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Red Wine
What is it?
Red wines are made from dark-colored grape varieties. The color comes from the grape skins, which are included in the fermentation process. Red wines are typically fermented at warmer temperatures and often aged in oak barrels.
Characteristics:
Full-bodied, tannic, notes of dark fruit, spice, and sometimes earthy or smoky undertones.
Expert Recommendations
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White Wine
What is it?
White wines are made by fermenting only the pulp of light-skinned grapes, with the skins removed before fermentation, or sometimes from dark-skinned grapes where the juice is pressed immediately to avoid color extraction (e.g., Blanc de Noirs).
Characteristics
Lighter body, higher acidity, notes of citrus, tree fruit, floral, and sometimes buttery or mineral notes.
Expert Recommendations
Chardonnay: From Burgundy, California, or Australia. Brands like Kendall-Jackson, Cakebread Cellars, Louis Jadot.
Sauvignon Blanc: From Sancerre, Marlborough (New Zealand), or California. Brands like Kim Crawford, Pascal Jolivet, Duckhorn Vineyards.
Pinot Grigio/Gris: From Italy or Oregon. Brands like Santa Margherita, A to Z Wineworks, Ecco Domani.
Riesling: From Germany (Mosel, Alsace), or Washington. Brands like Dr. Loosen, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Kung Fu Girl.
Rose Wine
What is it?
Rosé wine is made from red grape varieties, but the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for only a short period (a few hours to a few days), giving the wine its pink hue.
Characteristics
Light-bodied, refreshing, notes of red berries, citrus, and sometimes floral or herbal notes. Generally dry, but can be semi-sweet.
Expert Recommendations
Provence Rosé: Known for its dry, crisp style. Brands like Whispering Angel, Miraval, Minuty.
Rosé of Pinot Noir: Often from Oregon or California. Brands like A to Z Wineworks Rosé, Banshee Wines.
Rosé of Grenache: From Rhône or Spain. Brands like Château d'Esclans Garrus, Muga Rosado.
Blush Zinfandel (White Zinfandel): Often sweeter. Brands like Sutter Home White Zinfandel, Beringer White Zinfandel.
Sparkling Wine
What is it?
Sparkling wine is wine with significant levels of carbonation, making it fizzy. It can be made from various grape varieties and produced in many regions around the world. The term "Champagne" is reserved exclusively for sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France.
Characteristics
Effervescent, often high acidity, notes of citrus, green apple, brioche, and sometimes nutty or yeasty.
Expert Recommendations
Champagne (France): Brands like Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, G.H. Mumm.
Prosecco (Italy): Brands like La Marca, Zonin Prosecco, Mionetto.
Cava (Spain): Brands like Freixenet Cordon Negro, Segura Viudas Brut.
American Sparkling Wine: Brands like Domaine Chandon, Gloria Ferrer, Korbel.
Dessert wine
What is it?
Dessert wines are sweet wines typically served with or as dessert. Their sweetness comes from various methods, including late harvesting, noble rot, or freezing grapes (ice wine).
Characteristics
Sweet, often viscous, concentrated flavors of honey, dried fruit, caramel, or nuts.
Expert Recommendations
Port (Portugal): Brands like Taylor Fladgate, Graham's, Dow's.
Sherry (Spain): Brands like Lustau, Gonzalez Byass, Tio Pepe.
Sauternes (Bordeaux, France): Brands like Château d'Yquem (very high-end), Château Guiraud.
Moscato d'Asti (Italy): Brands like Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato d'Asti, Saracco Moscato d'Asti.
Saki
What is it?
Sake (pronounced "sah-keh") is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. It is often referred to as "rice wine," but its brewing process is more akin to beer, where starch is converted to sugar, then sugar to alcohol..
Characteristics
Varies widely from very dry to sweet, light to full-bodied, with notes of fruit (apple, pear, melon), floral, nutty, umami, or earthy. Can be served chilled, at room temperature, or warm, depending on the type.
Expert Recommendations
Gekkeikan Traditional Sake: A widely available and approachable sake, often good for first-time tasters.
Hakutsuru Junmai / Junmai Ginjo: A very popular brand offering various quality levels, known for being smooth and balanced.
Sho Chiku Bai (various styles like Nigori, Ginjo): Another well-distributed brand with different types of sake to explore.
Ty Ku Sake (various styles): Known for its modern branding and often found in different classifications like Junmai, Silver (Ginjo), and Black (Junmai Daiginjo).
Champagne
What is it?
Champagne is a world-renowned sparkling wine produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, under strict appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) regulations.
It is typically made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, though some variations exist.
The defining characteristic is its effervescence, created through a secondary fermentation in the bottle, known as the "traditional method" or méthode champenoise. This process results in the iconic bubbles and complex flavors.
