Why Red Wine Is Thought By Many To Be The Very Best Wine Available

Among the many hundreds of types of wine available, red wine is thought of as the best. There are several different types of red wine, even though they are all made using the same methods. This very good type of wine is made from the black grape, the color deriving from the skins.
Starting to make red wine, the grapes that have been chosen are placed in a crusher. Here, the crusher will squeeze the juices out. Depending on what type of wine is being made the stalks will most likely be thrown away. After that the grapes are put in a fermentation vat with the skins to begin fermentation. This can be quite a long process taking up to several weeks to finish. If a higher temperature is used the color will show more.
When producing softer 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 a quite fast step, taking only a couple of days. Keep in head that the tannin and color is always made on how long it takes. If the fermenting process takes a very long time the wine will be more of flavor and color.
The remainder of the grape will go through a press, being grinded to create a tannic wine. Many times this tannic wine is added to a free running wine to add more flavor and texture to the wine. The vat and tanned wine are then switched to a second fermentation process. The second fermentation will take the very longest; after all it brings out the most taste and color.
All fine types of red wine will spend a minimum of one year in the second fermentation process. Some sorts of different red wine will spend longer in the second process, maybe even years. Red wine is also mixed with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast downwards to the wine, before the wine is racked bottled and stored. Once the wine has been bottled it is shipped off and sold, although some wines will continue to sit in the bottle before being sold or served.
The amount of time a wine spends in a bottle is very important, even though most wines don't need to spend that much time in the bottle. The more expensive types of red wine should be aged properly, to preserve flavor and color. The simple types of red wine although don't need to spend that much time at all in a bottle. They can be shipped off and sold, then opened right after arriving to be served. So the simpler red wine can be opened early but the more expensive and higher of quality red wines should be aged properly to their potential. Most of all red wines and wines in general are going to be coming from France so they are already going to have some what of an age to them.

Bordeaux Wines And Why They Are So Good

People have been making wine for a long time. I am talking about thousands of years people have been making wine. Archaeological evidence has shown wine being made as early as 6000 BC in places like Iraq, Georgia and Armenia. Over the years the way wine is produced has changed but the basics still remain the same.
So just what exactly is wine and how is it made? The term wine refers to grapes that have been fermented until alcohol is produced. Grapes are grown in what is called a Vineyard by the thousands of acres. The grapes will use become ripe in late August or September and that is according to the climate conditions and how the weather has been.
The grapes are then picked and tasted by the winemaker so he can tell when to harvest the grapes by how much sugar they have in them. Once it is time to pick the grapes to start the wine making process the vineyard workers must move fast. You do not want to let the grapes go past their prime or it will mess up the wine. The vineyard workers will pick the grapes and put them in bins that are then trucked back to the winery to be crushed.
You may have seen wine in both red and white colors and wondered how they go white and red wine in the first place. It all has to do with the seeds and the skin of the grapes when they are being processed and crushed at the winery. In order to make red wine the skin and seeds will stay with the grapes as they are crushed but when they want to make white wine they will get rid of the seeds and skin before crushing the grapes.
After all of this is done the liquids for the white wine and everything for the red wine is poured into stainless steel fermenting tanks where it will sit and ferment until it is wine. The squished grapes have cultured yeast added to them in the tanks to make them ferment. The yeast digests the sugars in the grapes and causes fermentation.
Some of the best wine is Bordeaux Wines. Bordeaux Wine is wine produced in the Bordeaux area of France. This area has been known to produce the best tasting wines in the world. There are many vineyards here that make wine that is top quality. I am not talking about the cheap stuff but world known wines are made in Bordeaux, France.
You can get cheap table wines from Bordeaux or you can also get some of the most prestigious wines that are world known too. They produce both budget wines and expensive wines. The cheaper wines are used for cooking with and also for drinking. Any wine could be used for cooking but if you get the best you would probably prefer to actually taste the fine wine that you bought. Bordeaux wines are some of the best in the world and are worth serving at your next meal.

