June 28, 2011
White wines come from the grape varieties around the world that produce these various types of wine. The grape varieties that yield White Wine tend to come from the cooler regions of the world, as opposed to the red wine grape varieties that thrive in warm climates. However, some of these grape varieties come out of South Africa, which is deep into the southern hemisphere. There are many cool days and nights there as well.
White wine grape varieties produce wine is typically light in body, and on the palate. They go very well with poultry, and seafood. They can be enjoyed at any time of year, but because of their light and refreshing taste, they are welcome and wonderful during the hot summer months. Here is a look at the grapes that produce white wines:
Chardonnay: It’s one of the most popular wine grape varieties in the world, because it is grown all over the world. In France, the white Burgundy is made out of Chardonnay grapes. It tends to produce a wine that is rich and has a buttery taste. This wine goes well with seafood and poultry, and because these grapes are so plentiful, Chardonnay wine doesn’t cost very much to buy.
Pinot Gris: These grapes are used for the Pinot Grigio wine out of Italy. The wines that come from these grapes are of a medium body, and they have a wonderful floral/fruity taste. This wine goes wonderful with poultry, seafood, and spicy food. This is a very delicious wine that should be enjoyed chilled.
Riesling: This grape is known for being produced out of Germany. The grape grows in the cooler parts of the world, such as Germany, and across northern Europe, such as the Alsace region of France, which borders Germany. These grapes make a dry to semi dry wine that is very sweet. Riesling is very popular, and the wine is very easy to find.
Scheurebe: These wine grape varieties are grown almost always in Germany. They produce a wine that is crispy and fruity. They have dark berry notes to them. Due to their flavor profile, these grapes produce a wine that would go well with seafood.
Chenin Blanc: These are very high yielding wine grape varieties. They are grown in South Africa, France, and the U.S. in California. They produce a very acidic wine, and as such, the wines that they produce will be very crispy. This wine would go well with a light snack, and with a light summer meal.
When one is serving a white wine that has been produced from wine grape varieties, one should serve the wine chilled. These make wonderful light wines for summer dinners, and for social events.
Patrick Beaufort is the owner of Grape Growing School, a website that teaches you how to grow grapes in your own backyard. Please visit his website to sign up for a free 10-day mini-course on grape growing.
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Technorati Tags: benefits of white wine, grape varieties, White Wine, white wine grape varieties
June 21, 2011
All wines are made from some variety or strain of grapes. White varieties are made using grapes that tend to be very light in colour, in contrast to the dark varieties used for making red wines. Another crucial difference is that the skins of the grapes are removed prior to the fermentation process starting, whereas red wines leave the skins in for much longer. By removing the skins, tannins are also removed which prevents whites from being stored for extended periods. It also means that age does not tend to have the same effect in terms of improving the taste as it does with red wines. However, this does not prevent people from enjoying some very good white wines.
White wines are produced in many of the same regions where red wines are produced. Millions of people around the world tend to prefer whites over reds for numerous reasons relating to personal choice. Here is a small list of some of the more popular varieties that are widely available throughout the world.
Chardonnay – This style of wine is produced everywhere wine is produced. So popular is it as a grape variety that it is the second most widely-planted grape variety in the world, more so than even the Cabernet Sauvignon version. It is thought to have originated in Eastern France in the Burgundy wine-growing region. Today it is grown in areas between England and New Zealand, and all areas in between. It is an extremely popular wine and is a very important component of numerous types of sparkling wines, including Champagne. The grape itself produces a wine that is very neutral in taste, but the true character of the wine comes from the oak of the barrel it is stored in, but can also be infused with various fruit flavours.
Riesling – This is a very popular type of grape, particularly grown in colder regions and locations. Its origins are from the Rhine region of Germany and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is the most popular grape variety grown there, but is also popular in the Alsace region of France. Numerous other countries that have cooler regions also will produce this type of wine. The wine produced from Riesling grapes tend to be quite pure, and because of this, they are rarely required to be stored in oak barrels (unlike other varieties).
Sauvignon Blanc – This is one of the more popular varieties of white wine, along with Chardonnay and Riesling. Research shows that it originated in the Bordeaux region of France. This variety of wine can vary widely in taste depending on the climate it is grown in, but generally produces a wine that is crisp, dry and refreshing. Like many other white grapes, it does well in cooler regions. Typical of white wines, it does not require any aging and can be consumed fairly young.
These are just a few of the more common White Wines that are available today for the wine lover. Overall, there are many more different varieties of whites available from your local vineyard. So why not grab a chilled and refreshing glass of your favorite white today!
