Types of Wine
Although this region is famous for its Pinot Noir, below are some of the other wines you may encounter during your wine tasting tour.
White Zinfandel
White Zinfandel, or commonly known as the White Zin, actually came from an accidental experimentation that was conducted on the Red Zinfandel during late 1800’s. This wine has become so popular, especially in the last few decades, due to its lower quantities of alcohol and its sweeter taste, not to mention that it is considered a fairly cheap table wine. It goes perfectly with foods such as creamy pastas, fish, pork and other lean meats. In order to create White Zinfandel, you must first remove the skin of the grape prior to fermenting, thus taking off the robust and spicy taste of wine. Some of these wines nowadays have additional flavoring, creating a wide array of tastes to choose from. It is because of the variety that this wine has become the third most consumed wine in the United States, and it sells six times more than its red sibling.
Red Zinfandel
Red Zinfandel wine is considered to be a real American classic, although this is not entirely true. Modern research reveals the origin of this grape to derive from Croatia. Although, in the 1800’s this wine became very popular in the United States and is still one of the top wines in America. This spicy almost peppery wine with a dab of fruitiness goes perfectly with common US foods such as burgers and pizzas. This wine was able to survive the years of prohibition in the United States, that occurred during 1910-1930, as home growing was still allowed even then. Red Zinfandel, even though it didn’t grow under the perfect circumstances, still was a very easy grape to grow in your household, and thus it was able to survive the early 1900’s. Up to this day Red Zinfandel still claims its position as a classic wine of the US.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is probably one of the world’s most recognized wines that is grown practically everywhere wine is made. All of the major wine producing countries takes pride in producing their very own Cabernet Sauvignon. The only trouble with Cabernet Sauvignon, is the harvesting. If the grape is harvested too soon, the taste could turn out more vegetable like; and if harvested too late, it could produce a more jam-like taste. Thus, it is vital to harvest this grape in the perfect time, which makes Cabernet Sauvignon an art in its own. This wine in essence is a hybrid wine, mixing two different types of wine, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The reason this wine became so popular is due to the ease of cultivation, as the grapes are resistant to frost and the vines are resistant to rotting. Because of this easy cultivation, this wine is considered to be the wine colonizer.
Chardonnay
This peculiar variety of grape is often confused with Pinot Blanc due to many similarities they share. Yet, Chardonnay is a variety that by itself has earned the second position in the most cultivated grape variety in the world. Due to its neutrality and tolerance for most growing conditions, Chardonnay became known as the globalization of wines. Almost like Cabernet Sauvignon, the Chardonnay dominated the world of wines and still does to this day. This white wine has a wide range of tastes and flavors due to its cultivation process and is recommended to be drunk with white meats. Also the age of Chardonnay will alter the flavor produced, which will make the list of foods even greater. Chardonnay is also used in making Champaign, which is one of the reasons it is so popular. This grape variety is grown in every single wine producing country, and in many cases, is seen as the rite of passage to new comers.
Merlot
A wine that was primarily used for blending it with other stronger wines; Merlot recently started to make its debut as a solo wine. Many people compare the taste of a good Merlot to a mellow plum like taste and it goes perfectly well with meaty, salty dishes. This grape variety originally was only used to mix Bordeaux wines to take away the harshness of other grape varieties. Merlot is used in blending some of the more famous wines out there, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The biggest problem with Merlot is the fact that it does not age too well, and must be drunk within six months post cultivation. Yet this specific grape variety is one of the most planted varieties in the world, and as of 2004, took the position of the third most cultivated grape on the planet. Merlot seems to be climbing the wine ladder bit by bit until it reaches the top.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir considered being one of the top, if not the most romantic wine on the planet. This red wine variety is not an easy grow, and even more difficult to turn into wine after cultivation. Yet nonetheless, it has created some of the world’s finest wines and champagnes. The use of Pinot Noir is also implemented in other sparkling wines and rosé’s. The perfect climate for this variety would be a colder climate, yet as the climate changes so does the taste. Generally speaking, the taste has a light to medium body to it, with a dark raspberry flavor. The warmer the climate becomes, the more meatier the wine becomes, which sometimes can confuse wine tasters, due to its variety. This wine goes perfectly with red meats and other heavier foods, especially if cooked with herbs. Pinot Noir is the best choice for a romantic dinner or a wedding proposal.
Riesling
This aromatic variety of grape can almost be considered as a perfume, as Riesling makes its stand in the world of wines. This wine has been cultivated for over 600 years now, and today has become one of the top three white wines in the world, together with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. In the charts of wines in general, the Riesling stands at a walloping 20th position and is enjoyed by many people. The beauty of this particular wine is its ability to age, and in some cases Riesling bottles that have been aging for more than one hundred years still taste incredibly delicious. This wine generally is drunk with foods such as white meats, fish, and poultry and in some cases fried beef. Its sweet taste is almost fruity and can dissolve any bitter taste in seconds. Riesling is a perfect cellar wine and a definite must in the world of white wines.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine that goes perfectly with white meats and desserts. In fact this particular white wine is very open to many different food types and this has earned it one of the top three positions of white wines in the world. The variety itself has a very strong and intense aroma to it and also varies in taste. The Sauvignon Blanc is naturally acidic, which makes it zesty to the taste buds, an active feeling of energy when you drink it. Countries such as New Zealand and South Africa are known as Sauvignon Blanc cultivators and they compete directly with the French market. Sauvignon Blanc are known to be fast growers so it is essential to keep a sturdy eye on it, so it does not grow out of control. This wine is probably the top choice to drink with a wide array of foods.
Syrah
This particular variety of grape has caused a lot of controversy over the years. Even some minor disputes over the name use happened in the late 1980’s, as Australia altered the name Syrah, or Shiraz and rather placed their own name of Hermitage. This didn’t sit too well with the French and later the Australians had to change the name back and left it as Shiraz. Although even the origins of Syrah can be placed in doubt, as many people believe that it comes from Francem there are some evidence that suggests that it originally comes from Iran. There is no solid evidence that supports either and commonly the origin is stated to be French. The Syrah is a powerful red wine with a little peppery taste, and in many cases is used to better lesser wines. Syrah is a very popular wine and always seems to be growing in popularity.