Red Wine and White Wine Differences

Except the color, there are many other differences between red wine and white wine. For example, take the taste. Red wine tastes much heavier and it is more complex when comparing with the white sort. While there are several red types that are sweet, in general whites are made sweeter than the red variety.
White wines are made from white grapes by separating the skin of the grapes from the juice, after which yeast is added for fermentation purposes right until the juice turns into white wine. Then the wine is stored for aging in stainless steel or oak wood containers.
On the other hand, when you make red wine, the process is a bit different. It is made of red or black grapes and here the grapes are crushed first and then they are added along with their skin to a fermentation process that takes about 1-2 weeks to end. Towards the end, the skin raises to the surface and forms a top layer which is usually mixed back into the must (the fermenting juice). When the fermentation period is over, the wine is then pressed into a press wine to be first clarified and then stored away in oak containers for a couple of months before it can be transferred into bottles. When you store the red one into oak containers, you transfer to the wine extra tannin that the oak barrels contains, which gives that extra flavor to the red wine that you can't find in any white wine.
This is actually one of the main differences between the two wine types, the amount of tannin they usually contain. Of course the red one has more of it since the tannin is coming from the skin of the grapes, and the white wine is made without the actual skin.
Another main difference is the fact that you are likely to find more flavours between red wines compared to white ones. And if you believe what they say about the health benefits that the red type gives regarding resveratrol, one more reason to go with red during your next wine shopping spree:)

Red Wine Supplement - Energy, Weight Loss and Happiness

Where did this "Red Wine Supplement" originate from? For years, scientists have been wondering, how can the French eat the fatty foods they do and still not gain weight?  This "French Paradox" as it was dubbed, led to the discovery that the substance, Resveratrol, found in the skins of grapes that make red wine,  was responsible. Now we are watching the exploding popularity of this supplement. Why? This article will explore the claims of increased energy, weight loss and overall happiness.
Increased Energy... The science behind the increased energy is the activation of the SIRT1 gene. Resveratrol has been shown to activate this gene which is responsible for increasing metabolism. Increased metabolism means fat is burned faster, increasing energy. Also studies have shown exercise endurance to be increased with the taking of this supplement.
Stimulated Weight Loss... Again, the science behind this has to do with the SIRT1 gene. SIRT1 is generally stimulated to burn fat when our bodies go through an emergency food shortage. This gene is shown to be stimulated when ingesting the Red Wine Supplement, Resveratrol. So that means increased metabolic rate. The same amount of calories can be ingested, but they will be burned faster.
Overall Happiness... It has been shown that when we are lethargic, we are less happy. The more we move and have energy, the happier we are! This supplement has been shown to increase happiness in individuals because of this basic increase in energy.
It makes sense why this "Red Wine Supplement" is taking the world by storm. From increased energy, to stimulating weight loss, to increasing overall happiness, Resveratrol is proving to be a serious help for many people.

Make sure you try Resveratrol before you buy it!

What Goes Into Making A Red Wine?

Red wine is definitely distinctively different than white wine. The universe of red wine is full of characters. From the delicate Pinots to the strong, bold Zinfandels, the red wine petulant swings back and forth over a wide range of colors and flavors.
There are many reasons why red wines are thought to be superior or more complex than their counterpart, white, but what makes a red wine red? There's more than meets the eye. If the only difference between red wines and white wines were the color, wine drinkers wouldn't care whether they drank one or the other. In reality, the differences between white and red wine are far more than skin deep.
Thousands of different types of grapes in the world quality as wine grapes. All these grapes fall into one of two categories, according to the color of their skins: white or black.
Red wines are red because they are made from so-called red grapes (the reality is that these grapes are either purple or black.) During the winemaking process the pigmentation of the grapes skin colors the grape juice- and consequently the wine from that juice. Only red grapes can make red wine.
In addition for being responsible for the color of red wines, red grapeskins contribute certain flavors and texture characteristics to red wines. Red wines not only look completely different from white wines, but they also taste very different.
One substance that red wines take from their grapeskins is tannin. Tannin is a substance that exists in the skins of red grapes. Tannin is usually classified as a bitter or dry flavor. If used incorrectly, the wine can taste harsh and astringent from the tannin. The presence of tannin is the single most important difference between red and white wines. Some reds are naturally lower in tannin than others, but no matter what, all reds do contain some level of tannin.
Tannin is also responsible for that feeling behind the jaw and that dry feeling that is often contributed to red wines. It is a slightly acquired taste, but after many tastings, wine enthusiasts come to love and look forward to the whole mouth experience that the tannins give wine drinkers.
Take the time to sample as many red wines as you can. There are endless possibilities of taste, color and complete wine experiences. And what better thing to explore than wine?

