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WineFolly Guides Wine101 2018-Opt
WineFolly Guides Wine101 2018-Opt
CHAPTER 1 What Really is Wine? CHAPTER 6 Food and Wine Pairing Basics
CHAPTER 2 The 9 Styles of Wine CHAPTER 7 Wine Regions of the World
CHAPTER 3 Top 10 Types of Wine CHAPTER 9 Going Deeper: Climate & Soils
CHAPTER 4 How to Taste Wine
CHAPTER 5 Wine Serving & Storing Tips
What is Wine?
GROCERY STORE
GRAPES
WINE GRAPES
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made with The grapes used for winemaking are not like
fermented grapes. the ones you’ll find in the grocery store. Wine
grapes are smaller, sweeter, have thicker skins,
Of course, you can ferment any fruit to make and contains seeds. These attributes give
wine. But legally speaking, if it’s labeled “wine” wine its unique acquired taste.
then it must be made with grapes. Other fruit
wines must append the fruit type to the label
(e.g. “cranberry wine.”)
Red
Medium-Bodied
Rosé Red
Aromatic Full-Bodied
White Dessert
Light-Bodied
White Sparkling
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CY BL
N Cabernet Sauvignon (“cab-err-nay saw-vin-yon”) is
AC
E
G
FR
TR
FLAVORS
BLACK CHERRY, BLACK CURRANT, CEDAR, BAKING
SPICES, GRAPHITE
ICE
HE
AC
NG
U
S
grilled meats, peppery sauces, and dishes with high
BA
flavor.
PEP
TH PER
EAR
MERLOT
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT
MERLOT
CY BL
N (“murr-low”) Despite what some say, Merlot is actually
AC
E
G
FR
TR
FLAVORS
CHERRY, PLUM, CHOCOLATE, BAY LEAF, VANILLA
HERB
AC
NG
U
BA S
chimichurri sauce.
PEP
TH PER
EAR
FLO
RAL
CITRU
SF
RU
AIRÉN
IT
S T
U Spain’s most widely planted grape is primarily used for
RE
EO
E
AC
FR
RB
UIT
HE
TRO
BITTERNESS
PICAL FRUIT
FLAVORS
APPLE, PINEAPPLE, GRAPEFRUIT, BANANA, ROSE
HO
AL
NE
ER
Y
IN
SS BO
INE DY
CREAM
TEMPRANILLO
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT
TEMPRANILLO
CY BL
N Spain’s top variety, made famous by the region of Ri-
AC
E
G
FR
TR
FLAVORS
FLORAL
LEATHER
HERB
AC
NG
tomato dishes.
EO
KI
U
BA S
PEP
TH PER
EAR
CHARDONNAY
FLO
RAL
CITRU
SF
RU
CHARDONNAY
IT
S T
U Chardonnay originated from the Burgundy region of
RE
EO
FR
RB
sparkling wines.
TRO
BITTERNESS
PICAL FRUIT
FLAVORS
YELLOW APPLE, STARFRUIT, PINEAPPLE, VANILLA,
BUTTER, LEMON
ITY
NE
Y
IN
SS BO
INE DY
CREAM
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT
SYRAH
CY BL
N Also known as Shiraz in Australia, this grape produces
AC
E
G
K
IN
FR
TR
UIT
AS
FLAVORS
FLORAL
LEATHER
AC
NG
U
BA S
PEP
TH PER
EAR
GRENACHE
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT
GRENACHE
CY BL
N Also known as Garnacha in Spain, this grape produces
AC
E
G
FR
TR
FLAVORS
STEWED STRAWBERRY, GRILLED PLUM, LEATHER,
DRIED HERBS, RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT
ICE
HE
AC
NG
U
five-spice and cumin.
BA S
PEP
TH PER
EAR
SAUVIGNON BLANC
FLO
RAL
CITRU
SF
RU SAUVIGNON BLANC
IT
S T
U A popular and unmistakable white that’s loved for its
RE
EO
FR
RB
Cabernet Sauvignon.
