Good Australian Wines

Some Australian wines have become highly prized for their excellence and are sought after not just for their taste but for their potential as investments. The most well-known is the Penfolds Grange and this and some of the other classic Australian wines are discussed in this article.

Penfolds is a South Australian winery based in the Barossa Valley. Penfolds Grange is considered the definitive red wine in Australia and since 1951 it has been a model of style and consistency. It is based on Barossa shiraz with some cabernet sauvignon. It has won a host of medals and trophies in major wine Shows and was a well-kept secret until 1995, when the 1990 vintage was awarded Wine of the Year by the American magazine Wine Spectator. This has helped take the price of 1990 Grange from $100.00 per bottle to over $500.00

Penfolds Limited Bin Reds are also highly regarded. Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon is a multi-region blend matured in American oak which represents the pick of the South Australian crop.

Henschke is a small South Australian winery with old vine plantings in Eden Valley as well as some relatively modern plantings in the Adelaide Hills. Henschke?s Hill of Grace and Henschke?s Mount Edelstone are both classic shiraz wines. Hill of Grace first vintaged in 1958.It is generally regarded as Australia’s most sought after wine after Grange. This single vineyard wine is produced from old low yielding vines, producing a full bodied complex wine which marries firmness with velvet like fineness with optimum drinking ranging from fifteen to twenty five years. Mount Edelstones first vintage was in 1952 with consecutive vintages, this full bodied wine has consistently been a medal and trophy winner at major Australian and International wine shows. Ideal drinking ranges from ten to twenty years.

Wynns winery is located at Coonawarra in South Australia. Wynn?s John Riddoch and Wynn?s Cabernet Sauvignon are both regarded as classic cabernet sauvignons. John Riddoch was first made in 1982 and is only produced in good years, a full bodied powerful wine with pronounced French oak character. Ideal drinking ranges from fifteen to twenty five years. Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced in 1952. This would be one the best value wines in Australia, offering the consumer a wine ready to drink upon release. It is also a wine with good ageing qualities from ten to twenty years, with a good vintage.

Lindemans in South Australia has two classic wines with St George and Limestone Ridge. Lindemans St George is a cabernet sauvignon . Theyfirst started making this wine in the early 1970’s with the most famous being the 1980 vintage winning the 1981 Jimmy Watson Trophy. A medium to full bodied wine ideal for drinking after eight to fifteen years. Limestone Ridge is an excellent example of a shiraz cabernet blend with shiraz being the dominant grape. A consistent medal and trophy winner on the wine show circuit. This is ideal for drinking after eight to fifteen years.

Other classics include Mount Mary cabernets and chardonnay, Seppelts Dorrien Cabernet and Great Western shiraz and Hardys Eileen Shiraz and Eileen Chgardonnay.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Australian Wine Growing Regions#/TITLE#

Each?states best wine regions in Australia.

Australia is a large country with a wide range of climates and soil types. This allows us to produce all of the major wine types; red wines, white wines, fortified wines, sweet dessert wines and sparkling wines.

The main wine producing regions of Australia are located in the cooler south east of the country. There are about 60 wine-producing regions located across the country, with vineyards in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales producing most of Australia’s wine. However, wine is produced in every one of the six states and two territories.

South Australia produces most of Australia?s wines and also has some of the oldest grape vines in the world. Vines in the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills survived a great phylloxera disease that wiped out vines in Europe and North America, and later the eastern vineyards of Australia. The State has a diversity of soils and climatic zones and there are seventeen different wine growing regions.The major wine growing regions of South Australia are the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, the Riverland, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and Padthaway.

Victoria’s wine history goes back to 1838 and Victoria was the premier wine State in Australia until the spread of phylloxera. There are more than 20 wine growing regions in Victoria,with the major regions being Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Goulburn Valley, Bendigo and Rutherglen.

New South Wales was the first State in Australia to be colonised by Europeans and is Australia?s oldest wine growing region. It has an extremely diverse range of climates and is home to around a dozen different wine regions. The major wine growing regions of New South Wales are the Hunter Valley, Mudgee and the Riverina.

Western Australia is Australia?s largest state and has the country’s most isolated wine regions in its southwest corner. Since 1970 the area has undergone many changes with many new regions coming into existence. This region has become known for Sauvignon Blancs, Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandel. The major wine growing regions of Western Australia are Swan Valley, Margaret River and Great Southern.

The island state of Tasmania has a cool climate. It is ideally suited for the production of superb sparkling wine from classic varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tasmania also produces crisp, delicately flavoured bottled wines from Riesling, Gew?rztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are noted for naturally balanced acidity and finesse.

Queensland has generally been regarded as too close to the tropics and too hot to produce quality wines. However, vineyard developments are steadily on the increase, with vineyards requiring a high altitude site to compensate for the hot climate. Queensland only produces a small amount of wine compared with the other States and boasts the closest vineyard to the equator. The two wine regions in Queensland are the Granite Belt and South Burnett.

Australian Capital Territory

The Canberra Wine Region comprises the Australian Capital Territory and the surrounding area of New South Wales. The cooler climate of the Canberra District is renowned for it’s consistently performing white varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling. Most of the vineyards are young, having been established since 1990.

