Let's Wine About It
Something To Wine About
First, what is the difference between a single variety wine and a blend? A wine made with a single variety grape is known as a varietal wine and wine made from a few different grapes is a blend. There are several thousand different kinds of wine grapes, e.g. chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet, so it’s no wonder that people keep coming out with different blends.
Body is a term that comes up a lot, as in “Here is a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.” This is where one would nod, swish and pretend to understand the nature of the term “bodied.” However, bodied here is exactly as it sounds, and it refers to how heavy the wine feels. By way of illustration, in terms of the density of milk, skim is less bodied then 2% milk. Body is affected by the grape varietals, the age of the wine and of course the alcohol percentage.
Bouquet refers to the lingering aroma of wine because of the aging process. A mature wine will have a complex bouquet as opposed to a recently fermented wine.
Fermentation is the process of converting the sugar from the grape into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Finish or, more commonly, the aftertaste a wine leaves. The better-quality wines tend to have a longer finish that is rich, complex and flavorful.
Popular Varieties of Kosher Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular wine variety in the world. It is a full-bodied red wine that originated in the Bordeaux region of France.
Pairs well with: Robust red meat, lamb, beef.
Syrah (Shiraz) is a full-bodied red wine that’s heavily planted in the Rhône Valley in France and Australia. It is recognized for its intense fruit flavors.
Pairs well with: Highly seasoned and smoked dishes.
Zinfandel (aka Primitivo) is a medium-bodied red wine that originated in Croatia. Wines are fruit-forward and spicy with a medium length finish.
Pairs well with: Dishes that are rustic and rich, such as mousse and pâté.
Chardonnay is a dry, full-bodied white wine. Originally, large quantities were planted in Burgundy, France.
Pairs well with: Fatty fish, rich cream sauce and mushrooms.
Champagne is a white sparkling wine, usually associated with celebration. It originated in the Champagne region of France.
Pairs well with: Because most dry sparkling wines have a touch of sweetness, champagne complements anything salty.
Pinot Noir is richer than many white wines because it’s made with red wine grapes. It was first widely planted in France.
Pairs well with: Dishes with earthy flavors, cream sauces, soft cheeses and nutty, medium-firm cheeses.
Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white grape first widely planted in France. Often identified as tart because of its citrus (grapefruit) and exotic fruit (melon, passion fruit, kiwi) notes.
Pairs well with: Tangy foods and tart dressings and sauces.
Riesling a floral and fruit-driven aromatic white that originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Some producers choose not to ferment all the grape sugar and therefore make the wine in an “off-dry” style.
Pairs well with: Sweet and spicy dishes.
Merlot is one of the world's most widely planted grape variety; the dark color, as a result of the merlot grapes, is recognized in the bordeaux wines. Pairs well with: Pasta and meat; it can withstand a dish in a rich sauce.
Pinot Grigio (Gris, or Pinot “Girls” because it’s so favored by women ;) thought to be a mutation of the red grape Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris’ skins are not green like other white grapes, but instead have a greyish blue hue, which is what gives them their name.
Pairs well with: Salad, fish and cheese, a nice balance to salt.
Chenin Blanc is the jack of all trades in the barrel, pun intended; it is versatile in style and sweetness and has the ability to adapt to a wide variety of tastes; there really is a Chenin Blanc wine for every occasion.
Pairs well with: Anything sweet and sour, e.g. savory dishes with a sweet element.
Moscato d’ Asti because there’s always room for dessert…. Moscato d’ Asti is a sparkling white wine produced mainly in the province of Asti, Italy. It is recognized as a moderately sweet sparkling dessert wine.
Pairs well with: Natural sugar, especially that of fruits.
and a personal fave?
