Wine Fundamental
Introduction to the immense world of Wines
What is Wine?
Wine is a naturally fermented juice of ripe grapes (or other fruits). In
fermentation the yeast, which forms naturally on the grape, converts the
natural sugar of the juice into alcohol, carbon dioxide and heat.
Fermentation is naturally stopped when the alcohol in the newly created
wine reaches a level, typically between 10% and 15% by volume, mortal to
the yeast.
When all the natural grape sugar is converted to alcohol, a wine is
described as dry.
When a wine has residual or unfermented sugar still in solution it is
described as sweet. The level of sweetness is determined by the
percentage of residual sugar.
Basic Wine
Characteristics:
Sweetness:
Sweetness in wine is derived from
residual sugar.
Residual sugar is the leftover sweetness
when not all the grape must is
fermented into alcohol.
PERCEIVED SWEETNESS:
We describe sweetness as a taste that
ranges from bone-dry to very sweet.
At the same sweetness level,
It’s good to know that a technically dry wines with lower acidity taste
wine can contain up to a half teaspoon
sweeter than wines with higher
of sugar per glass.
acidity.
Acidity:
Acids are the primary attribute that
contribute to wine’s tart and sour
flavor.
Most acids in wine come from grapes
including tartaric, malic, and citric
acid. Like many fruits, wine lies on the ACIDITY RANGE OF WINE:
acid side of the pH scale, ranging from
about 2.5–4.5 pH (7 is neutral).
Wine ranges in acidity from 2.5 pH
to 4.5 pH. A wine with a pH level of 3
One useful thing to know about acidity
has ten times more acidity than a
in wine is that, as grapes ripen, they wine with a pH level of 4.
become less acidic.
Consequently, a region with a cooler
climate where it’s hard to ripen grapes
will produce wines with higher acidity.
Tannin:
GRAPE TANNIN: Tannin comes
Tannin is a naturally occurring from skins, seeds, and stems.
polyphenol found in plants. Tannin is Grape tannin is bitter and
unique to red wine, since white wines astringent but contains high levels
ferment without skins. of antioxidants.
In wine, tannin is not necessarily a
flavor but a textural astringent taste.
Tannin comes from two sources: grape
skins and seeds, and from new wood OAK TANNIN: New oak barrels
barrels. impart more tannin into wine than
used oak barrels.
To taste tannin in wine, focus on the
texture on your tongue. A high tannin
wine will remove proteins from your
tongue, causing a drying and
puckering sensation. This sensation is
often described as “grippy.”
Alcohol: Body:
The alcohol in wine comes from yeast Body is not a scientific term, but a
converting grape must (sugar) into categorization of style from lightest to
ethanol. boldest. The four characteristics of
sweetness, acidity, tannin, and alcohol
Alcohol may also be added to a wine, each affect how light or bold a wine will
which is called fortifying. taste.
Alcohol plays an important role in wine
aromas. It’s the vehicle by which aromas
travel from the surface of the wine to
your nose.
Alcohol also adds viscosity and body to
wine. You can sense alcohol in the back
of your throat as a burning sensation.
Flavour Pairing
Flavour Pairing
Sparkling Wine
Light-Bodied White Wine
Full-Bodied White Wine
Aromatic-White Wine
Styles of Wines Rose Wine
Light-Bodied Red Wine
Medium-Bodied Red Wine
Full-Bodied Red Wine
Dessert Wine
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wine is carbonated by yeast
fermenting in an airtight container.
The 2 most common sparkling wine making
methods are called “traditional method” and
“tank method.”
Cava
Champagne
Lambrusco
Prosecco
Light Bodied White Wines
Light bodied white wines are known for their
dry and refreshingly tart flavor. Most
light-bodied white wines are meant to be
enjoyed young when they have maximum
acidity and bold fruit.
Albariño Sauvignon Blanc
Grüner Veltliner Soave
Muscadet Vermentino
Pinot Gris Verdejo
Full Bodied White Wines
Full bodied white wines are known for their
rich, bold flavors. These wines are often aged
on their lees or in oak barrels to add
unctuous flavors of cream, vanilla, and butter.
Chardonnay
Marsanne Blend
Sémillon
Viognier
Aromatic White Wines
Aromatic white wines have highly perfumed
and sweet-fruit aromas but can range from
dry to sweet in taste.
Chenin Blanc
Gewürztraminer
Muscat Blanc
RIesling
Torrontés
Rose Wines
Rosé wine is produced when red
grape skins macerate in their
juices for a short period of time.
Rosé is produced in every major
country and is made of nearly
every grape variety, both red and
white. Rosé wines range in taste
from dry to sweet. For example, a
rosé of Tempranillo is usually
always dry and savory. While a
White Zinfandel is almost always
sweet and fruity.
Light Bodied Red Wines
Light bodied red wines are translucent in
color and tend to have moderately high
acidity. They are known for their perfumed
aromas that are best collected in a large
globe-shaped glass.
Gamay
Pinot Noir
Souson
Medium Bodied Red Wines
Medium-bodied red wines are often referred
to as “food wines” because of their excellent
ability to pair with a wide range of foods.
Generally speaking, medium-bodied wines
are characterized by dominant red-fruit
flavors.
Barbera Montepulciano
Cabernet Franc Negroamaro
Carignan Rhône/GSM Blend
Carménère Sangiovese
Grenache Valpolicella Blend
Mencía Zinfandel
Merlot
Full Bodied Red Wines
Full-bodied red wines typically have high
tannin, opaque ruby color from high
anthocyanin content, and rich fruit flavors.
Wines that are bold such as these can be
enjoyed on their own or with equally
bold-flavored foods. Books.
Aglianico Petit Verdot
Bordeaux Blend Petite Sirah
Cabernet Pinotage
Sauvignon
Syrah
Malbec
Tempranillo
Mourvèdre
Touriga Nacional
Nebbiolo
Nero D’Avola
Dessert Wines
Dessert wines range in style from
off-dry to very sweet. The sweetest
and highest acidity of these dessert
wines can be cellared for many years
to develop subtle nutty flavors.
Some dessert wines are stabilized
with the addition of brandy in a
process called fortification. Fortified
wines have high alcohol and can
store open for up to a month.
Madeira Sauternais
Marsala Sherry
Port Vin santo
Sauternais