TRO
BITTERNESS
PICAL FRUIT
FLAVORS
GOOSEBERRY, HONEYDEW MELON, GRAPEFRUIT,
WHITE PEACH, PASSION FRUIT
ITY
NE
ER
SS BO
INE DY
CREAM
FLO
RAL
CITRU
SF
RU
TREBBIANO TOSCANO
IT
S T (AKA UGNI BLANC)
U
RE
EO
E
AC
FR
RB
UIT
primarily used in the production of Cognac, Armignac,
HE
TRO
BITTERNESS
PICAL FRUIT
FLAVORS
LEMON, HONEYDEW MELON, GOOSEBERRY, CRUSHED
ROCKS, LIME PEEL
ITY
HO
As a dry white wine, Trebbiano pairs well with hard
AL
NE
ER
PINOT NOIR
BO
DY RED F
RU
IT PINOT NOIR
CY BL
N
The world’s most popular light-bodied red is loved for
AC
E
G
FR
TR
FLAVORS
FLORAL
LEATHER
HERB
SP
U
BA S
PEP
TH PER
EAR
1. Identify the hue As white wines age they oxidize and change
color, becoming deeper yellow. A fully oxidized
2. Inspect intensity (how opaque is it?) white wine is brown.
3. Check viscosity (watery or viscous?)
As red wines age, they lose color, becoming
HUE more transparent and faded with a more
orange or tawny-colored rim.
Here are some common hints you can look for
in the color and rim variation –
If you see sediment in the wine, it’s not bad for
you! It’s just a sign of an unfiltered wine. Most
Often Nebbiolo and Grenache-based wines consider this a highly desirable trait.
will have a translucent garnet or orange
color on their rim, even in their youth.
Pinot Noir will often have a true-red or true-
ruby color, especially from cooler climates.
Malbec will often have a magenta-pink rim.
INTENSITY
How intense and opaque is the color in the
glass? Can you see sediment in the wine?
These are general clues that can help you
identify the variety and concentration of the
wine.
GRAPE-DERIVED
AROMAS
PRIMARY
AROMAS
TERTIARY SECONDARY
Aromas in wine can reveal almost everything AROMAS AROMAS
Find Your Position Hold your glass right under Secondary Aromas are derived primarily
your nose and slowly move it away (while from yeast and other microbes and may
sniffing) until you can pick out individual include aromas like yeast, cheese, cream,
aromas sourdough, or beer-like smells.
BALANCE
Does the wine’s taste characteristics of
acidity, alcohol, and tannin work in balance
with one another? Or does the wine have a
trait that tends to dominate the others?
While balance is not necessarily an indicator Keep track of
of quality, you’ll find many highly rated wines your tasting
are noted for being balanced. notes with this
custom Wine
Tasting Journal.
COMPLEXITY
Does the wine have an endless number of VIEW
flavors and textures to identify? Or does the
wine only have one or two major flavors?
Generally speaking, wines with high complexity
are considered higher quality.
SPARKLING WINES
RED WINES
SPARKLING WINES
FULL-BODIED
RED WINES
In a perfect world, you can have one glass for every style of wine. In a pragmatic world, owning 1–2 glass types is sufficient.
You can drink wine from whatever vessel you do with mitigating the bitterness of tannin
want, be it a wine glass, coffee mug, mason jar, or spicy flavors to deliver a smoother tasting
or dixie cup! That said, certain glasses do work wine. We’ve observed red wine glasses tend to
better than others on certain wines. have a larger bowl shape and larger diameter
opening. Here are a few pointers:
Here are the major things to consider when
choosing glassware: A globe-shaped glass is ideal for more
aromatic, light-bodied red wines such as
Most importantly, in order to sense the
Pinot Noir or Gamay.
different aromas in wine, you’ll need added
space in the glass above the liquid. You’ll find A large glass with a wider diameter opening
that most quality glasses have increased is better for big, bold, red wines with high
volume capacity ranging from about 11 to 22 tannin such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
ounces. (325 ml to 620 ml) A large glass with a smaller diameter
opening is generally better for spicy and
For most white wines, a slightly smaller bowled
peppery red wines such as Syrah, Zinfandel,
glass with a smaller diameter opening is
or Sangiovese.
preferred. Here’s how these two traits affect
aromas:
Preserves floral aromas Related Study: In 2015, a study came out by
a Japanese group that developed a special
Maintains a cooler temperature
camera to record evaporating ethanol. The
Better expresses acidity in wine study recorded the density and position of
Delivers more concentrated aromas ethanol vapors in different glass shapes.
Conversely, full-bodied white wines like oak- The vapor patterns revealed that wine glasses
aged Chardonnay, Viognier, White Rioja, and are the most effective at delivering aromatic
orange wines are better with a larger bowl. compounds to our noses.
