AS we mature our tastes change, the transient thrills of young adulthood eventually give way to more refined tastes; wine is a fine example of this, as even a novice wine enthusiast can attest.
Viticulture, the process of wine making is a fascinating topic for experts, but the truth is you don't have to be a connoisseur to buy wine or enjoy wine at its finest. All you need is a willingness to learn and an eagerness to try the many types of wine available.
That said, a little knowledge about the subject is always a good thing. At a dinner party, for example, you don't want to feel forced into an uncomfortable silence when conversation turns to favoured vintages and aromas. This handy beginner's guide to wine will ensure you can make an erudite contribution when the topic is discussed at a social gathering.
The truth is, wine, at one level, is actually a very simple subject to understand (although it is one that requires great experience, skill and judgement to master). All wines are produced from grapes (other than various types of fruit wine), and it is the different varieties, growing conditions, the location of the vineyard, the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil and prevailing weather conditions that help imbue the grape with the myriad of different flavours that contribute to a good wine.
Another important thing to note is how wines are classified and named. In Europe, for example, wines tend to be classified by the region in which the predominant grape is grown. Hence, we have many famous European wines such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rioja, Chianti and even Champagne.
For wines produced outside Europe, the situation is less clear cut. Wines from regions such as Africa, Australasia, South and North America are classified predominantly by the type of grape used in the winemaking process, such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (also called Syrah in some countries).
Many wine producers outside Europe now also classify their wine based on region too and their names are equally familiar to wine lovers as any other. Popular examples include the Napa Valley in California, Barossa Valley in Australia, Central Valley in Chile and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand.
Now that we have a simple understanding of how wine is classified across the world, let's look at another often misunderstood term: the vintage. Fortunately, this is an easy concept to explain in that a vintage wine is merely a wine made from grapes grown in a particular year and clearly labelled as such. Vintage is not a generic term meaning quality wine, as many novices may think, but merely a description of wine produced from a certain grape at a certain time. The quality of vintages can vary considerably from year to year and vineyard to vineyard.
Another common mistake is to think that an aged wine is generally a better wine. A rule of thumb is that whites, such as Chardonnay wine, don't age particularly well (as they lack the tannins necessary for preservation). If you buy red wines, you can afford to go older; however, this does depend on the wine in question. For example Bordeaux only gets better with age, whereas Merlot tends not to age particularly well.
When tasting wine, you need to look at three main factors: appearance, aroma and taste. Before sampling, have a close look at the wine. Older white wine will be darker than its younger cousins, and red wine takes on an orange tint as the years go by.
When sampling a new bottle, arguably the most important step is to investigate the 'nose' of the wine. Gently swill the wine around the glass to release the gentle aromas it contains and breathe them in through the nose. Your nose contains thousands more receptors than your mouth and you will be astonished at the vast array of scents a good wine can contain, from the blackberry, wood smoke and spicy flavours of an Old World Shiraz to the delicate, gentle petrol aromas mingling with the earthy apple tones of an Alsace Riesling. The first taste of a great wine should always come through the nose.
Having examined the body of the wine and smelt its wonderful aroma and bouquet, now it is time to take that first sip. Remember, don't swallow it immediately, roll the wine around your mouth for a good minute to allow the flavours to fully develop before announcing your verdict. Wine can be a fascinating, relaxing and enjoyable hobby, but there's no need to tie yourself in knots trying to impress; just relax and let the wine do the talking.
