Chardonnay is a white wine made from a green skinned variety of grapes. The flavors associated with a Chardonnay are terroir and oak. It is considered to be a neutral wine, light in flavor. Many of the places around the world known for producing Chardonnay include France, Burgundy, Champagne, North America, California, Australia, Italy, and the New World Wine Regions.

There are many types of Chardonnay from dry still wines and sweet late harvest wines. If a Chardonnay has not gone through a malolactic fermentation the wine will have an apple flavor. The harder the malic acid is when it is converted through fermentation it will have a more buttery flavor.

The oak is also charred to a certain degree which introduces a toastiness flavor. Many wine tasters mistake this flavor to the grapes but it is from the charring of the oak. Some of the flavors that Chardonnay can taste like due to the charring of the oak include coconut, cinnamon, cloves, spice, smoke, cream, caramel, and vanilla.

When Chardonnay is fermented it also affects the flavor of the wine. For instance, the colder the fermentation process is the more fruity the wine tastes. These flavors include mango and pineapple. Some wineries also use yeast that is specially cultivated which gives the wines an aromatic quality.

Chardonnay is the most difficult wine to recognize in a blind tasting because there is not a distinct universal trait or style that is directly applied to the wine. There are many different flavors, blends, and more. Not all Chardonnays have a smoky note to them either.

Merlot

Merlot is made primarily from the Vitis vinifera species. The many wines associated with a merlot include the Bouchet, Bouche, Petit-Bouchet, Petit-Cabernet, Petit-Vidure, Vidure and Sauvignon Rouge. The origin of the wine is from the Bordeaux grape. It is also thought to be produced from a mutated grape from Biturica. Merlot is a red wine. The word is French and means many kinds of thrushes.

Merlot is produced in France, Italy, California, Romania, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, South Africa, Croatia, Hungary, and more. The role of Merlot is to add body and softness. Some blends have a sweet taste and it is most commonly noted for the balanced acid levels.

Scott Wells writes for http://MakeChristmasCrafts.com where you can learn to Make Christmas Crafts just in time for the holiday season.

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If you’re a fan of wine and live in Austin, Texas there is a lot for you to be happy about. The area is home to two excellent wine bars/restaurants, a unique wine store that offers tasting lessons and a yearly festival that lets locals experience all that wine country has to offer.

First on the list is the Uncorked Tasting room & Wine Bar. It’s located at  900 East 7th Street and is open 3 p.m. to midnight on week days and 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. They offer a selection of 127 wines from 13 different countries, with something to suit all budgets. If you’re in the mood for sampling several different wines at once try the wine flights, which have a separate menu. These orders come with a sample of three different wines all with a card to help you identify which is which. This is a terrific way to become exposed to something new. They offer a full dinner menu with reasonably priced meals.

Vino Vino is another local spot that is passionate about wine. It offers a store, a wine bar and a restaurant. It’s located at 4119 Guadalupe Street just north of campus. The retail store is open on Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The bar serves guests on Monday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and on Sunday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is open on Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. It’s a small venue but perfect for getting a glass of your favorite wine and a nice meal. When you shop at the retail store you should know that you can get 15% off two bottles or more so it’s a great time to stock up your at home wine cabinet.

For an education in wine, look no further than the Grapevine Market. Located at 7938 Great Northern Boulevard it features Grapevine University, weekend classes on wine tasting of all types. The folks at Grapevine Market love to share their passion for wine and for $10 per class, you’ll be able to become passionate about it too. The hour long wine tasting seminars are held on Saturdays and upcoming classes include Central Italy, Burgundy and Champagne and Sparkling Wine.

If traveling from winery to winery is more your speed, don’t miss out on the Texas Wine Trails. These special events are self guided tours through Texas Hill Country and includes 24 different wineries. The Texas Wine Month trail lasts all of October. Your ticket to the event entitles you to one to three free tastes of wine. Tickets are $35 per person and $60 per couple. You’ll also receive a recipe collection of the top dishes from the wineries once you visit 14 wineries, and you’re entered in a Texas Wine Month raffle.

As you can see, when it comes to wine, Austin is the place to be!

Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas Realtor and Round Rock real estate can be found on the net.

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The history of the wine business has always been about barriers – the distance between the passionate winemaker and the enthusiastic consumer. Some of the best wine stories have never been told and some of the best wines never get through the system to the consumers that would appreciate them the most. Barclay’s Wine changed this sad history. This wine store knows how to find great wines – whether it is a lively new world white or a complex red wine from a prestigious European vineyard – at tremendous values, and delivers them to the consumers.

