Signature Wines Wine Basics    

Wine is no longer for the rich and famous.  Learning about wine should be an enjoyable journey of discovery. No one is born a wine connoisseur. The first step for increasing an appreciation and understanding of wine is remembering what you drink. Establish some basic standards by which you appreciate and judge wine. Let these standards be your own, based on your tasting. 

Basic Wine Terms

apéritif - a small alchoholic drink taken to stimulate the appetite before a meal.  Also called apéritif wine (a wine served as an appetizer or cocktail)
 
 
 
 
 
appellation - a name, title, or designation.  A protected name under which a wine may be sold, indicating the grapes used are of a specific kind from a specific district.
 
cuvee - wine in vats or casks, blended from different vintages for uniform quality.  A blend resulting from the mixing of wines.
 
vino - wine.  The fermented juice of fresh grapes
 

Color and Varietals

Wine is made in many varieties, such as red, white, or pink (rose), and dry, medium, or sweet in style, and usually has an alcohol content of 5 to 14 percent.  White wines darken as they age and red wines become paler. 

 

Red Grape Varieties 

Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dolcetto, Gamay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot,Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel

 

White Grape Varieties 

Chardonnay, Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Viognier

 

Wine Labels

 
Reading and understanding wine labels can be a challenge.  We want you to feel confident decoding wine labels at your next wine tasting.  Click here for Wine Labels 101 and get the knowledge you need to decode wine labels.  
 
Storing Wine
The ideal temperature for wine storage is 50°F to 55°F (10°C to 12°C).  Choose a well ventilated, dry room, free from light and odors (onions, paint, cleaning supplies), in the coolest part of your house.  All bottles should be stored lying on their sides to keep the corks from drying out.  There are also wine coolers that hold as few as six bottles.  This will assist in maintaining the proper storage conditions.
 
Serving Wine
There are several glasses that are recommended for each wine, but as a minimum the glass should be clear and big enough to fill the bottom 1/3 of the glass.  They should flare inwards to preserve the wines aroma.

Decanting wine is simply the technique of pouring wine from one container into another.  Wine is decanted to separate wine from sediment that has formed in the bottle over time and for aeration.  Young wine benefits from contact with air.   Open and decant red wines at least an hour or so before serving.