About The Author:
Doug has been writing articles online for over 3 years now. Although he specializes in financial topics such as commodities and equities, you can check out his latest website, TheWineSpot.org, which gives all the latest news, reviews and helpful articles about all topics wine-related, such as the white wine to use for seafood, recipes, and all other wine-related accessories
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Technorati Tags: benefits of white wine, Health Benefits of White Wine, white varieties, White Wine
June 15, 2011
Given the hustle and chaos associated with our daily lives, an escape to a good restaurant is something that everyone looks forward to. For the grownups, there is another aspect of this expedition that has them standing on their toes with childish anticipation.-the wine. White wine is not extremely hard to come by but white wine that truly does justice to the centuries old tradition of wine making is very difficult to come by indeed. Drinking good white wine is not like drinking a bottle of bear, it is completely another experience in on itself. It is like the memory of one’s graduation ceremony. The exercise of every ounce of patience followed by the wave of joy and excitement as one enters the bliss of happiness. There are many people who make a fuss over the wine that they are served but it is because wine tasting is an experience for them and they want to relish every bit of it.
With that being said, perhaps the most important part of a person’s wine tasting experience is the manner in which it is served. White wine, that is in a league of its own, unlike anything else you might have tasted in your entire life, has to go through a through and slow process; much like you receiving your education through years of study and by spending countless hours in classes. Everything from the timing at which at grapes are picked to the container which was used during the fermentation process is crucial, when it comes to creating wine that is the very personification of the reason as to why it is splattered across the pages of human history. Professionals who know how to handle wine, appreciates the effects that temperature, humidity and vibrations have on it. Thus the place where white wine is stored must be properly placed or equipped. The effects that even the most insignificant things have, on a wine’s taste is truly astonishing and to ignore those things would be to blatantly disrespect the people and the effort they had put into producing this unique beverage.
White wine should be served in the neighborhood of 12° C in a clear tulip shaped glass to make sure that the crystal clear sparkling feature of the wine is clearly visible. The matter of opening the wine bottle also requires practice. There are many kinds of corkscrews but the traditional one is recommended so that none of the precious contents of the bottle are spilled. The types of glasses used to serve white wine are also different from the ones used to serve red wine in the sense that it is smaller. Less surface area means that there is less friction so to make sure that the wine does not heat up and this goes a long way in making sure that the taste of the wine is not spoiled. The wine must be poured while directing at the centre of the glass and must be only half filled. When the glass is half full, the bottle is slowly tilted and rotated to make sure that the wine does not spill.
Thus if you are a person who admires hard work and dedication then you must enjoy a glass of wine to its full extent employing all of your senses. White Wine comes in a pale straw like color with a variety of shades ranging from the lightest of green to the palest of yellow. A quick swirl of the glass should release the fragrance; unique evidence of the process used to make it. The first taste, seduces the drinker with the different concentrations of fruit, tannin and acid. Its silky texture and smooth consistency is all that is needed to make sure that there is pleasure in drinking the rest of it.
Interested in learning more cool wine tricks? Have you ever heard of blending your own wine? Here is a great article http://winowinemaking.com/blend-your-own-wine
I have been making wine in my home for some years now. I have put together a small website to explain some of the adventures I have had in wine making and offer up my countless hours of trial and error so that you may enjoy wine making as much as i do. Please sign up for my news letter with tips and tricks http://winowinemaking.com
Blair Holand
Home Wine Maker
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Technorati Tags: how to serve white wine, serving white wine, White Wine
June 6, 2011
There are normally several steps involved in making a great homemade wine. The recipe given here uses grapes but you can also use blueberries, raspberries or any other berries of your choice. If you choose to use berries instead of grapes, just the same directions, adjusting the sugar to taste. You will need more sugar for fruits other than grapes as they are much lower in sugar content.
1. The first step in making wine from grapes (or any other fruit of your
choice) is to pick grapes at the peak of their flavor. Under-ripe or green grapes and fruit will make your wine very acidic and sour which is undesirable. Some of the best grapes for making wine include Merlot, Concord, Niagara and Catawba. These are but a few of the many varieties of grapes available for making wine.
To test whether your fruits are ripe enough mash up a good double handful,strain the juice and then measure the sugar level with a hydrometer. A hydrometer is a device that is used to accurately measure sugar levels and they are available from any winemaking supply shop near you. You should aim for a sugar density around 22° Brix – this equals 1.0982 specific gravity or 11 percent potential alcohol – and the fruit should have a sweet, ripe and slightly tart flavour.
You will have to make sure that the grapes are clean and free of insects and other debris. Get rid of any grapes that look rotten or not usable. You also need to make sure that all the stems are removed before mashing the grapes otherwise it will give your wine a bitter taste.