Click Here For Barclays Wine Instant Access Now!

The team never gets tired of searching great wines and hearing the amazing stories that are part of each one. It believes that this pursuit of the best wines is an unending education, complicated wonderfully by vintage changes, winemaker philosophies, and the fact that the wine in the bottle is a living and changing entity. All the wines are selected from affiliate wineries that share in the passion for great wine.

Barclay’s Wine is about passion. It’s about discovering new treasures and delivering them to the world. These wines are designed to fit the budget and interest of all wine enthusiasts. Barclay’s is focused on its clients, making sure that they get exactly what they want. Not only does it provide great wines at amazing values, but it also provides endless options to its clients.

Moreover, customers are given excellent customer service. Barclay’s offers efficient and accurate resolution to ensure that its members get what they want. Also, its team of knowledgeable people aims to beat whatever expectations the customers have so that you will never have to pay for a wine that you don’t like.

Barclay’s Wine exists not to make the wine or write the story. It exists to simply be the conduit that will allow the winemaker and the consumer to meet.

Click Here For Barclays Wine Instant Access Now!

This author writes about Wine Deals Online and Discount Wine Store.

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Australia has become a world leader in domestic and exported wine. What began as a few vineyard cuttings over 200 years ago has now flourished into an amazing industry – the fourth largest in the world!
Australia exports over 450 million litters of wine each year across the globe. The burgeoning wine industry has been an economic boon for the country. Not only have the +2,000 vineyards provided jobs, wineries have increased employment in other areas and improved tourism as visitors come to Australia to tour local wineries.

Australia’s wine is considered to be some of the most exquisite and delicious wine produced in the world, but it took many decades to reach that point.

The First Cuttings

Grapes are not native to Australia. The first vineyard cuttings were brought into the country when Australia still served as a penal colony. In 1788 Governor Phillips attempted to harvest the grapes for personal use but his efforts failed.

Fortunately, others succeeded where the governor failed. In the following years Australia began to see an influx of settlers who began to attempt to cultivate grapes using new processes. This is seen as the true beginning of Australia’s wine industry.

By 1820 the first winemakers in Australia were offering their products for sale inside the country. It was very
popular and quite chic to be one of the first to sample ‘home-grown’ or domestic Australian wine in the early part of the 19th century.

Across the Pond

In 1822 Gregory Blaxland burst onto the Australian wine scene and changed it forever. Mr. Blaxland was the first Australian vintner to attempt to export his product. He did so with great success and even garnered rewards, including the first award ever awarded to an Australian wine in an overseas exposition.

After Mr. Blaxland set Australia’s name on the winemaking map its popularity began to grow worldwide. In the mid 19th century a bottle of Australian wine was sent by ship to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.

One of the best known and oft related stories in wine history concerns an Australian wine. In 1873 at the Vienna Exposition judges tasted wine from different countries without knowing which country the wine was from. This is called a blind tasting. A French judge pronounced his favour upon an Australian wine but immediately withdrew in protest once he was made aware of the provenance of the wine. His reason? Only a French wine could be of such a high quality!

More settlers flooded into the country and found opportunities in the winemaking industry. The first vineyards were mainly backyard operations but with the new manpower and fortunes of the recent arrivals entirely new winemaking regions were identified, improving the country’s winemaking operations.

An Unfortunate Event

The Australian wine industry was devastated in the 1890’s by an epidemic of phylloxera. This is a plight similar to aphids that completely destroys all vegetation. Vineyards around the country were destroyed.

The country worked for many decades to rebuild their wine industry. It struggled for years on sweet and fortified wines. But, in the late 1970’s production was once again up and running at world leader standards.

A True World Leader

The most popular wine in Australia would have to be the Penfolds Grange. This incredible wine has won many competitions through the years. The 1955 vintage was allowed to age until 1962 before being submitted to competitions. Since that time it has won over 50 gold medals.

A wonderful wine culture has emerged in Australia. Wine bars, and boutique wineries are found around the continent and very popular with all ages. Locals and tourists enjoy holidays at Australian wineries where they can tour the winery and see the wine being made. Australia also is home to several large wine events including Taste Australia and the Margaret River Wine Region Festival.

No matter where you are in Australia you will find grapes being grown for winemaking. The main wineries are found in the south, in Victoria, and in New South Wales because of the cooler climate. But, even visitors to the hot centre of Alice Springs will find a local winery to cool things off.

