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Wine Notes

What is Wine Wine Fermented Grape Juice That s it Don t Overthink this Delicious Juice There are only a few key aspects to get familiar with that will tell you everything you need to know

The Parts of a Grape Black and White Grapes are the same Except for the Skin Skins of Black Grapes give Red and Ros wine its Color Tannins and Lots of its Flavor Wine is about 85 Water This is from the Pulp The Pulp also contains the Sugar for Fermentation and the Acidity that makes wine Refreshing

The World of Wine can be Split in 2 Old World wines are usually named after the Region they come from New World wines are usually named after the Grape Variety used Old New World regions use many of the same grape varieties

The Old World France Champagne Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc Burgundy Chardonnay Pinot Noir Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Rh ne Valley Grenache Syrah Spain Rioja Toro Tempranillo Italy Barolo Nebbiolo Tuscany Sangiovese By Law to put these regional names on the label producers must use these grapes

The New World Everywhere that makes wine besides Europe USA California Oregon Washington State New York Chile Argentina Australia New Zealand South Africa The New World is not restricted by regional law Producers can use any grapes to make any style they like

Terroir is what makes each wine unique in flavor and able to shows a Sense of Place Every wine s unique flavor comes from a combination of The Grape Variety The Region the Grapes were Grown The Winemaking Techniques Used Terroir also translates to Coffee Tea Chocolate Tobacco Fruit Vegetables Meat Cheese

The Components of Wine Sweetness Acidity Tannin Alcohol Body Aromas Flavors

Sweetness Sweetness is perceived on the tip of your tongue Literally refers to the sugar content of the wine Levels range from Dry Off Dry Medium Sweet Sweet The Vast Majority of wines are Dry Medium Sweet Sweet wines are usually Riesling White Zinfandel Moscato or Port There are very few sweet red wines of the world If a guest requests one point them to a wine with ripe juicy concentrated fruit flavors and soft tannins These usually come from warm climates like California

Acidity This is what makes wine refreshing Acidity makes your mouth water and is strongest on the sides of your tongue High Acidity in wine comes from the grape variety Sauvignon Blanc or a coolclimate growing region Champagne Adjectives to Describe Acidity Soft Refreshing Crisp Brisk Tart Sour

Tannin Found in red wine and comes from the skins of the grape Tannins give a drying grippy sensation in the mouth and can taste bitter Cabernet High Tannin Pinot Noir Low Moderate Tannins Also found in Tea Longer steep More Tannin Adjectives Ripe Firm Round Silky Gritty Dusty Chewy Alcohol Gives a warming sensation on palate and adds texture Warmer Climate More Ripeness More Sugar Higher ABV Body Used to describe how the wine feels on the palate how much weight the wine has Light Pinot Grigio Medium Pinot Noir Full Cabernet

Aromas and Flavors in Wine Fruit flavors come naturally from the grape variety and are also a product of fermentation The ripeness of flavor depends on the grape and how warm cool the growing area was

Aromas and Flavors in Wine Wine can be Fermented and or Matured in Oak Barrels giving a baking spice quality The Impact of Oak flavors is determined by The Age of the Barrel New gives more flavor How long the wine was in barrel The toast level of the barrel The Species of Oak The 2 most common oak species are from France and the United States USA barrels give more powerful flavors of coconut dill and vanilla French Oak is more delicate with flavors of vanilla bean cardamom nutmeg

Aromas and Flavors in Wine The Other flavors found in wines can be the X Factor for what makes them unique and distinct These can come naturally from the grape be a result of the region the grapes were grown in or develop during the ageing process These can be described as Floral Vegetal Earthy Spicy Nutty Gamey Herbal or Mineral

Tips for Tasting

Tip Hold the glass by the stem so your hand doesn t warm up the wine or make smudges Look Least important step but it can tell you a few things Mostly checking that the wine is in good condition brown and cloudy appearance should raise red flags Look at the depth of color Is it what you expected Legs or Tears that form on the side of the glass do not indicate quality Thicker Legs Tears means higher Alcohol or Sugar Content For Sparkling Look how the bubbles are forming how big they are and how long they last in the glass