Grape Season Means Making Wine At Home

It is Grape Season! One of my very favorite times of year. Why? Because we make wine at home!
My parents have made wine at home for many many years...As long as I can remember, actually.
Every grape season, we choose what kind of grapes we want to use, and order them early from a local grower. We usually make our wine with concord, Agawam, and Niagara grape varieties, but you may choose to use any type of grape you so desire. We pick up about 4 bushels of grapes, and use the grapes we grow in our garden...And it is a family affair.
We all get together to wash and "process" the grapes. Meaning we pick each and every grape off of the stems.
Then, the boys take it away - well, into the garage - to juice the grapes through a grape/wine press into a huge Rubbermaid-type pail/trash bin with a spout at the bottom.
The boys then drain the juice from the bin into boiling water sterilized demijohns.
A simple syrup made from 1/2 water, 1/2 sugar (~1 bag) boiled until the sugar is dissolved, is added to the juice, since we love sweet wine that tastes something like Port or Sherry.
We use a simple syrup because if you add pure sugar, it may not completely dissolve in the juice, and will sit at the bottom. Your wine will get sweeter and sweeter as you get to the bottom, probably to the point where it is no longer even enjoyable. So, please use a simple syrup.
If you like dry wine, don't add any extra sugar at all. The juice will have enough natural sugar in it to help it ferment, but it will take longer.
Some people add yeast, but we never do, and find this step unnecessary, as the juice will naturally ferment and does not really need any help. We also feel that it gives the wine a flavor that we do not particularly enjoy!
The demijohns are capped with a fermentation lock. This is filled with a little bit of water, and you can see the gases from fermentation bubbling.
Then, we wait only a few months, since we can never wait, and love the flavor of that this rough wine has. The extra sugar we added helps the fermentation process happen quicker. This wine tastes like luscious grape juice with a kick...sometimes a wallop, but it always tastes wonderful and fresh and fruity. My mother calls it "New Wine".
You never want to leave the wine in the demijohns for too long and let it ferment too far, as it will start to taste like vinegar. However, if you want to make red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar, then you are going in the right direction.
As you are waiting, I know you'll be tasting along the way. If the wine is not sweet enough for you, no problem, add some more simple syrup. If there is not enough room in the demijohn, get another one, or siphon off the juice, and enjoy that by itself, to leave room for adding the simple syrup.
From there, we either bottle it, by racking off the wine using a plastic siphoning hose, or we have even been known to leave it in the demijohns, since it gets used up quickly. Do your best not to siphon off the sediment from the bottom of the demijohn, where it has settled and collected.
The Sense Enhancing Wine Glass.I have friends from all over the globe, who talk about traveling to visit Canada, just to have the wine they so fondly remember and enjoyed, since we always have some around to serve to guests and to cook with. I prefer this wine over any wine I could buy at the liquor store.
You may use any kind of fruit to make wine. So, experiment and most of all, have fun doing it!

Learn How to Grow Grapes

How to grow grapes has been in our history dating back to almost the beginning of time. Every major country in the word has done some form of wine making, some better than others of course. If you learn the correct way of how to grow grapes and make wine then you will find it is well worth the time and effort it will take.
Before you had the idea to grow your own grapes, and to taste of the wine that it produced, you most likely never gave the whole process a thought. But now you have decided it is time. You want to be able to pick up a glass of your very own wine. The satisfaction that you will feel when you taste that first drop of wine that you made, is a driving force now. When you first learn how to grow grapes it is important to choose the right ones. There are two types of grapes that you can choose for your vineyard; the hardy hybrids and the European grape varieties.
Time-honored grape growing in areas like California most likely because of the growing season, use the European variety. Those people that live in an area with a short growing season would have to choose the hybrid grape to grow. Certain qualities are bred into the hybrid grape, such as; being able to grow in the cold and resistance to disease.
Grapes are perennial plants, which mean that it will take about three years before you can harvest from the grapevine. The most important part of the final product is in the grapevines themselves. This means that it is vital that you have a good growing site, with full access to sunlight and soil that is rich in nutrients. If you try to grow grapes in nutrient-poor soil, your vines will be stressed out dry and the grapes will lack fullness and be small.
An important factor to consider when you think of what type of grape to grow is whether you will want the result to be a white wine or a red wine.It is not quite as obvious as one would think. Most people believe, red grapes make red wine and green grapes make white wine. This is not always the truth of it; some red grapes can indeed make white wine. The skin of the grape is red and yet the inside is white and most wines are only made with the insides. So if you want a white wine do not use the skin. If you want a red wine then allow the fleshy inside to mix with the skin when it is being crushed. But this also means you cannot make a red wine from a green grape. White Zinfandel and most champagne are made with red grapes.
When you have waited, and the time for picking the grapes is finally at hand, remember that you can only pick and use grapes that are fully ripened and free of disease. If you have grown a hybrid grape then you should know that it is high in acidity and that you will need certain chemicals to bring the acidity level down to the right level before you can add the yeast. To ferment the grapes you add the yeast, there are many different kids so read up on them, as they will add certain flavor and characteristics to your wine. The process of fermentation takes about a week before it is ready to be aged. Aging can then take a few months to a few years depending. Once the wine is clear you can bottle it and again let it set for a few more months. It is a well known fact that the longer you allow your wine to age, the better it will be.
This process over time is well worth the effort. Once you learn how to grow grapes and get to the end with a bottle in your hand of your own signature wine, that is when your friends and family will sit and congratulate you for a job well done.

