Three Popular Varieties Of Red Wine

Red wine has been around for centuries, being a tasty accent of a wide variety of different meals, appetizers and desserts. There are red wines that are good for the person who has not ventured into the red wine arena before and wines that are subtly different from others where it takes a more experienced wine taster to notice.

There are many resources that can help individuals to choose the best red wine for their purposes, whether it is for cooking, drinking or collecting. There are storage racks that are designed to help individuals store the wine bottles in the home or in the wine cellar so that the wine is preserved in the best condition possible over time. There are many people who are white wine drinkers first and then move to the red wine varieties over time and with certain meals. There are red wines that come from many different countries around the world, the most significant being France, Italy and in the United States.

Varieties of Red Wine

Shiraz
One variety of red wine that is spicy and strong is the Shiraz. This wine is fairly fruity but it also has the taste of black pepper in it which helps to give it some zing. This type of wine, since it is heartier, is usually used with meals that have a beef base to them, such as steaks and stews, but also with wild game types of meals. This type of wine is made in California as well as in Australia and France.

Merlot
Another variety of red wine is called the Merlot. This type of wine is usually a good choice for the beginning red wine connoisseur. It is a smooth wine that can be used with a multitude of different dishes, from red meats, fish, chicken and pasta dishes. It is also made in a variety of different places, which each place giving a unique accent or twist to this popular wine. It is made in Italy, Romania, Australia and even in Chile. In the United States it is made in both California and Washington.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Another popular red wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is heartier than the Merlot and also has some spice to it. It is a dryer red wine, which is sometimes offsetting to the newer wine drinker. It is a wine that is typically served with red meat dishes, but usually red meat dishes that do not have any sauces or other accouterments to them.

When Making Red Wine

There are many types of red wine available and in making red wine, black grapes are used, drawing their color from the skins of the grapes.

During the beginning stages of making red wine, the grapes that have been picked are put into a crusher. Here, the crusher will gently break the skins of the grapes. Depending on what type of wine is being made and the tannin that’s required, the stalks will either be used or discarded at this point. Next, the grapes are put into a fermentation vat with the skins. This can be a long process, taking several weeks to complete. If a higher temperature is used, more tannin and color will be extracted from the grapes.

When making soft wines, the whole grapes are fermented using sealed vats. The carbon dioxide that becomes trapped in the sealed vats ferment the grapes under pressure, which is normally a quick process, taking only a few days. Keep in mind, the color and tannin content of the wine is based on how long the fermenting process takes. If the fermenting process takes a long time, the wine will generally hold more flavor and color.

The remaining bulk of the grapes will go through a press, being crushed to create a tannic wine. Sometimes, this tannic wine is added with a free run wine in order to add a bit more structure to the wine blend. Both the press and vat wine are then mixed and transferred to either tanks or barrels, for a second fermentation. The second fermentation will take the longest, although it brings out the quality and taste from the wine.

All types of fine red wine will spend a minimum of a year in the barrels. Some types of red wine will spend a longer time in the barrels, possibly several years. Red wine is also fine tuned with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast and other solids found in the wine downwards, before the wine is racked, filtered and eventually bottled. Once the wine has been bottled, it is then shipped off and sold. Some wine however, will be stored for a period of time in the bottle, before it is offered for sale.

The time a wine spends in the bottle is very important, although not every wine needs to spend a lot of time in the bottle. The more complex and more expensive types of red wine will benefit the most from aging in the bottle, to preserve flavor and color. The simple types of red wine however, don’t need to spend much time at all in the bottle.

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