Tip Hold the stem like a pencil and draw tiny circles to get the perfect swirl going Smell The Nose can be the difference between a good wine and a great wine Find as many aromas as you can and think about how intense they are These will help you describe the style of the wine Take short sniffs so the alcohol doesn t burn out your nasal receptors Open your mouth while you smell for heightened sensitivity

Tip Try to reverse whistle while tasting This will aerate the wine in your mouth Taste This is when you analyze the structural components of the wine Sweetness Is this Dry Off Dry or Sweet Acidity How Tart is this How much is my mouth watering Tannin How dry does my mouth feel Are the Tannins Ripe Course Fine Grained Soft Dusty or Velvety Alcohol How intense is this aspect Body Light Medium or Full Flavors What is going on in this glass Fruit Floral Spice Oak Earth How can I use these to describe the wine to guests

Tip Combine the previous 3 steps to determine which guests would like this wine Think Put all the pieces together and determine what this wine is all about How can you sum it up in 1 2 sentences What is the quality of the wine Use B L I C to decide Balance between structural components and flavors Length of time you taste the wine after swallowing Intensity determine the concentration of flavors Complexity how much is going on in the glass

Grapes and Wines to Know

Chardonnay shar du NAY One of the most popular and widely planted grape varieties Quality can vary from best in the world to very basic Location is most important Able to produce many different styles Style and Flavor depends on the growing area and winemaking techniques Cool Climate Burgundy High Acidity Medium Body Flavors of Green Apple Citrus and Wet Stones Warm Climate California Medium Acidity Full Body Flavors of Peach Pineapple Mango and Banana Very common to be aged in oak giving baking spice flavor Can have buttery taste if MLF occurs

Pinot Grigio pee no gree zhee ow International grape variety that thrives in Northern Italy Elevated crisp acidity Usually made in dry styles with no residual sugar Usually fermented in stainless steel no baking spice flavor imparted from oak Made to consume young while fresh fruit aromas and flavors are vibrant and full of energy Usually fairly simple straight forward and easy to consume wines with orchard and citrus flavors Light Fresh style makes a great aperitif and pairs well with delicate dishes

Sauvignon Blanc SOH veenyohn BLAHn Dry wines known for their intensity of aromas and flavors Almost always high acid wines with a medium body Most are made in stainless steel to preserve the intense citrus and herbaceous notes Grown in many areas of the New and Old World with different climates but always has a distinct citrus vibrancy Sancerre France usually makes the most elegant mineral driven styles New Zealand styles are bursting with ruby red grapefruit and fresh cut grass California styles are usually the ripest with sharp tropical fruits aromatic floral character and more weight on the palate

Ros row zei Usually made from black grapes allowing skin contact with the juice for a short period of time to create pink color Most are dry with the exception of White Zinfandel Have some delicate red fruit character similar to red wine with the refreshing and bright pop of a chilled white The grape variety used will determine the dominant flavors Many different grape varieties used from Pinot Noir to Grenache to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese Ros is produced all over the world but the majority of styles mimic the classic Provence examples These are dry wines with delicate red fruit a fresh rose petal character and a touch of white pepper spice

Pinot Noir PEA no Nwahr Red Fruit dominant dry wines Black Cherry shows itself when grown in warmer vineyard sites Usually Light to Medium Body with easy going soft tannins Cherry Strawberry and Raspberry complimented nicely by Oak s baking spices vanilla clove cinnamon Produced all over the world in cooler climates Russian River Sonoma CA Some of the best wine on the planet made in Burgundy France with this grape Blended with Chardonnay in Champagne and other Traditional Method Sparkling wines

Zinfandel zin fuhn del Thrives in warm climates like in land California Lodi Eastern Sonoma Always massive complexity of fruit flavors b c grape bunches ripen unevenly Flavors range from tart cherry to strawberry jam to dried fig Fruit usually complimented by a spicy herbal midpalate and a toasty charred oak flavor Always pairs perfectly with anything coming off the Grill California has some of the oldest vines on the planet 100 years These Old Vines give the wines massive depth concentration and complexity That makes these wines a great value

