Hello! G'day! Hola! Bonjour! Guten Tag! Oi! Ciao!
Those are just a few ways to say hello in the various wine regions across the globe. As many of you have been waiting expectantly — as promised — I deliver to you a shortened, online version of what I will be learning in my wines and vines course this Spring.
For those of you who don't know, I have elected to take a horticulture course that focuses on viticulture (production of grapes), enology (winemaking) along with wine tasting. I'm sure many of you know a thing or two about some aspect of wine. The purpose of this blog is not to reiterate what you already know or think you know nor to gloat about how cool my class is; rather, the purpose is to break down the complexity of wine and give you an extra boost of confidence the next time you walk into a liquor store to pick your next vintage - which refers to the year the grapes were picked for that bottle.
One of my goals is to make this an interactive experience. If you have questions regarding any aspect of wine, or would like to offer a suggestion about a sensational wine you have had, I invite you to ask away, engage in the discussion, share your story and hopefully I will have the answer or be able to steer you to a place where you can find it.
So, welcome to "Tales from the Cellar"!
Here are a few notable things I learned in the first week of my course:
1. White wine can be made from red grapes if the skins are removed from the grape - the color of wine comes entirely from the grape skins
2. When tasting food/drink, you can only perceive 4 tastes: sweet, sour, bitter & salty.
3. In response to a question my dad asked me earlier today on whether the size/shape of the glass can alter the taste of a wine — the answer is: yes. Deep and good wine glasses can enhance the wine's aroma.
To conclude, I hope you learned at least one new thing and stay tuned for more "Tales from the Cellar"!
Cheers...