2. Rinse the grapes under running water to thoroughly cleanse them. Next you will need to crush and press the grapes to separate the pulp and juice from the skins. A good way to do this is to place the fruit in a mesh or nylon bag and press the juices out by hand, or, if you are making a large batch, stomping on them with your feet using clean Wellington or gum boots.
3. If you prefer a sweeter wine, you can also add purchased juice or juice concentrates to your mixture. These juices are available online or from your local wine making shop.
4. Next, add sugar, acid nutrients and yeast to achieve your desired ratio.
Here is a basic White Wine recipe:
1 gallon of the fruit of your choice (crushed)
5 pounds of sugar
1 gallon of water
1/8 teaspoon of wine yeast (can be purchased from a winemaking supply
store or ordered online)
Campden tablets
Tartaric Acid
Let the yeast dissolve in a cup of warm water. Use a container of 2-gallon or larger to combine the remainder of the ingredients in. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Next, add the yeast and stir until mixed in properly. You can add more sugar at this stage if you prefer a sweeter wine.
5. Next you should add some ingredients to help you control the process and improve the flavor of your wine. At this stage you should ad a crushed Campden tablet to your must; this is a sulfur tablet which helps control the growth of natural yeast by slowing it down .
6. You can buy a special acidity testing kit to test the acidity of your wine if you desire. Following the instructions that come with the kit, check the titratable acidity (not the pH) and adjust with tartaric acid if necessary. You should aim for around 8 to 10g/L.
For the purpose of good winemaking it is also recommended that you purchase a hydrometer to check the sugar levels. This is used to check the SG (specific gravity level) gravity level on the hydrometer.
Normal table wine has a specific gravity reading of 1.090. Desert wines will have a higher reading, and dry wines, lower. The hydrometer is also used to measure alcohol levels.
Consult the instructions that comes with the hydrometer for doing proper readings. Both the acidity testing kit and the hydrometer can be purchased from a winemaking supply store near your or you can order it online.
You should also use small taste tests throughout the winemaking process to determine if your wine is developing without problems.
7. Ensure that all containers and utensils you use have been cleaned thoroughly and sterilized. Unsterilized and dirty equipment will result in fermenting bad bacteria with your wine which will give it an off taste.
The usual container used for fermenting wine is called a carboy or demijohn. These come in glass or can also be purchased in plastic. Just make sure that if you elect to buy the plastic one that the plastic is food graded. Using any other plastic may cause chemicals to leach into your wine that will make you sick as well as change the flavor of your wine.
8. Cover the container loosely and allow the must to ferment 7 to 10 days at room temperature (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or a little above). The container should be glass, ceramic or food grade plastic. Metal containers should be avoided could cause a negative chemical reaction due to the acids in the wine. Stir the must at least once a day.
9. Once the primary fermentation stage is complete, strain the liquid and place in a jug filling the jug nearly to the top to ferment. You will need to put an airlock on the mouth of the jug to allow the gases caused by the fermentation process to escape. (An airlock is a device made specifically for winemaking and can be purchased from any winemaking supply store. This airlock allows carbon dioxide to freely escape the wine while preventing oxygen from entering) Place the jug in a warm place to allow fermentation to continue. During this process, bubbles will rise out of the must mixture for six weeks or longer. When the bubbles have ceased, the sugar is all gone or the yeast have finally expired.
10. At this stage you can take a taste of your wine if you are curious about the taste, but do not drink a whole glassful. The wine is still fermenting and will probably result in an upset stomach! It is OK to taste little bits of wine as you go, but not drink too much of it the whole process is complete and the wine has had a chance to age.
11. At this stage, you can now rack the wine into a container for aging. Racking is the term used for siphoning the fermented wine into another container with the use of a siphoning hose. You can use fine mesh or cheesecloth to siphon the wine through. Let the wine sit until it clears.
12. When the liquid is clear and and no longer bubbling, this means that the fermentation is complete and you can now bottle your wine and cork it.
13. You can create your own labels and identify your wine with the year and your family name or you can give your wine a special brand name. You can handwrite the labels or create them in a word program and print them.
14. For the first several weeks, you should store your wine on its side – this will prevent the corks from drying out. Your wine should be stored in a clean place that is preferably cool and not subject to temperature fluctuations.
15. To develop the wine to best flavor, store it for at least 6 months to a year before drinking. Most wines improve in flavor if aged longer.
16. Now it is time to practice patience. Winemaking is not a hobby for people who are impatient. Wine can take anything from several months to several years to reach its full potential and flavour and you will be fully rewarded for waiting!
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