What's the Difference Between White Zinfandel and Rose?

If you are relatively new to the world of wine then you will probably have come across white Zinfandel wines and rose wines. The common misconception is that these wines are the same as they are roughly the same colour and some were called "Zinfandel" as a way to make them appear a bit more upmarket. The fact is they have different names because they are different.
So let's start with rose wine. It is made using the same grapes - ie red, purple and black- as red wine. When these grapes are crushed the juice produced is actually clear, and it is the pigments in the skin which give the wine it's colour. With rose wine the skin has very little contact with the juice, being removed very early in the fermentation process, between a few hours to a few days, so that the liquid is only lightly coloured. The skin is left in for much longer when making red wine, anything from several weeks to a few months. This also helps explain why red wine is supposedly better for you as most of the life-saving qualities are in the skin.
So what of Zinfandel? Well to begin with, Zinfandel isn't just a fancy name for a type of rose, it's actually the name of the grape used. Zinfandel grapes are red and were used to make red wine in Napa Valley, California, but in the 70's this particular wine became unpopular (white wine was becoming the trendy drink at that time). So as not to waste the Zinfandel grapes that were already growing the Sutter Home wine company decided to use the grapes to make their own brand of rose. Sweet white grapes such as Muscat are also added and give the wine an almost punch-like flavour.
So then, the real differences between rose and Zinfandel are that rose can be made from any grape used to make red wine and it still retains some of the varietal flavour peculiar to that specific grape.
Zinfandel wine almost exclusively comes from Napa Valley, is made with the Zinfandel grape plus some white grapes and is very sweet compared to the dryness of a good rose. It doesn't retain it's varietal flavours the way a traditional rose does.
The bottom line then, is that Zinfandel could technically be called a rose, a rose is not Zinfandel.
And just a footnote to anyone who thought rose was a mixture of red and white wines (as I once did, I admit). Try making some in this way. It will be neither rose nor very drinkable!

How Do You Make Red Wine Vinegar?

Fortunately the first thing you need to know about how to make red wine vinegar is that the red wine part is already done. Go to the store and buy 4 bottles of your favorite red wine. If you like a sweet red wine vinegar - buy a sweet red wine. If you like a dry. . .well you get the picture.
That's the easy part. In fact, if you're reading this because you have a dinner party tonite and you want to serve some homemade red wine vinegar, then call your local farmer's market because you won't be done with this red wine vinegar recipe for about 4 more months.
Now you need to buy a wooden barrel or a crock. Once you do that, pour two of the bottlesof wine in and set them aside, covered with a cheese cloth for 3 months. Pick an airy spot that is not too hot, not too cold and a place it where the crock won't get knocked around. Before you set it aside, add 1 jar of Mycoderma Aceti, that's the bacteria that's going to further ferment the wine.
3 months from now a top should have already started forming. It's not a pleasant looking top, a bit greyish and a bit leathery. Once it has formed, go ahead and add a glass of wine to the mix each week. Keep doing this until this 'top' which is actually called a "Mother" sinks to the bottom.
Once the Mother sinks, strain the red wine vinegar through many coffee filters. At this point it is done and ready to be used, but some people let it age longer. The longer it ages, the mellower it will get. I'd suggest letting it age in a wooden barrel - let the flavors sink in.

