wine book club

Types of White Grapes

a. Chardonnay (Shar doe nay)
Where it is produced : France, US, Australia, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand and many other places.
Characteristics : Known as the “King of White Wine”, it is currently the most popular white wine grape. It’s color is pale to straw yellow and its aroma can vary from region to region. In cooler climates, there are hints of apple, citrus, butter and vanilla whereas in the warmer climate, the aroma swings toward melon and tropical fruits. It is usually oaked and is full bodied and toasty with moderate acidity.

b. Sauvignon Blanc (Saw Vee nyon blahnk)
Where it is produced : Bordeaux, Loire Valley, US, Australia, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, Italy and many other places.
Characteristics : Also known as Fumé Blanc, this grape is a popular blending grape for Bordeaux wines. It’s color is light to medium yellow with a tinge of green. It has a grassy bouquet like the smell of freshly cut lawn. May also display scents of lemons, asparagus and fig.
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White wines styles and details information

While red wines are probably more popular for wine lovers, it’s not surprising that most of them start out drinking white wine first. One big difference between red and white wine is the absence of tannin, which gives you that harsh or astingent taste when you have too much of it. That is the reason why white wine is often enjoyed chilled. There are many styles of white wines that can be made and the broad styles are mentioned here. Like red wine, there are many different types of grapes used for white wines and I will feature the most popular ones here. Included here is the popular white wines of France, Germany and Italy.

Style of White Wines

For white wines, the style is determined by three factors:

Dry or Sweet:This depends on the grape used and the fermentation process. By stopping the fermentation prematurely, some of the grape’s natural sugar remains. Alternatively, some unfermented (sweet) wine is added to the wine.
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Wine serving guide

PROPER SERVING of wine is important for the enjoyment of the wine. It would be most tragic if an excellent bottle of aged wine is served at the wrong temperature or with the wrong glasses. Following some of the simple rules stated below can help you impress your friends especially when you have a wine buff among them who can settle for nothing less than a perfect glass of wine. Also, what type of wine service you might expect at a good restaurant. A review of the common wine openers available.
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Wine storage

Storage of wines is important especially if you intend to invest in wine or want to keep some of the better wines until it matures. Wine is very much an organic product which may change with time, temperature, light and movement. Unless you have ideal storing conditions, it is not wise to buy old expensive wines for keeps or wait too long before you drink the wine. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up with the most expensive vinegar around. Fortunately there are many storage options available including storing opened wines. An overview of wine coolers available in Singapore as well.

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Types of Red Grapes

a. Cabernet Sauvignon (Ka-ber-nay soh-vin-yoh)
Where it is produced : Bordeaux, California, Washington, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria.
Characteristics : Known as the “King of Red Wine”, it is the most popular red wine grape to date. It’s color is medium to dark red with usually strong tannins. When grape is young, it has vegetal aroma - mint and green bell pepper. With greater maturity, it develops softer tannins with strong flavor of blackcurrent. The very good wines are able to age for long and may develop chocolate, leather, tobacco, lead pencil or cedar aromas.
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Red wine details

People starting with wine often gets confuse with the type of red wine available. Shall I have the “Red Bordeaux” or the “Cabernet Sauvignon”? For all you know, you could be having the same wine! The problem is that some wine producers name their wine after the region where the grape is grown and others based on the variety of the grapes used.

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