11 Wine Facts You Can use

When it comes to wine, do you wish you were just a bit more savvy? Then the Cellar Angels blog is for you! Below you’ll learn the “Top 11 Wine Facts” every wine lover should know…

Great Red Wine is HEALTHY

1. Wine making is an art that has been practiced for over four thousand years. Essentially wine falls into three basic categories: table, sparkling and fortified wine.
   
2. Wine making begins when the grapes are crushed and the juice is extracted. The juice contains sugar and yeast. The yeast ferments the sugar and gradually alcohol and CO² are produced. Although the alcohol is always the same, every wine has its own flavor. This depends on the type of grape used and the conditions in which fermentation occurs.
   
3. Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah grapes make full, rich red wines. Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes generally produce somewhat lighter, softer red wines. Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are popular white wine varietals
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4. A wine’s vintage is the year the grapes were harvested, and is listed on most wine bottles. Some vintages produce better wines than others.
   
5. Most wine is meant to be consumed immediately, as winemakers will frequently hold the wine for 2-5+ years before release. Some red wines will improve with a little aging, some for as long as 10+ years. However, most white wines do not benefit from aging. Champagne, some Rieslings and sweet dessert wines are a few exceptions
   
6. If a sparkling wine comes from the Champagne region of France it is named after that region. Other French regions that produce good wine are Bordeaux and Burgundy. Popular Italian wines come from Tuscany and Piedmont, and the most famous American wines come from California.
   
7. Wine can be enjoyed like any other drink, but is often consumed with a meal. For full flavored meats such as beef, choose a full red wine, like a Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah.
   
8.  For lighter meat dishes like pork or roasted chicken, a medium bodied red like a Merlot or Pinot Noir is usually a good choice.
   
9. A simple fish or chicken dish will go well with a Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling or a Pinot Gris (Grigio).
   
10. Sparkling wine is best served between 5c degrees 10 degrees. White wines are best served around 8c degrees and 15 degrees. A red wine should be served below room temperature, around 20c degrees 25c  degrees.
    
11. Older red wines may have sediment and if so, require decanting before consumption. A full-bodied red wine will benefit from ‘breathing’ for about half an hour or more after the bottle is opened. For best results, decant the red wine into another container. This allows a greater surface area of the wine to breathe and leaves the sediment (found in older vintages) behind in the bottle. If you do not have a decanter, pour the wine into glasses and let stand for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

Red wine is my passion and there are many Wine stories on my website.