Discover new wines and learn about wine with our free wine lessons. Buy wine online at Wine.

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To keep wine from becoming spoiled winemakers sometimes add preservatives. In fact, if preservatives are not added to wine it will only last six months to a year. Preservatives are added to keep wine from turning to vinegar and several types of preservatives are used in the winemaking process.

Two natural preservatives result from the grapes and the fermenting process – alcohol and tannins. These preservatives are excellent for extending the life of wine and kill off most organisms as very few can live in alcohol.

The most popular added preservative is sulphur dioxide. This is an anti-oxidant and a sterilizing agent that prevents organisms from growing in wine. It also prevents wine from turning into vinegar. This occurs by forming a barrier between oxygen and the wine, not allowing them to interact.

If the Romans Can Do It…

Sulphur has long been used as a preservative. In ancient times the Romans broke sulphur into small pieces and burned it before adding the pieces to wine. It also has a long history as a food preservative since the early 18th century.

White wines normally have more sulphur dioxide because they are sweeter. Sweet wines contain more sugar and ferment at a higher rate, resulting in a need for more sulphites.

Other common preservatives include 220 sodium dioxide, 220 sodium bisulphite, and 223 sodium meta- bisulphite. As with sulphur dioxide, these sulphites are regulated as to the amount that can be added to wine.

Why the Aging Process Needs Preserving

Preservatives added to wine depend on several factors. There are many things that can take place at the winery or during harvesting that lessen the amount of preservatives needed. For example, careful harvesting of grapes will keep them from being damaged. That is why some of the best vineyards pick grapes by hand.

It is very important to time the harvest process correctly. The time between the harvesting of the grapes and the time the grapes arrive at the winery is critical. Less of a time interval at this stage means less opportunity for bacteria growth and less need for pesticides.

Cooling processes are necessary. All wineries must have temperature sensitive cooling equipment in order to keep grapes at the proper temperature during the winemaking process. This is especially important when the grapes are being crushed.

Winemakers use a special filter to remove organisms from the wine. This filter acts as a screening device. The filtration system is used before the wine is boiled during the winemaking process.

Cleanliness is Next to…Great Wine!

A clean winery is important for preserving wine. Winemakers strive to keep their facilities as clean as possible in order to keep bacteria to a minimum. This keeps other harmful items from entering the wine at anytime during the winemaking process. Common logic says that the cleaner the winery, the less preservatives needed to keep harmful microbes at bay.

The cleanliness of winemaking facilities has lead to the theory that overall, cheaper wines have a higher sulphur count than higher quality wines. This is due to the clean conditions of high end wineries and the high expectations of their customers.

A preservative free wine does not exist. Many people are confused over terminology and feel that a wine must be preservative free in order to be organic. The preservatives added to wine have nothing to do with its organic status.

An organic wine is produced using harvesting methods that are eco-friendly. In addition, certain of the winemaking processes may also be eco-friendly but the adding of preservatives does not make a wine non-organic.

Do not concern yourself with the safety of sulphites in wine. The preservatives are not harmful and even allergies to sulphites are extremely rare. As mentioned before, no wine is entirely sulphite free. Even if sulphite is not added during the winemaking process the grapes themselves produce a small natural amount.

Discover new wines and learn about wine with our free wine lessons. Buy wine online at Buy Wine Online.

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The first thing you are going to see is the name of the winery. There really isn’t much to it other than the creativity of the winery when it came up with a name when it first started. That being said, watch out for names that are close to something that might also be seen as a bit of a misrepresentation.

The next information to be provided should be the vintage of the wine in question. The vintage is simply a reference to the year the grapes were grown. Ah, but this doesn’t mean that 100 percent of the wine in the bottle comes from grapes grown in the year indicated. A winery in an AVA region can have 5 percent filler grapes, while a lesser appellation can have up to 15 percent. That’s rather sizeable and suggests that AVA region wineries produce higher quality wines.

The next indication on the label should be the type of wine. A label might read “Chardonnay” for instance. As with the vintage, this does not mean 100 percent of the wine in the bottle is the indicated type. Varietal wines must have 75 of the type indicated, but the percentage drops with other wine variations.

The label may next indicate a specific vineyard. Importantly, you want to look for the actual word “vineyard”. Why? This indicates that at least 95 percent of the grapes used for the wine in the bottle came from the vineyard. Wines without vineyard on the label have no such requirement and can be severely mixed.

