1. Is the Climate of the Winery Suitable for the Grape?
Wineries throughout the world experience
a range of climates. Napa Valley has an average temperature of 21°C (70°F) and
exhibits a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Compared to the Western Cape in South Africa where there is a wide range in temperature depending if the winery is near the coast or more inland, ranging
from 15°C-17°C (59°F-62°F) near the coast and up to 5° higher inland.
Different species of grape prefer different range in temperatures too, for example the Cabernet Sauvignon prefers
to be in warmer climate ranging between 16.5 to 19°C. Compared to the
Chardonnay, it has a wild range in temperature of 4°C and is universally grown because
of its adaptivity to different climates and other environmental factors.
One should have some sense of different
climates from wine producing regions as well as the preferred climates for
specific grapes. This way you won’t choose a wine that is grown in an
unsuitable region. The following chart to the right is a good resource in choosing what
grape depending on what climate it is most suitable for, drawn from the text The Geography of Wine edited by Percy H. Dougherty.
Food and Wine pairing can be tricky
in deciding what wine should be drank with what food. If you are having BBQ for
dinner it is best to choose a stronger, bolder wine to pair with the burger and
steak. If you are having a light flavored food like snapper with lemon sauce, you would want to
pair it with a light wine like a Sauvignon Blanc. A rule of thumb is to pair wine
with flavors similar to the food, keeping the flavors balance. You don’t want a
wine that over powers your food or vice versa.
Below is a simplified chart on what food is best
paired with what wine, drawn from WineFolly.com. You can also visit a more
descriptive website here that will explain how to pair wine and food
together, as well as an interactive explanation of the different wine and food
pairings.
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| Source: WineFolly |
Wine from the Old World primarily involves
countries in Europe such as France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Price ranges can
go well beyond $100 USD, but the higher the price does not mean the better
quality. Compared to the traditional methods of focusing on terroir, wines from
the New World have a different perspective emphasizing science and individual
winemaker practices.
New World wines also lean towards the cheaper
side due to the fact that the taste of them are predictable and therefore more
reliable compared to the Old World where taste and aroma can be very complex
and varied. Countries such as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Chile are a
good choice to try out the New World wines. These are countries that are
boosting their reputation in wine production and their values are more
affordable than the Old World wine producing countries. To find out more about New World and Old World
wine, visit Wine Portfolio by clicking here for more information.
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| Image taken from WineFolly |
4. Don't Dive for the Darkest Wine!
Many people say that the darker the
color of red wine means the better the quality, but that’s not entirely true. One of the most memorable wine you drank may had a bold red pigment, but
that does not mean all wines with a bold color guarantees a satisfactory
experience. If the wine is unnaturally dark there is a possibility that the
winemaker is more concerned with public presentation and purposefully darken
them or start blending in different grapes or additives. Overall, don’t pick a
wine based on its color.
5. Boxes Aren't as Bad as You Think
Our first reaction when we see a boxed wine is
to walk the other way. The appearance of wine in a box is not attractive at all
and expects a subpar quality in our minds. However, emerging wine companies
such as Wineberry, Bota and Wine Cube have produced appealing wines sold in a
box. The use of boxed wines are actually contained in a vacuum sealed bag to
prevent oxidation problems. This method results in longer storage times AFTER
they have been opened for up to four weeks. Not only that, the use of a box is environmentally
friendlier because of less energy used in making a box that can contain 3
liters of wine compared to making a 750ml bottle.
For more information on Boxed Wines you can
visit a page from Wine Spectator by clicking here. Also, an article on
Boxed Wines from The New York Times by clicking here
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