All Soaked in wine

Wine - "A fermented grape juice"...blah ! who doesn't know it.  
I would say Wine - "A glowing temptress"

                         

All soaked in wine is "unquenchable feeling". I am sure all wine lover will agree upon it and one of the reason why I wanted to write about wine. Its been 4 years since I had my first wine in France and gradually my tasting buds felt the richness. as!W promises to be different to all readers as its written by immature wine lover which gives you the cliché. 

My first wine tasting in India was filled with fun & frolic and not to forget I was equally topsy turvy about the whole thing. What I learned from my first foremost session, how to hold a wine glass and why and the importance of wine palate. The FOUR ELEMENTS of FLAVOR - smell, taste, feeling (texture, body, tanning, alcohol and temperature) Seeing as Color can be an indicator of what the nose and the mouth might expect.


How to taste a wine ? smell it and roll on the mouth, identify the flavor linger on your mouth and your palate (sense of state) starts. Use the swirl, sniff, and slurp method to enhance your tasting ability, remember swirling is a must to identify the aromas.  

The most interesting part is to understand the Types of Wine...Sparkling, Still and Fortified. Do not mix the types of wine & wine Names.
- The most famous sparkling wine is the Champagne. But not all sparkling wine is Champagne. "Champagne" is a district in France that produce famous sparkling wine. For me it is the symbol of celebration.
- Still wines are the most popular category of wine (Reds, whites, and Rosé) I state them daily wine just like our "bread & butter" a perfect choice for your everyday Lunch, dinner. Rosé are more appreciated among women being mild its also known as summer wine in France.
- Fortified Wine are higher on alcoholic strength compared to still wine (usually Brandy) higher the sugar level higher the alcohol. 

                                   Types of fortified wines are
                                                    Sherry

                                                    Port

                                                    Madeira

                                                    Marsala 

                                                    Vermouth 

A vin de liqueur (all fortified wines) is usually served as apéritif which is before meal with crackers, cheese, olives to stimulate the appetite and also served as digestif, now we know why Fortified wines are often termed dessert wine. 

                                           Types of White Wine Grapes  

• Riesling - A grape that originated in Germany.

(Rees-ling) Taste : A well balanced between fruit and a steely acidity that ages very well. Hints of apples, peaches, melon, floral, honey, musk, and light spice. Cheap Rieslings may be sharp, while the higher quality, more expensive choices are sweet and delicate.  

Food-wine pairing : Is considered to be the most versatile white wines with food. An excellent aperitif, it also pairs well with oriental dishes, seafood, chocolate, vegetarian dishes, antipasto, appetizers, asparagus, barbecued shrimp, stuffed pastas, mild cheeses, mushroom dishes, all sort of poultry dishes, ham, Indian cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Mexican cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine. It is also great on its own, as a dessert wine. 

My vegetarian friends can't complain me anymore !

• Gewrüztraminer - A grape from Alsace region, which in between France and Germany once-tasted isn’t easily forgotten.

(Gah-vurtz-tra-meener) Taste : It’s tremendously fragrant, with a flamboyant aroma that recalls roses, lychee, and spices like clove and allspice.

Food-wine pairing : Is ideal with Asian food, pork and sausages.

• Chardonnany - The most popular and principle grape of Burgundy(France), where it originated. It can be made sparkling or still.

(shar-doe-nay) Taste : Typically rich with citrus (lemon, grape fruit) flavors with hint of melon. Fermenting in new oak barrels adds a buttery tone (vanilla, toast, coconut)

Food-wine pairing : Its good with fish & chicken dishes. Believe me its one of the best in whites just goes too well with your food and balance it well. 

Food-wine pairing : Goes well with fish and chicken dishes. 

There is a saying in the world of wine, white wine especially, “ABC” - Anything But Chardonnay am sure wine lovers can relate to this if they are ABCer, but many of them hate it because its too popular and wants to stand out of the crowd or may be they tired trying it too many times....well the flow of ABCer can really make it juicy with the tench of it.

• Sauvignon blanc -  A white wine grape variety whose spiritual home is western France. New Zealand produces some excellent Sauvignon Blancs.

(So-vin-yawn Blah) Taste : Lighter than chardonnay. The dominating flavours range from green apple, pear, gooseberry and tropical fruits like melon, mango and black current with hint of herbal character suggesting bell pepper, freshly mown grass. 

Food-wine pairing : A Versatile food wine. Seafood, poultry, salads just add on food you like. It blends easily with most of the dishes. One of my favorite in whites.  

                         coming to reds....I love to speak about reds anyDay  !
                                       Types of Red Wine Grapes

• Syrah or Shiraz -  No grape scores higher on the intensity meter than Syrah. Is called Syrah in the US, France and many other countries. And the signature grape of Australia, where it’s called Shiraz.   

(sah-ra or shi-raz) Taste : Syrah wines have some of the strongest, most distinctive flavors and aromas of any red wine. Aromas like berry, meaty, coca and flavors of blackcurrant, black pepper spice, roasting meat, chocolate. The shiraz variety gives hearty, spicy reds. Food-wine pairing : who doesn't love Italian food ? Do i need to write more ? even if not going out for dinner, order a pizza at home and you can enjoy watching over movie with a bottle of Syrah it is a great deal of wine try any of your weekends.    

• Merlot - Bordeaux region, France. Major wine-producing country have Merlot vineyards. And before I start let me tell you its a lighter version in reds. 

(mer-low) Taste : Varietals aroma of fruit, floral, spice, and herbal with hint of flavors like vanilla, coconut, oak, smoke, tar (depending on light/heavy oak) and mushroom, earth, coffee, leather, cedar, cigar if bottle age. 

Food-wine pairing - Add on anything you like to eat. It has to be meaty. Merlot’s popularity is due to the fact that it is softer, fruitier. Girl loves reds, I suggest start your reds with Merlot than Shiraz.

• Cabernet Sauvignon - Colloquially known as 'Cab Sav' or even just 'Cab', One of the world’s best red varieties as it known. Originally from Bordeaux, France. The vine has successfully spread to almost every wine growing country in the world.

(Ka-ber-nay So-vee-nyon) Taste :Typically, Cab smell like black currant also includes plum, cherry, blackberry, blueberry, warm spice, vanilla, tobacco and sometimes leather aromas. Flavors its very fruity.

Food-wine pairing - anything but hearty red meats, flavorful pastas, lamb, strong-flavored cheese, and dark chocolates. I love to pair with blue cheese, Turkey on spicier side, and cheddar.

For Vegetarian you can simply enjoy with grilled cheese sandwich even pizza make it sure your cheese is strong.

• Pinot Noir - One of the noblest red wine grapes. Before I tell you more, it is my personal favorite for many reason you will know in food-wine comparing. All great Pinot Noir comes from Burgundy, France.

(Pee-no Nwar) Taste :The aromatics are very fruity (strawberry, cherry, plum), often with notes of tea-leaf, damp earth, or worn leather.

Food-wine pairing - Well ideally any fish, but i just loved it with my grilled salmon or smoked salmon, certainly pasta with bolognese oh I can't give it a miss, Pizza, Button mushrooms, Greek salad, grilled tuna are my absolute favorite dishes. I adore Pinot Noir !

"Both red grapes juice and white grapes juice are without color. The color of wine comes from skin, pips and stems" 

 

                                      Wine is bottled poetry!