The final bit of information you may see on the label is “contains sulfites”. This is a government required warning that must be on the label if sulfites are indeed present. Sulfites are a byproduct of the wine production process. A very small number of people can be allergic to them, but massively so. Thus the reason for the warning.

Understanding how to read wine labels is important because it allows you to grasp what you are really buying. Only then can you really choose a wine that meets your preferences.

Thomas Ajava writes for NomadJournals.com – where you can buy wine journals that make great wine gifts.

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When it comes to wine, there is never a dumb question. When you are learning about wine, it is best to ask as many questions as possible. Recently, while on a wine tour, I overheard the woman next to me ask if Burgundy was a grape or a region. Her wine tasting companion chimed in ‘well of course it is a grape’ just as the vintner was answering her question ‘it is a region-and all great Burgundian reds are pinot noir-all whites are chardonnay.’ Needless to say, the wine tasting ‘companion’ turned a true shade of red!

I have been on many a wine tour, and each time I venture into wine tasting, I learn something new.  I make it a point to write questions in advance, which in turn prepares me for the wine tour.

My original image of the wine connoisseur is of the person having their nose buried in a glass, inhaling deeply.   Part of the essence of wine tasting, is indeed ‘sniffing’ the wine you are tasting, to appreciate the full effect.  The human tongue can only detect the five basic tastes.  The human nose can pick up on over a million scents.  By smelling, you can determine if the wine is ‘corked’, meaning it has a fault.  There are numerous common faults in wine.  Ask your vintner what would be a common fault.  There are many, and he will make suggestions on what to look for.

Swirling is good and perhaps you have seen many servers swirling wine in a glass, round and round.  By swirling wine, you release the fragrance in the wine.  A good way to start, is by practicing with water in your glass.  This will avoid any mishaps with red wine splashing over.  While swirling your wine, this is a good time to take notice of the color and clarity.

Take a small sip; swish it around the mouth and focus on the flavor or combination of flavors.  Are there any familiar tastes-such as vanilla, raspberry or blackberry?

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of decanted wine was?  When I was a child, I always thought that my mother was serving wine in a decanter to be fancy.  I did not realize that decanting wine does help improve the wine.  You can serve the identical wine, side by side and have the outcome be noticeably different.  Decanted wine helps, especially with the less expensive bottles of wine.  It will make the wine smoother, better balanced and appear ‘older’.

Wine tasting is one of the best ways to learn all about wine.   By visiting the many wineries, especially those in Temecula Valley, you will meet the vintners firsthand, and learn all about their particular wines.  There are so many wineries that are knowledgeable.  It is the best way to talk about wine with those who really love the subject.   They will discuss how their wine is made, what types of grapes are used to produce their particular wine and the history of the grape.   Finally, part of the fun of wine tasting is to share it with friends and family.  Sharing wine is the most sociable thing.  Whether you have an enjoyable time going on a wine tour together, or enjoy a bottle at dinner-a good wine is a great thing to share!

Michele McNeal has written many articles about wine. She lives in Southern California with her family. http://www.execvipshuttle.com/temecula-wine-tasting-tours.htm

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Argentina now stands proudly in the top five of the world’s biggest wine producers. It has a high consumption within the country itself. Argentines are very fond of red wine to go with their high consumption of local red meat, and exports have risen over the years, making it one of the world’s most exciting New World wine regions. Initially, wine making was introduced to the country by the Spanish, but the industry has been influenced by immigrants such as Italians and Germans, whose love of viticulture has transformed the Argentine wine making methods and helped make it a successful Export business.

Argentine winemakers have traditionally been more interested in quantity than quality and the country consumes 90% of the wine it produces. Until the early 1990s, Argentina produced more wine than any other country outside Europe, however the majority of it was considered of low quality and consequently unexportable. The realisation that wine could be a valuable export for the country has consequently meant that there have been significant advances in quality. Argentine wines started being exported during the 1990s, and are currently growing in popularity. This popularity of Argentine wine has lead to an increase in tourism as foodies and wine tourists venture further and further afield to see where their favourite wines and food originates from. Wine tourism in Argentina has become big business. The past years have seen the birth of numerous tourist-friendly wineries with free tours and tastings. Some wineries even provide accommodation and include meals or traditional food evenings for tourists interested in staying in boutique hotels specifically oriented towards wine-tourism. The Mendoza Province is now one of Argentina’s top tourist destinations and the one which has grown the most in the past years.

