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Bookmark this page! Wine Wine
is one of the cultural staples that can be found virtually in every corner of
the globe. Evidence of wine production can be found throughout the history in
any region capable of sustaining grape vines. Each culture that produces wine
may have developed its own particular rituals for the consumption and
production of wine, but its ubiquitous nature also makes it an important
cross-cultural link that extends far beyond the borders of one’s own home
country.
A single wine will be made from a variety of grapes (Lat. Vitis Vinifera) and
depending upon the proportions of grapes used, the resultant wine will either
be termed a ‘varietal’ or a ‘blended wine’. The varietal designation is
reserved for wines wherein the predominant grape meets particular proportion
requirements that have been defined by law. For many varietals, the
predominant grape must make up 75%-85% of the total volume of the wine.
Blended wines are simply those that do not meet the requirements set for
varietal wines. Because the requirements for blended wines are not as
stringent as those of varietals, that does not imply that they are inferior in
any way. In fact, a great number of wine connoisseurs actually prefer a
properly blended wine to a number of varietals.
Wines can be broken down into two major varieties: white wine and red wine.
Though they may be plagued by the stereotype that white wines are supposed to
be sweeter, and reds are supposed to be drier and more acidic. Like all
stereotypes, this generalization is quite flawed. Wines of either color can be
found that embody any set of wine characteristics, so constraining yourself to
this stereotype in your wine selection will often leave you surprised with the
wines that you order at restaurants or bring back home. A more useful
generalization though, comes with the food pairings of whites and reds. Red
wines tend to pair very well with red meats, and white wines tend to pair very
well with everything else, particularly seafood. Though you will certainly
find examples where this does not hold true, it is a good generalization to
use for any beginning wine connoisseur. Remember, a wine can be made either
red or white in any variety. The only difference between the two being the
inclusion of the grape skins in the production process, for red wines, or
their removal and discarding to produce white wines.
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