Wine is enjoyed by people from just about everywhere. It may be consumed on its own or paired with certain food to get the most out of it. With taste that tickles the palate and lingers in the mouth, wine offers an experience that can certainly be a magical one. And what better way is there to appreciate “the drink of the gods” than to learn everything there is to know about it?
A Taste as Rich as Its History
As far back as 6000 BC, wine has been produced and enjoyed for different reasons. Its origins can be traced back in Iran, Georgia, Greece and Egypt and later spread across parts of Europe, as evidenced by archaeological finds. History makes it clear that, as it is today, there are a number of reasons why wines were developed, including for celebrations and ceremonies. For thousands of years, wines have also been used for as an essential cooking ingredient while enabling people to take advantage of its medical benefits.
Made virtually everywhere, wines are developed in places that are classified as “Old World” and “New World.” The “Old World”–such as Europe and the Mediterranean regions—take pride in their long history of wine production and heavily restricted guidelines among all wineries. The “New World” on the other hand pertains to wine-producing areas with generally warmer climates such as the United States, Chile and Australia, causing their wines to be generally full bodied with a bolder fruity flavor.
Wine Tasting Tricks
It’s not uncommon to find people holding on to their wine glass and drinking its contents in a methodical manner. In fact, that is exactly what they’re doing: applying the rules for essential wine tasting. While its rules are exactly written black-and-white, wine tasting to be effective adheres to a few guidelines. It all boils down to this fact: focus is important; there is no room for distraction. This applies, however, when the goal is to uncover the mystery of the drink and make an intelligent description or evaluation of its flavor, scent or finish.
In situations that do not require those professional rules for extracting wine information, a simple “good” or “not for me” will actually do! As some people would say, any wine is as good as you say it is. This means no expert needs to tell you whether or not a specific type of wine should be on your favorites list.
Awakening the Wine Wizard in You
Wine is actually an incredibly diverse drink. There are in fact, more than 10,000 varietals known of wines, but how they are being classified as strictly red or white is grossly oversimplified. Taking that into account, it is worth reiterating that there is more to just sipping wine and getting acquainted with its taste; in fact, it is an entire world that you can have fun while learning about. There are specific types of wine glasses where a certain wine will have to be poured—and it doesn’t hurt know how to hold them either. It is important to pay attention to the wine’s color, aroma and temperature as well, because these factors help determine how the drink would fare in a feast of different dishes.
Pop a cork and get started with your wine experience.