The most important wine regions of the country are located in the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan (Cuyo region), and La Rioja. Salta, Catamarca, Río Negro and more recently Southern Buenos Aires are also wine producing regions. The Mendoza Province produces more than 60% of the Argentine wine.

Because of the extensive history of wine making in the region, Argentina has seen the evolution of many local grape varieties, including Torrontes (white wine), Malbec (red wine) and Corbeau (also red). Malbec was originally called Auxerrois and was bought to Argentinia by the French. Malbec is now the favoured Argentine variety, and it has also been found to be the most successfully exported variety. In addition to local grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and other international favourites are becoming more widely planted, but some varieties are cultivated characteristically in certain areas.

For a great range of Argentinian wines, or just to browse wine in general, it is a good idea to consult an independent online wine retailer.

The Wineries & Wine-Making Industry report, published annually by Barnes Reports, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics. The report features 2010 current and 2011 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) nationally and for all 50 U.S. States and over 900 metro areas. New to the report this year are: financial ratios, number of firms and payroll estimates. The report also includes industry definition, 5-year historical trends on industry sales, establishments and employment, a breakdown of establishments, sales and employment by employee size of establishment (9 categories), and estimates on up to 10 sub-industries, including brandies and wine coolers.

Table of Contents :

Users’ Guide

Industry Definition and Related Industries

Industry Establishments

Sales and Employment Trends

Financial Ratios

Establishments

Firms and Payroll

Sub-Industries – 2009 Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

Sub-Industries – 2009 Estimated Number of Establishments

Sub-Industries – 2009 Estimated Number of Employees

5-Year Trend – Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

5-Year Trend – Estimated Number of Establishments

5-Year Trend – Estimated Number of Employees

2010 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Number of Establishments

2010 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

2010 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Number of Employees

2011 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Number of Establishments

2011 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

2011 U.S. Metropolitan Areas – Estimated Number of Employees

2010 U.S. States – Estimated Number of Establishments

2010 U.S. States – Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

2010 U.S. States – Estimated Number of Employees

2011 U.S. States – Estimated Number of Establishments

2011 U.S. States – Estimated Industry Sales ($Millions)

2011 U.S. States – Estimated Number of Employees

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The word Wine itself is sufficient to arouse the passion in us to lay our hands onto and if it is from Canada which is one of the finest producers of wines especially the Ice wines, one cannot afford to lose the opportunity of tasting the mouth-watering wine. Canada today is predominantly known as a wine producing nation that has challenged even the well established players in mastering the art of producing great wines.
There are hundreds of wineries in Canada which are increasing in numbers rapidly to produce wines of superior quality and taste. Wine is produced mainly in 9 regions of Canada namely Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, out of which, Niagara Peninsula of Ontario and Okanagan Valley of British Columbia are the largest wine-producing regions.
Canadian Wines can be classified on the basis of grapes from which they are made and come in White and Red varieties coupled with varied wine styles prevailing in Canada such as Table wines, Sparkling wines and Dessert wines.  Table wines of white variety include Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, etc while wines of Red variety are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir and Bordeaux Style Blends. In Sparkling Wines, Riesling and Pinot Noir belong to white variety while Gamay noir belongs to Red one. Ice wines, most famous of all dessert wines come in Vidal, Riesling and Cabernet Franc Variety.
Ice wines from Canada, known for their rich taste and texture, are regarded as the most authentic ice wines and Canada has been labeled as the premium producer of Ice wines in the world.
Having talked about wines, the importance of food cannot be negated as both offer the perfect combination to satisfy the senses. Matching the wine with the right food is capable of providing immense pleasure and boosts your appetite as well. The pairing is such that if separated, it will spoil the excitement and leave you unsatisfied.
If by now, you are also looking forward to experience the delightful combination of Wine and food, then Peller Estates is your best guide. It offers you a wide range of wines from its wineries along with informing on the choice of food that you should make while consuming wines to have an everlasting impression. You can even visit the wineries to get the most memorable Wine tasting experience and food tips to gain the art of pairing.
Peller Estates also has Winery Restaurant and wine Club to provide a comfortable experience to all wine lovers. In addition, you can get the necessary information related to wines, food recipes, membership, etc on their website, www.peller.com .

The word Wine itself is sufficient to arouse the passion in us to lay our hands onto and if it is from Canada which is one of the finest producers of wines especially the Ice wines, one cannot afford to lose the opportunity of tasting the mouth-watering wine. Canada today is predominantly known as a wine producing nation that has challenged even the well established players in mastering the art of producing great wines.

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