Riesling and Chardonnay: The Most Popular White Wines
April 25, 2011
When thinking about white wines, Riesling and Chardonnay probably come to mind first, with Pinot Grigio coming in a close third. White Wines are are often light and fruity, making them the perfect wine for spring and summer and for pairing with poultry and fish dishes. Although Riesling and Chardonnay are quite different, they still remain popular choices for those of us who love refreshing glasses of white wines.
Riesling wines originated in the Rhein and Mosel river valleys in Germany and the majority of them are still produced there. A Riesling does not fall into one specific flavor palette. They can be sweet or dry, full or light-bodied. With such versatility, it’s not surprising these white wines have become a favorite of many. Despite being the new kid on the block, they have gained tremendous popularity over the years -now selling in the double digits. If purchasing a German bottle, look for the words “trocken” and “halbtrocken.” The former means it is a dry wine and the latter means it is half dry.
Rieslings are very aromatic and you will most likely enjoy the scents of apple, pear, and peach. There are usually subtle hints of florals, honey, and spices mixed in there too. When tasting the wine, you will taste those fruity flavors. When it comes to pairing them with food, the sky’s the limit. Drink them with appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Naturally they pair nicely with shellfish, poultry, and pork, but don’t be afraid to drink them with spicier foods too.
The majority of wine produced in Germany are Riesling wines. There are about 13 different regions dedicated to creating this tasty wine. The Mosel region is the most famous. The Mosel River runs through this region and that is how it received its name. White wines from this region are lighter and more crisp. Other notable regions include, Pfalz, Rheinhessan, Rheingau, and Nahe.
Chardonnay, unlike most Rieslings, is a dry wine. Chardonnay is actually the number one selling white wine in America. The Chardonnay grape is considered low maintenance and grows well in a wide array of climates, therefore, it is easy for regions all over the world to produce this wine. This also means that you can buy an excellent bottle for a relatively low cost. The profile of Chardonnay is also varied. They range from buttered and oak flavors to fruit and citrus flavors. Chardonnay pairs well with seafood, poultry, pork, and recipes that use a heavy cream or butter base.
Chardonnay is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the Burgundy region, but today it is literally grown wherever wine is produced. It is also a large component in Champagne and sparkling wines. The wine became so popular in the 1980s that it eventually led to a major backlash. However, it bounced back over the years and is now one of the best selling white wines. If you’re in the market for delicious white wines, put these two varietals at the top of your list.
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White Wine – Ultimate Sophistication
April 18, 2011
The ultimate in sophistication and class in the world of wine would be the white wine. It is so versatile because of all the varieties and styles is comes in. White wine can be paired with just about any food you can imagine. Whites can be sweet, dry or even semi-sweet. They are easy to recognize because of their light yellow or almost clear coloring. White varietals are grown all over the world with the most famous probably being the Chardonnay grape originally from France. However, this grape is just as at home in California and New Zealand. This white wine is renowned for its smoke flavor with a hint of oak. Chardonnay is not the favorite of this author, but that does not diminish its popularity world wide.
A much sweeter contender for favorite white wine worldwide would be the Riesling. Rieslings originate in Germany and by far they make the best, but it has had a slow start in the world of white wine. Unfortunately there are many poor quality sugary substitutes which have given Rieslings a bad name. These substitutes have tarnished the reputation of a very fine wine, but like the nature of all Germans, they do not give up and they quickly overcome. High quality Rieslings hail from the Rhine and Saar valleys and have help to reestablish this wine as one of the finer whites. Varieties in America and Australia have contributed to the good reputation of this grape variety.
A great way to enjoy your favorite whites thoroughly is to pair them with your favorite foods. Cheese is a simple and great way to enjoy your favorite white wine. Mild cheese is best paired with a sweeter white like White Riesling or a Gewurztraminer. Full bodied cheeses pair wonderfully with a Chenin Blanc or a Dry Riesling. Seafood or pastas with cream sauces should be paired with a Chardonnay to enhance flavor while shellfish like lobster, crab, and shrimp pair amazing with a Sauvignon Blanc. Asian foods like Thai pair great with the sweet wines as well, the best being Gerwurztramner. Poultry goes well with any White Wine. This may surprise many of you, but chocolate is perfect with a glass of White Riesling. Yummy!
While it may be important to consider what food you will pair with your white wine it is more important to enjoy the wine you are drinking. The number one reason to choose any wine is by if you like it or not. Then when you find one or many you like, you might try to increase your pleasure by pairing it with just the right food. The quality, color, notes and variety all combine to make the best wines in the world, but that is all for naught if you do not like it in the first place and cannot find yourself taking another sip. White wine is considered the ultimate in class because of its versatility. You can drink whites socially, with a meal or while reading a book! You will find the best white wines being drunk during BBQ’s and charity events alike. It is your choice and make it confidently and often.
| If you prefer making your own white wine then you may be interested in creating your own labels for the bottles. Wine Labels World can help! If you are giving a gift of your wine, make sure you pair it with a set of wine glasses. Wine Glasses Co can help you pick the right set!