Characteristics
Aroma & Flavor: Champagne offers a complex bouquet, often featuring notes of green apple, citrus, pear, white flowers, and toasted bread or brioche (from yeast aging). Depending on its age and style, it can also develop nutty, honeyed, or dried fruit characteristics.
Acidity: Known for its high, crisp acidity, which contributes to its refreshing character and ability to age gracefully.
Effervescence: Fine, persistent bubbles that are released continuously once poured, a hallmark of quality Champagne.
Body: Generally light to medium-bodied, with a creamy mousse (foam) and a long, elegant finish.
Color: Most commonly pale gold, though Rosé Champagne will have a pink hue.
Terroir: The unique chalky soils and cool climate of the Champagne region contribute significantly to the wine's distinct minerality and acidity.
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Non-Vintage (NV) Brut Champagne
- What is it: This is the most common style of Champagne, representing the house's signature blend and style. It's a blend of wines from different vintages to ensure consistency year after year. "Brut" indicates a dry style, meaning it has a very small amount of sugar added after secondary fermentation.
- Characteristics: Crisp, fresh, often with notes of green apple, lemon, and subtle brioche. High acidity and fine bubbles.
- Examples:
- Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label: Known for its rich, full-bodied character with notes of brioche and dried fruit.
- Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial: A well-balanced Champagne with vibrant fruit and subtle pastry notes.
- G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut: Fresh and lively with citrus and white fruit aromas, and a long finish.
- Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut: Elegant and complex, with notes of fresh citrus, white fruit, and delicate floral aromas.
Vintage Champagne
- What is it: Produced only in the best years, a Vintage Champagne is made from grapes harvested in a single, exceptional year. It must be aged for a minimum of three years on its lees (spent yeast cells) before release, often much longer, allowing for greater complexity and depth.
- Characteristics: More complex, developed, and often richer than NV Champagne, with notes of toasted nuts, honey, coffee, and dried fruits. Reflects the unique characteristics of that specific vintage.
- Examples:
- Dom Pérignon (always a vintage Champagne): Renowned for its unparalleled complexity, elegance, and aging potential.
- Louis Roederer Cristal (always a vintage Champagne): A prestige cuvée, known for its purity, precision, and crystalline minerality.
- Pol Roger Brut Vintage: A powerful yet refined Champagne, offering depth and longevity.
- Bollinger La Grande Année: Characterized by its vinous qualities, often rich and structured.
Rosé Champagne
- What is it: Pink in color, Rosé Champagne can be made by either blending a small amount of still red wine (Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier) into white Champagne before secondary fermentation, or by allowing the grape skins to macerate with the juice for a short period (Saignée method).
- Characteristics: Notes of red berries (strawberry, raspberry, cherry), sometimes with floral undertones and a refreshing acidity. Can range from delicate to rich.
- Examples:
- Ruinart Rosé: Known for its elegant, fresh, and vibrant red fruit character.
- Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé: Famous for its distinctive round bottle and expressive notes of fresh berries.
- Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé: Delicate and charming, with notes of red fruit and citrus.
- Veuve Clicquot Rosé: A more structured Rosé with notes of red fruit and a hint of pastry.
Blanc de Blancs Champagne
- What is it: Translating to "white from whites," this Champagne is made exclusively from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
- Characteristics: Typically lighter-bodied, very crisp, elegant, and often showcases notes of citrus, green apple, white flowers, and chalky minerality. Known for its finesse and ability to age.
- Examples:
- Ruinart Blanc de Blancs: A benchmark for the style, known for its purity, freshness, and luminosity.
- Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: Elegant and refined, with a precise, clean finish.
- Delamotte Blanc de Blancs: Offers excellent value for a high-quality Blanc de Blancs, with fine bubbles and crisp acidity.
- Salon (always a vintage Blanc de Blancs): An extremely rare and highly sought-after Champagne, known for its intense minerality and longevity.
Blanc de Noirs Champagne
- What is it: Meaning "white from blacks," this Champagne is made exclusively from black-skinned grapes—Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or a blend of both—but fermented without skin contact to keep the wine white.
- Characteristics: Often richer, fuller-bodied, and more structured than Blanc de Blancs, with notes of red berries, apple, pear, and sometimes a hint of spice or mushroom.
- Examples:
- Bollinger Special Cuvée (often predominantly Pinot Noir): Known for its rich, powerful, and complex style.
- Egly-Ouriet Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru: A highly regarded grower Champagne, showing incredible depth and richness.
- Krug Grande Cuvée (often Pinot Noir dominant): A multi-vintage prestige cuvée known for its extraordinary richness and complexity.
- Bérêche et Fils Brut Réserve (often Pinot Noir dominant): A grower Champagne celebrated for its expressive fruit and textural richness.
- Bollinger Special Cuvée (often predominantly Pinot Noir): Known for its rich, powerful, and complex style.
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