, the name of the community or castle as well as the harvest year must be printed there. The longer the cork, the more expensive drink, and the higher its quality. But short pressed cork is a sign of cheap wine.

As is the convention, the long-lived wine corks is changed every 15 years.

As for the bottle, the most famous elite wine bottle is called “Magnum” (1.5L). The fact is that “Magnum” is used for very high quality wine of the best years.

Author: Nataliya S
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace