Choosing A Wine As A Gift
Red or white is what you will be asking yourself when choosing a wine as a gift. Why not accompany wine rackwith a vintage bottle of wine for someone special.
Both types of wines possess different qualities and flavours to suit specific occasions. Red possess an ‘oakiness’ to it’s rich flavour. White wines are generally lighter without the complexity of reds. The fermentation of a wine, and the grapes used, are central to the taste of a wine. Green grapes are used to make white wines, whereas black and red grapes make up red wine. During the fermentation process for red wine, the grape stems, seeds and grape skins are left in the pressing. White wine differentiates the stems, seeds and grapes skins are removed from the resulting squeezed juice. The complexity of red wine is largely due to retaining the stems, seeds and skins in the juice, this produces tannins and pigments.
What gives wine some of its flavour? Tannins are compounds that produce that sharp taste experienced in tea, coffee and wine. These compounds are extracted from plants and, in the wine making process, grapes. Not only do Tannins provide a complexity in the wine, it prevents oxidation in the ageing process. Red wine tends to be aged for a far longer than white, which is why Tannins are vital to this process. As the wine matures, the bite in the tannins diminishes and becomes mellow. Depending on the label, red and white can both be excellent additions to your meal. So get ready to sample, get the Placematsready and a range of wines to try. You small samples of each wine in shot glasses. White wine tends to accompany weaker flavoured dishes; while red wine is best for stronger tasting dishes. But it depends on the person’s tastes and preferences. Conventionally, red wine goes well with meat dishes whereas fish and chicken dishes can be complimented with a glass of white.
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