The choice of a red wine glass has a lot to
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WINE
POSTERS >
CONGRUENT PAIRING
CONTRASTING PAIRING
A congruent pairing amplifies shared flavor
compounds found in both the wine and A contrasting pairing creates balance with
the food. For example, Syrah and black extreme opposites. In most cases, the wine
pepper have a shared compound called acts as a palate cleanser to the food. For
rotundone. Thus, a pairing of Syrah with example, a rich, creamy, gooey, mac and
peppered steak would be a good example of a cheese can be contrasted by a high acidity
congruent pairing. sparkling white wine.
Buttered Popcorn and oaked Chardonnay Blue Cheese and Ruby Port (pungent and
(both are “buttery”) creamy vs. sweet and bitter)
Barbecue Pork and Zinfandel (both have Pork Chop and Riesling (umami and rich vs.
rich, smokey, “spiced” flavors) sweet and acidic)
Bresaola and Chianti Classico (both have Maple Bacon and Champagne (sweet and
meaty, earthy notes) umami vs. sour and carbonated)
The wine belt. This map is far from accurate but does show general locations of where wine grapes grow.
ITALY CHILE
SANGIOVESE, MONTEPULCIANO, TREBBIANO TOSCANO, CHILE’S UNIQUE VARIETY IS DEFINITELY CARMÉNÈRE.
BARBERA, PROSECCO, PINOT GRIGIO, NERO D’AVOLA, CABERNET GROWS WELL HERE TOO
VERMENTINO, NEBBIOLO
GERMANY
FRANCE
GERMANY IS MOST KNOWN FOR RIESLING AND SPARKLING
WINES
MERLOT, GRENACHE (AKA GARNACHA) CABERNET
SAUVIGNON, SYRAH, CARIGNAN, CHARDONNAY, CABERNET
FRANC, PINOT NOIR, GAMAY, AND SAUVIGNON BLANC PORTUGAL
PORTUGAL HAS MANY AMAZING, LESSER KNOWN GRAPES
SPAIN
TEMPRANILLO, AIRÉN, MONASTRELL (AKA MOURVEDRE), HUNGARY
GARNACHA, VERDEJO, ALBARIÑO, CAVA
HUNGARY IS A VERY OLD, CLASSIC WINE REGION OF THE
WORLD KNOWN FOR UNIQUE VARIETIES
UNITED STATES
CHARDONNAY, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, PINOT NOIR, BRAZIL
SYRAH, ZINFANDEL
BRAZIL IS AN UP-AND-COMING WINE REGION OF THE WORLD
ARGENTINA
GREECE
MALBEC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, TORRONTÉS, SYRAH,
CHARDONNAY GREECE IS A VERY ANCIENT WINE REGION THAT SPECIALIZES
IN RARE INDIGENOUS VARIETIES
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
SHIRAZ (AKA SYRAH), CHARDONNAY, CABERNET SAUVIGNON,
MERLOT, SAUVIGNON BLANC, MERLOT, SÉMILLON, PINOT NOIR, KNOWN MOSTLY FOR SAUVIGNON BLANC AND A HIGH
RIESLING PREVALENCE OF SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC WINES
The soil porticle size provides a clue towards the quality of a wine produced from a vineyard.
Beyond average temperature, climate takes Soil type – including sand, clay, dirt, pebbles,
into account the weather patterns and rocks, and dozens of combinations in between
atmospheric conditions that can help – or hurt – plays a big role in how vines grow and the
– wine grapes. These factors include rainfall, kinds of wine that they make.
humidity, wind, frost, hail, and quality of
sunlight. Each attribute can affect everything Soil type determines the availability of
from a grape’s skin thickness (tannins!) to nutrients, water drainage, water retention, and
whether or not grapes will mold before harvest. can even moderate temperature in a vine’s
immediate microclimate.
Depending on who you talk to, there are
dozens of ways to classify climate: by Far from the nutrient-rich potting soil you use
average temperature (warm/cool), by scale for house plants, grape vines actually perform
(macroclimate, mesoclimate, microclimate), better when nutrients are scarce and roots
or by general climate groups (Mediterranean, aren’t swampy.
Maritime, or Continental, etc).
In general, more sandy, grainy soils produce
In general, warmer climates allow grapes wines with more aromatic intensity and more
to fully ripen and mature, developing delicate body.
deep pigments, bold fruit flavors, greater
sweetness, and higher alcohol content. On Conversely, soils with more clay (and those
the flip side, cooler climates show a softer with additional limestone content!) tend to
side, accentuating white wines’ minerality, produce wines with more body, tannin, and
maintaining juicy acidity, and ensuring a stronger fruit flavors.
delicate dance of flavors across the palate.
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