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Muscat – The Oldest Variety of Grapes in the World
April 12, 2011
There are six main varieties of Muscat wine which comes from the oldest variety of grapes in the world, of which there are over 200 derivatives. The colors of the grapes range from white to almost black and all them have a very sweet aroma. This is one of the most commonly grown grapes in the world with wineries in many different countries producing wine from such vines.
The varieties of Muscat wine are:
• Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains. This has several different names depending on the country in which it is produced. It has the most sparkling flavors. You may recognize it in the name Spumante.
• Moscato Giallo. This wine variety is a colored version of the Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains. It also goes by names such as Goldmuskateller and Moscato Rosa.
• Muscat Hamburg. This is the name of the grape grown in Italy and Australia and is used to make red wines like Malbec that are consumed in the countries of Eastern Europe.
• Muscat of Alexandria. This variety of the grape is grown to produce liqueurs and sherry. The grapes have a very low acidity level and are high in sugar, which results in a lower quality of wine.
• Muscat Ottonel. This grape thrives in cooler climates and is used mainly in the production of dessert wines.
• Orange Muscat. This Muscat wine has a distinctive flavor of oranges. It is mainly used in California wineries for producing dessert wines.
Due to the many different varieties of the Muscat grapes, the tastes, aromas, and color of the wine vary from one region to another. Even the names of the grapes do not adequately describe their color as the Muscat Blanc grapes are not always white. Dry, light, heavy, and sweet wines result depending on the type of grape and the wine making process used.
You will find the Muscat grapes growing mainly in areas with a temperate climate, such as California, Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Greece. They are harvested very late in the growing season, which gives them a very sweet taste.
Table wines produced in Chile come from Muscat [http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Muscat] grapes and to a lesser degree in California and Italy. The Muscat Ottonel is the grape of choice in the wineries of the Finger Lake wine district of New York state. In Italy, it is mainly used to produce sparkling wines, such as Asti Spumante. In the production process for this wine, the grapes are stored in cold tanks after they are crushed.
The juice and the crushed grapes are warmed and allowed to ferment as they are needed. Then the product is sealed in large tanks that help to trap the carbon dioxide in the wine. Careful attention is paid to the fermentation process so that it is stopped once the wine achieves the right levels of sugar and alcohol. At this time it is chilled, bottled and allowed to age in the bottle.
The inexpensive bulk Muscat wines in the United States come from Orange Muscat and Black Muscat grapes grown by only one winery in Stanislaus County in California. Napa Valley wineries are known for the Muscat de Beaulieu, which is a fortified wine. This wine is also used as a blend in making Conundrum wine and in the ice wine called Vin de Glaciere.
| Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer from sunny San Diego, CA. She specializes in the history of wine making, international travel and cuisine, and fine wine varietals. For a wide selection of wonderful wines, please visit http://www.wineaccess.com/
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How To Make Chicken Paprikash With White Wine
April 5, 2011
This Wine Lovers Guide is one of those comfort foods that are very good for dinner on a chilly evening. Our Wine Lovers Secret is the addition of Chardonnay in the recipe. Chardonnay is also the recommended wine to enjoy while dinning. There are perhaps hundreds of menu’s for this dish, this is ours;
Ingredients
1 each (2 to 3 pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 large yellow onion, chopped into approximate 1 inch pieces
6 or 7 medium garlic cloves,
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons paprika (Hungarian, if available)
1 cup White Wine (Chardonnay will work well in this dish)
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
3 tablespoons tomato puree
1 chicken stock
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Action Plan
- In a large skillet, heat the oil and brown the chicken on all sides. Season chicken with salt and pepper, Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add onions to skillet, and saute until just tender.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, sprinkle the paprika over the chicken to coat.
- Add the chicken stock, wine, tomato puree and garlic.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, until the chicken is tender
- Place the sour cream in a separate bowl. Remove three large spoonfuls of the hot liquid from the chicken and add it to the sour cream, while stirring the sour cream.
- When the sour cream is completely mixed with the sauce, add that to the chicken and cook for another 3 minutes allowing the sour cream to be absorbed into the rest of the sauce.
- Remove from heat and serve over cooked broad noodles or with boiled potatoes.
Chefs note: If you place the sour cream directly into the simmering chicken, it will break. By adding some hot broth to the cream first, then adding that to the main dish, this will be prevented. We add garlic to almost all our main dishes for health and flavor reasons. That is a personal choice.
| Born and raised in the Wine Country of Northern California, William Chaney is a Retired Chef and Wine Connoisseur. His wife often invites friends and family to share the meal. When she does, He can be found in the kitchen or on the grill, loving every minute of it. He splits his time between his home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and his home in Wisconsin. He writes about Wines of the world and foods of the world. Visit him at http://WineLoversSecrets.com where you can learn more about wine, and get food recipes. Go there now and sign up for his new letter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_H_Chaney |