Red Wine Vinegar is not hard to make like a soufflé, but it does take patience and time, and you'll likely have to make a few batches until it's perfect for you.

Grapes That Make the Best Wine

The wine making process can make wine out of any fruit that contains residual sugar after harvesting. I can guarantee that many of these wines will have some alcohol in them, but most will not be very tasty since they are usually sweet and poorly balanced. The grape has emerged as the champion wine making fruit over the years because it contains the highest sugar of most other fruits and yields about 11 percent alcohol. The tartaric acid and tannins found exclusively in grapes is responsible for its unique tastes. There probably is also a little snob appeal since grapes have royal origins, and fruit wines are more associated with home brews during prohibition.
The variety of grape is the most important factor in your wine's style and taste. Of course red grapes make red wine and white grapes make white wine, but many other factors such as levels of sugar, acidity, and tannins make a huge difference in taste. The varieties discussed below have proven over the years to make the best wine and are the most popular. Any new research in developing new vines looks at tweaking these varieties to be more disease resistant, more productive, and to grow in colder climates. Most of these wines originated in Europe, but now are planted around the world in temperate climates.
Top White Wines

• The Chardonnay grape variety is a classic white wine grape grown all around the world. Origins are in the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France. It makes a full bodied, complex wine that is often aged in oak.
• The Sauvignon Blanc grape from Loire and Bordeaux can be grown in warmer regions and are higher in acid that most whites. It is often identified by its grassy flavor, and is often called Fume Blanc.
• The Pinot Blanc grape is used to produce light, dry, pleasant white wines. It originated in Alsace region of France.
• The Pinot Gris grape variety is known as Pinot Grigio in Italy and Rulander in Germany. In general it produces wines of average quality except in Alsace and Tuscany.
• Riesling makes wines from very dry to very sweet but are usually made in semi-dry styles that accent the fruity flavors. They are originally form the Moselle and Rhine valleys of Germany as and the Alsace region of France.
• Gewurztraminer originated in Germany and Alsace and is known for its floral fragrance and spicy flavor. It grows well in cool climates..
• The Viognier grape from the Rhone valley is becoming more popular as more is planted in California. It makes wines of medium body with a fruity flavor..
• Chenin Blanc is a white grape from the Loire Valley (Vouvray). It makes white wines that are fragrant and high in acid, and is often used as a base for jug wine.
• The Muscat family makes wines that are generally sweet and very floral. It is known as Moscato in Italy and Moscatel in Spain and also is often used for sparkling wines.

Top Red Wines

• The premier red wine grape is Cabernet Sauvignon and is the dominant grape in the Bordeaux region of France. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape produces distinctive wines that are tannic and full bodied. They are always barreled in oak and may age for up to 10 years in the bottle..
• The Merlot grape is very similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but makes a wine lower in tannins that matures faster and is softer in texture. Merlot is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to make the famous "Bordeaux Blend" which is know as Meritage in the US.
• Pinot Noir is the top wine in the Burgundy region of France. It is also a major grape in most fine quality Champagne and sparkling wines. It low in tannin and relatively high in acid and produces a medium body wine with exceptional flavor.
• Known as Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia, this grape originated in Persia. It produces full bodied wines of intense color and flavor.
• Zinfandel's origin is unknown and it is grown almost exclusively in California. It probably arrived in the US from Italy or Croatia. This grape makes solid red wines with good fruit and structure. It was popular with home winemakers during prohibition and were the only vines that survived those "dark ages".
• Sangiovese is the primary grape grown in Italy's Tuscany and is used to make Chianti. Sangiovese wines are spicy, have a smooth texture, medium body and good acid levels,.
• Barbera is a red wine grape grown mostly in Italy. It has some of the flavor characteristics you would find in Cabernet Sauvignon but with higher acid levels
• Cabernet Franc is a grape most often used in Bordeaux blends to add acidity and aroma. It is lighter and fruitier than Cabernet Sauvignon and was first planted in the Loire region of France.
• Carignane grapes are widely planted throughout the world. They originated in Spain and grow well in Mediterranean climates. Wines are full bodied with strong fruit and tannin characteristics.
• The Gamay grape started in the Beaujolais region of France. These wines are light, low in alcohol, high in acidity and very fruity. They should not be aged very long
• Grenache grapes are a sweet grape that started in the Rhone valley. It is one of the most popular because its wines are fruity, full in flavor, and have overtones of spice. It is often the base for jug wines.