Malbec maal bek Argentina s most important grape variety Best vineyards in the high altitude Mendoza region Here the grapes develop thick skins leading to dark fully flavored red wines These wines are full bodied and have grippy long lasting tannins Oak ageing in new barrels will help to round these wines out and bring out a touch of smoke and cedar flavor Great quality examples are intense but have balanced flavors between fruit black pepper clove and cured meat Perfect pairing for any red meat based or highly flavored dish

Merlot mer loh Usually Medium to Full Body Easy going Tannins and Acidity Shows mostly Red Fruits Cherry Strawberry Plum Black Fruits come in when very ripe Blackberry Black Cherry Common to age in oak gives vanilla flavor Can have a touch of Spice and Chocolate Famous for being a great Blending grape Mostly Blended with Cabernet and the other Bordeaux Varieties Grown all over the world

Cabernet Sauvignon ka br nei sow vuhn yown The king of grapes is grown in almost every wine producing country Always going to have high levels on Tannin and Acidity Very common to see this grape blended with others usually Merlot to round out its intense structure and powerful flavors Best examples of Cabernet will be fullbodied Slightly more easy going styles exist and make great sippers Pure Cabernet will give dark fruit flavors with a sharp minty herbal character and a bit of bell pepper Almost always aged in oak This helps round out the tannins and gives a vanilla character to compliment the dark fruit Hill Side vineyards will produce a structured firm style Valley floor vineyards give a more juicy and opulent style

Blends Blend will exist wherever wine does The idea is to create something where the sum is greater than the individual parts Blends can be in different percentages each year help to preserve a house style guests are familiar with Common Blends Include Bordeaux Style Red Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc White Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Rh ne Style GSM Grenache Syrah Mourv dre Super Tuscan Sangiovese Cabernet Merlot Meritage Bordeaux Style produced in California Champagne Most are a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Sparkling Wine Champagne Best Quality sparkling wine in the world Home of the Traditional Method that creates toasty brioche flavor The most fine grained concentrated elegant and persistent bubbles of any Sparkling Wine Complex Citrus and Orchard fruit combined with delicate Florals toasty brioche and a distinct Mineral presence The best examples will age in producer s cellars for almost a decade before being released Can pair with literally any dish because the combination of elegance structure complexity and laser focused acidity

Sparkling Wine Prosecco Light and easy going style of sparkling from Northern Italy Big Frothy Bubbles that are fun and full of energy Very simple Apple and Pear flavors that usually has a touch of sweetness Made to consume young while the bright fruit is at its best Cava Sparkling made in Spain using the Champagne Method Riper and Rounder fruit compared to Champagne with less elegance and structure More complex than Prosecco and a Great Champagne alternative when on a budget

Food Pairing Everyone has different sensitivities and preferences No pairing is ever going to have the Toothpaste and Orange Juice reaction The most important thing to do is understand the reactions that occur while drinking eating From here the goal should be to find balance If the Food is The Wine Will Seem Salty Less Drying Acidic and Bitter More Fruity Round Acidic Less Acidic Drying and Bitter More Fruity Round Sweet Less Fruity Sweet More Acidic Dry and Bitter Savory Less Fruity Sweet More Acidic Dry and Bitter Intense Overwhelmed and Overpowered by the Food Fatty Less Acidic Spicy Higher in Spice and Alcohol

Food Pairing After you understand the customers preference and how to find balance between wine and food you can make a confident suggestion with endless possibilities You also have the option to Accentuate flavors Earthy Savory or Contrast flavors Sweet Salty If the Food is Wines that will Find Balance are Salty Dry Firm Earthy Ex Cabernet Sauvignon Acidic Dry High Acid Ex Sauvignon Blanc Champagne Sweet Fruity Sweet Ex Demi Sec Prosecco Savory Fruity Low Tannins Ex Pinot Noir Intense Intense Ex Zinfandel Fatty More Acidic Ex White Burgundy Spicy Fruity Low Alcohol Ex Riesling