You can't make wine without crushing a few grapes!
The grape is king...
Many of us in the UK buy wine based on specific grape variety, due to branding (eg Jacob's Creek), or because we "know we like it". This is partly why sales of French wines have declined in recent years, as we are expected to know what's in it. To help expand your wine repertoire, it's worth thinking about your favourite grapes. If you can figure out what it is you like about the specific grape varieties you prefer, it can suggest new grapes to try, or lead you to discover blends containing high proportions of your favoured grape.
There are no guarantees with wine. Not all Cote-du-Rhone is made with the same grapes, nor is all Chateauneuf-du-Pape. And even when the same grapes are in the bottle, it's common to find completely different flavours, whether as an expression of "terroir" (something specific about where the grapes were grown), "vintage" (based on perhaps the unusually good or bad weather conditions during the growing season), or wine-making (different methods, aging, e.g. use of oak, equipment and skill can all add or detract from what might be our usual favourites). This what makes wine fun! There's always something new to discover. But it also creates risk and many of you are afraid to make mistakes. Quite rightly, we don't want to spend our hard earned cash on something we won't like.
Despite these fun challenges, it is possible to describe what kind of wine a grape should produce. This could help you to choose something different, but reduce the risk...
I'm still building the site, so I've started with the main international grape varieties and will build from there. Let me know if there's a grape you want me to feature ahead of others.
There are no guarantees with wine. Not all Cote-du-Rhone is made with the same grapes, nor is all Chateauneuf-du-Pape. And even when the same grapes are in the bottle, it's common to find completely different flavours, whether as an expression of "terroir" (something specific about where the grapes were grown), "vintage" (based on perhaps the unusually good or bad weather conditions during the growing season), or wine-making (different methods, aging, e.g. use of oak, equipment and skill can all add or detract from what might be our usual favourites). This what makes wine fun! There's always something new to discover. But it also creates risk and many of you are afraid to make mistakes. Quite rightly, we don't want to spend our hard earned cash on something we won't like.
Despite these fun challenges, it is possible to describe what kind of wine a grape should produce. This could help you to choose something different, but reduce the risk...
I'm still building the site, so I've started with the main international grape varieties and will build from there. Let me know if there's a grape you want me to feature ahead of others.
White Wine GrapesChardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris Riesling Chenin Blanc Gewurztraminer Muscat Albariño Torrontes |
Red Wine Grapes |
Blends, Rose, Sweet, Sparkling & Fortified WinesBlended wines are among some of the finest in the world: most Bordeaux and Sauternes are what they are because of the skill in the blend. Unblended Champagne is unthinkable. Key blends will be referred to in the "grape" and "country" section
Rose wines are generally made from red grapes - and key ones will be referred to by country Fortified and sweet wines often taste very different to their regular cousins. While sparkling wine is made usually from one or more of the standard white or red varietals, the winemaking and aging techniques deployed may be a better guide of what you'll like than the grape varieties used. I'll cover these at a later time when I've had the opportunity to drink more! |
