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| Red
Wines |
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Chardonnay
Chardonnay,
America’s number one selling white wine,
continues to climb the production ladders toemerge
as the most beloved of dry white wines in the
U.S.
The
Chardonnay grape itself also contributes to the
wine’s popularity. It is a relatively
“low-maintenance” vine that adapts well to a
variety of climates, resulting in fairly high
yields worldwide. These high yields translate into
millions of bottles of Chardonnay wines.
Chardonnay
is also an important component in Champagne
and there are some 100% Chardonnay Champagnes
labeled blanc de blancs. It is also used by
sparkling wine producers who want to produce a
Champagne-like wine.
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In
2001,
Chardonnay stood eighth-ranked in global planting
of grape varieties by area, with an estimated
140,000 hectares,
mostly in the United
States of America, France,
Australia
and Italy.
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Flavor
Profile:
Chardonnays boast an impressive
range of flavors from the expected buttered,
oak overtones to the
fresh, fruit flavors of apple, pear, citrus
and melon, leaving a lasting palate
impression.
Food
Pairing: Chardonnay
will pair well with poultry dishes, pork,
seafood or recipes that have a heavy cream
base.
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| Pinot
Grigio
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One
of the most popular white wine is produced
from the * Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris grape
varietal. This wine hails from the northeast
region of Veneto and Friuli. A light, crisp
white wine that is intended to be consumed
early on.
Pinot
gris is a white wine
grape
variety of the species Vitis
vinifera. Thought to be a mutant
clone of the Pinot
noir grape, it has a grayish-white
fruit, accounting for its name ("gris"
meaning gray in French).
The
grape grows best in cool climates. Pinot
gris is known from the Middle Ages in the Burgundy
region, where it was probably called Fromenteau.
It
spread from Burgundy, arriving early in
Switzerland and in Hungary by 1300 and
reaching Germany by the end of the 16th
century. It is now grown in most European
countries, as well as in Australia, Canada,
New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.S. |
| Flavor
Profile
:
Pinot Grigio flavors can range from melon to
pear and some even offer a subtle tropical
or citrus fruit,often there is a honey or
smoky flavor component as well. As for
color, Pinot Grigio is typically a pale,
straw-like yellow with some golden hues
thrown in. The texture of a Pinot Grigio is
worth noting, as it has very smooth, almost
silk-like overtones that leave an impression
on the palate.
Food Pairing: Pinot
Grigio pairs nicely with seafood, light
pastas and cheese cracker combinations.
Since this wine is
fairly acidic itself, avoid pairing with
foods that have high acid contents, like
citrus fruits or tomato-based recipes
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| Sauvignon
Blanc
Sauvignon
Blanc originated in the Loire Valley of France.
However, New Zealand has taken this grape to new
heights in the cool Marlborough region, producing
racy wines with tropical fruit and gooseberry
flavors. Sauvignon Blanc is usually a dry white
wine with distinctive herbaceous qualities. This
wine is widely available as a single varietal or
asa blend with Semillon
Depending
on climate,
its flavours can range from aggressively grassy to
sweetly tropical, although perhaps the most
memorable descriptor is "cat's pee on a gooseberry
bush" which is also the smell of fresh guava
fruit. In France,
Sauvignon blanc is grown in Bordeaux,
(as white Bordeaux
and Sauternes)
and the Loire
Valley (as Pouilly
Fumé, Sancerre,
and Sauvignon de Touraine).
Sauvignon was not considered a great wine until
Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé were 'discovered' in
Paris in the 1960s.
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Flavor
Profile: Typically a light to
medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing white wine
with notable acidity, Sauvignon Blanc offers a
fairly wide range of flavors. From herb-like
sensations to veggie (often green pepper), grass
and hay these earthy flavors mix and mingle with
citrus (mostly lime or grapefruit) and tropical
fruits, gooseberry and often display a minerally
overtone to offer a very unique wine tasting
adventure.
Food Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc
is a very food-friendly wine and terrific for
appetizers such as artichoke dip, veggie
dishes or dips, garlic or Italian seasonings in
creamy sauces, fragrant salads - like Greek,
Caesar or Garden, Thai food,
fish (sushi), poultry and the list goes on
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Chenin
Blanc
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The
of the most versatile white grape varieties,
Chenin Blanc is known for producing some of the
best, longest living sweet wines, not at all
similar to the general table wines that often come
from California's Central Valley (though
California has a few producers attempting to
emulate the high quality sweet Chenin Blancs
produced in the Loire Valley).
Loire
Valley wine fans have long known the heights that
chenin blanc can soar.
It's a grape producing
hauntingly flavored dry and sweet wines that bring
to mind apples ripening in the summer sun,
honeysuckle and cool melon balanced by a naturally
high acid content. T
Try
chenin again, for the very first time.
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The
Flavor
The classic French grape thrives in the California
mountains, and this example explodes with whiffs
of melons and apricots.
Food
Pairings
A light, soft wine that would go well with
aromatic ethnic foods like an Indian curry or
Asian-style steamed fish. |
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| All
other wines |
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Red
Wines
Barbera
Bordeaux
Brunello
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvingnon
Chianti
Gamay
Grenache
Malbec
Merlot
Montepulciano
Mouvedre
Nebbiolo
Nero d' Avola
Petite Sirah
Pinot Noir
Primitivo
Sangiovese
Syrah
Shiraz
Tempranillo
Trebbiano
Zinfandel
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White
Wines
Albarino
Bordeaux Blanc
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Gewurztraminer
Muscadelle
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Tocai
Vernaccia
Champagnes &
Sparkling wines
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Desert
& Sweet Wines
Muscat
Port
Sauternes Blend
Tokaji
White Zinfandel
Saki & Plum
Wines
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