| Wine | | | | Merlot are examples of wines named for their grape, |
| Wine is the perfect drink for a wide variety of | | | | while Willamette Valley wines and Napa Valley wines |
| situations, from dinner to special occasions to | | | | are common examples of wines named for the |
| romantic settings, even to backyard barbecues. | | | | region where they are made. In some cases, both |
| Indeed, wine is one of the world's most widely | | | | the production region and the grape variety are used |
| consumed alcoholic beverages. Wine is a drink made | | | | in the name of the wine, which offers wine |
| from fermented grapes, and comes in a variety of | | | | connoisseurs an idea of the wine without ever having |
| tastes and colors based on the type of grape used | | | | to taste it. |
| to create the wine. One aspect that makes wine | | | | When classifying wines, much depends on taste, use, |
| different from other beverages is the importance of | | | | and presentation. Red and white wine, for instance, |
| aging. Many wine drinkers are intrigued by the wine | | | | are commonly matched with different types of food: |
| making process and the length of time required to | | | | white with pasta and poultry, and red with red |
| make quality wine. For this reason, vineyard and | | | | meats. Red wine is made with grape skins, while |
| winery tours are popular tourist and recreational | | | | white wine is made in the absence of grape skins. |
| activities. | | | | Other wine variations include sparkling wines such as |
| Wine tasting for beginners | | | | champagne, cooking wines, table wines that are |
| There is a lot more to tasting wine than simply | | | | often less expensive, and many other variations. |
| tipping back your glass. Indeed, there are five main | | | | Where to store your wine |
| steps to assessing the quality of wine, and only two | | | | If you are a wine collector or connoisseur, or indeed |
| of them actually involving drinking any wine. This | | | | run a winery or vineyard, it is important to maintain a |
| method of wine tasting is often given the pneumonic | | | | wine cellar. A wine cellar is essential for preserving |
| key "The Five S's: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor." The | | | | the quality and taste of your wine. Cellars can do this |
| steps include judging the color, swirling the wine in | | | | by maintaining a constant temperature and humidity, |
| the glass, smelling the aroma of the wine, sipping and | | | | and keep the wine in darkness. Temperature |
| tasting the wine, and savoring the flavor to test how | | | | fluctuations and exposure to heat and light can cause |
| long lasting the taste is in your mouth. | | | | wine to spoil and lose its best attributes. Not only do |
| To avoid getting tipsy when testing wines, which can | | | | cellars keep the wines from spoiling, they can also |
| color your perception, most wine tasters do not | | | | improve certain wines by bringing out its aroma and |
| actually drink the wine. At events and wineries, wine | | | | flavor. |
| tasters may receive a spittoon into which to spit the | | | | Where does wine come from? |
| wine, or may be asked to simply spit the wine onto | | | | The world leader for wine production is Italy. Indeed, |
| the ground if it is an outdoor tasting. | | | | the images of generations-old wineries and vineyards |
| A variation of tasting is blind tasting. Blind tasting | | | | are almost synonymous with the Italian countryside |
| involves offering a taste of the wine without allowing | | | | and street side bistros. After Italy in terms of the |
| the taster any indication as to the wine's origins or | | | | volume of annual wine production is France and Spain. |
| makeup. This usually means presenting the wine | | | | The United States ranks sixth in the world, with the |
| without allowing the taster to see the bottle, know | | | | vast majority of the wine coming from the vineyards |
| the name or the date of origin, and, in some cases, | | | | and wineries of the California valleys. |
| even see the color. In those instances, the wine is | | | | Everyone loves wine |
| often presented in a black or otherwise dark glass. | | | | There is an interesting link between references to |
| Many connoisseurs of wine and wine tasting travel | | | | wine in popular culture and spikes in interest in wine |
| around the world to some of the most notable | | | | and wine tasting, even to specific types of wine. A |
| wineries and vineyards on the globe in order to | | | | perfect example of this is the 2004 surprise hit |
| participate in wine tasting and winery tours. In many | | | | Sideways. In many European countries, however, |
| instances, wineries may offer tastings of their | | | | interest in understanding and appreciating wine has |
| vintage wines and other more notable wines for a | | | | been ongoing for centuries, and needs little boosts |
| higher price. | | | | from pop culture references. Other notable |
| Different types of wines | | | | wine-laden films include French Kiss, A Walk in the |
| Wine is usually categorized in relation to its place of | | | | Clouds, and many others. |
| origin and/or type of grape. Pinot, Chardonnay, and | | | | |