In the dry red heart of the Australian continent, the Northern Territory boasts a boutique vineyard and winery, the Chateau Hornsby, located 15 kilometres from Alice Springs.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Barossa Valley Wine Growing Region#/TITLE#

The best wines?of the Barossa Valley.

The Barossa Valley in South Australia is Australia’s best-known wine region, both nationally and internationally. It is located 70km north of Adelaide and is South Australia’s most visited tourist destination. It was originally named the Barrosa Valley by Colonel Light , after the “Hill of Roses” region in Spain where he fought in the Spanish Peninsula War. The name Barossa was a corruption due to the general illiteracy of the times. The Barossa Valley started developing as a wine centre in the late 1830s when German Lutherans came to the newly founded colony of South Australia to escape religious persecution.

Australia’s oldest vineyard is planted at the Langmeil Winery in the Barossa, one of the earliest established in the region. Well-known wine producers such as Jacobs Creek, Penfolds, Yalumba, Yaldara, Wolf Blass, Seppelts, Peter Lehmann, and Saltram are based in the Barossa Valley and are among the eighty-plus wineries and around five hundred grape growers that contribute to the wine industry of the region.

The climate has hot summers, high sunshine and low humidity. The soil has a low level of fertility which tends to produce low yields of high quality grapes. The main varieties grown are Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mouvedre, Merlot, Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay.

Shiraz

The Barossa Valley is best known for its Shiraz which is renowned throughout the world as one of the best. Nearly every Barossa Valley winery produces a Shiraz or Shiraz blend. They are produced from Australia?s oldest Shiraz vines, which are low yielding. The style is full bodied, dark in colour, rich in dark red fruits with a touch of dark chocolate, a hint of roasted character and sometimes eucalypt as well as minty characteristics. The structure is round and velvety, and the wines are almost invariably extremely long lived.

Grenache

Like the Shiraz, Barossa Grenache vines are some of the oldest in Australia. Hundreds of hectares were lost during the Vine-Pull of the 1980?s, and what was left was chiefly used to make fortified wines. Old Vine Grenache is highly sought after and highly prized.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernets from the Barossa are strong and rich in flavour and colour. Most winemakers from the Barossa blend this variety with Cabernets from the cooler regions such as Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Eden Valley to add elegance and longevity.

Mouvedre

This classic French varietal was saved from the Vine Pull of the 1980s for much the same reason as the Grenache - to supply the long-established fortified wine industry. Old vine Mourvedre now attracts high prices.

Riesling

MostBarossa Valley wineries produce a Riesling. The style has strong? passionfruit, tropical fruits and lime flavours. Citrus and floral characters dominate the nose with a refreshing acidity to add texture to this elegant style of wine which ages well if given the opportunity.

Semillon

Semillon is often regarded as the king of the Barossan whites. These wines tend to be slightly oaked to add body, complexity and colour.

Chardonnay

The climatic variations throughout the region mean that full-bodied and full-flavoured wines can be produced from grapes grown on the Barossa Valley floor or the lower foothills, while the high hill and southern end fruit tends to be produced as a crisp light bodied style.

Fortifieds

Port and Sherry styles dominated the grape-wine industry before table wines became popular. Most of these styles of wine are still made by many wineries, and the brandy spirit used to fortify them is also made locally.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Hunter Valley Wine Growing Region#/TITLE#

Hunter Valley wines…the best of.

The Hunter Valley in New South Wales is the birthplace of Australian wine, and home to Australia?s oldest continuously operating winery ? Wyndham Estate, established in 1828. It is located 170km north of Sydney and has a winemaking history going back to 1825.

The region encompasses both the Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter Valley, and is fed by the Goulburn, Hunter, Paterson and Williams rivers. The greatest concentration of vineyards is in the Lower Hunter between Cessnock and Branxton, situated on the southern side of a broad and relatively flat valley in the foothills of the Brokenback Range. The majority of hills are not steep, with only a modest gradient.

The climate has a hot, humid summer and cool winter. The growing season has high humidity and rain. However, sea breeze and cloud cover that often rolls into the valley in the afternoons provides a moderating cooling effect. The rain, the humidity, the afternoon cloud cover and weak sea breezes all act to moderate the impact of the heat, which would otherwise make it very difficult, if not impossible, to produce quality table wine in the region. Most of the vineyards are situated in the foothills of the Brokenback Range which have red clay soils, or on the creek flats below them which have sandy soils that are well suited to whites.

The region contains more than 70 wineries and is famous for aged Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz. The style of these wines are quite unique both in Australia and around the world. The region also produces excellent examples of Chardonnay. The main varieties grown are Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho. Great Hunter wines have also been produced from Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

Semillon

Semillon is regarded as the great wine of the Hunter, and it has international acclaim. Many Hunter Valley wineries produce a Semillon. It is best to let it age in the bottle, and the flavour will develop from a vaguely grassy, lemony youth to a crescendo of honeyed, nutty, buttered toasty palate pleasing richness at 10 to 20 years of age.

Chardonnay

Most Hunter Valley wineries produce a Chardonnay. They are regarded as having a ?peaches and cream? character and can vary in richness, complexity and oak characteristics. Opinions are divided on whether these wines improve with keeping. If varietal character is unimportant, then you will find the deep golden, buttery, viscous opulence of aged Hunter Chardonnay extremely satisfying.

Shiraz

The Hunter Valley is famous for its unique Shiraz. The unique climatic conditions of the Hunter Valley produce an inherent varietal character in its Shiraz. Like the Semillon, the Shiraz ages beautifully in the bottle and can be aged for twenty or even thirty years, where it reaches a savoury, velvety maturity.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon was reintroduced to the Hunter Valley in 1963, after being ignored for the previous thirty years. Since that time almost every vineyard in the Valley has planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Some excellent wine has been produced from the grapes which exhibit varietal character and an idiosyncratic style.

Other

The Hunter Valley produces a large amount of other wines, either as straight varietals or as blends. Verdelho is the most important, in terms of volume.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Cabernet Sauvignon - Dominanting Red Wine Grapes#/TITLE#

Cabernet Sauvignon, being one of the world’s most renowned wines, is grown in nearly every major wine producing country. This is a very unique and mysterious wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon?s origin was a little unclear because there are many myths and conjunctures surrounding it. The word ?Sauvignon? is believed to have been derived from the French word sauvage, which means wild. It is referred to the grape being a wild Vitis vinifera vine native to France. The grape used to be rumored as having ancient origins.

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In the past century, Cabernet Sauvignon has become very popular as one of the noblest grapes in the world of wine. Its popularity is built partly on the success in Bordeaux, as well as regions like California and Australia. Planting the grape in any region that can be cultivated it is considered a wise choice. Cabernet has become a familiar wine among consumers which has also aided in its availability and appeal even from vague wine regions and producers.

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In California, Cabernet Sauvignon has a certain style and reputation recognizable by the world?s market. ?California?s plantings and production of the grape are similar in quantity to those of Bordeaux. In the 80?s, the Phylloxera epidemic swept over California, demolishing most of the vineyards which would later need replanting. There was also speculation that the Cabernet Sauvignon would be replanted with other varietals. The plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon in fact doubled between 88 and 98. Most of the wine regions were dominated by the grape, such as NapaValley north of Yountville and Sonoma’s AlexanderValley.

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Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in almost every South American country including Chile, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay. In Chile, the wines were historically restricted by the exceptionally high yields that were ordinary throughout the country. ?As producers begun to concentrate on limiting yields, regional differences began to emerge that distinguished Chilean Cabernets.? The climate of the region is the most important consideration for vineyard plantings along flat river valley; soil type is a greater concern as plantings move to higher elevations and along hillsides, ?The wines of the Aconcagua region are noted for their ripe fruit but closed, tight structure that needs some time in the bottle to develop.?

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Malbec?s Popularity in South America#/TITLE#

Malbec is a variety of grapes used for making red wine. Malbec grapes tend to be a dark inky color and have vigorous tannins. Named after the Hungarian peasant who first introduced it to France, Malbec is one of the six grapes permitted in the blending of red Bordeaux wine.

Malbec is a variety of grapes used for making red wine. Malbec grapes tend to be a dark inky color and have vigorous tannins. Malbec is one of the six grapes permitted in the blending of red Bordeaux wine, and was named after the Hungarian peasant who first introduced it to France. The French plantations of Malbec are now being found in Cahors in the South West France region. It has also been grown in Chile, southern Bolivia, Australia, on Long Island, NY, and in the cooler regions of California.

??????????? The Malbec is a thin skinned grape and needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. In midseason the grape will ripen, and it may be very deep in color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. The wines are usually rich, dark and juicy. The Malbec grape also needs a high differential between evening and day temperatures with minimum temperature of 27 degrees Fahrenheit in a day.

??????????? Introduced to Argentina by French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget in 1868, Malbec is widely planted in Argentina producing a softer, less-tannic driven variety than the wines of Cahors. The best examples of these wines come from the Argentine region of Mendoza. In Argentina, where Malbec seems to have found a natural home, the grape is used to produce very popular varietal wines. It is now thought that the variety known as Fer in that country is a clone. In the 1990s, Malbec’s potential and the increase of wine exports from South America saved the grape. In California the grape is used to make Meritage. Malbec is also grown in Washington State, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British Columbia, southern Bolivia, and northeastern Italy.

http://www.classicwines.com/malbec-wine

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Merlot’s Fast Ride to Stardom#/TITLE#

Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as a blending grape and for varietal wines. Merlot-based wines typically have average body with trace of berry, plum, and currant. Its softness and stoutness, combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a model grape to blend with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. This suppleness has helped to make it one of the most popular red wine varietals in the United States and Chile.

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??????????? The most basic recorded mention of Merlot was in the remarks of a local Bordeaux official who in 1784 labeled wine made from the grape in the Libournais region as one of the area’s best. The name comes from the French provincial patois word Merlot, meaning young blackbird. By the 19th century it was being frequently planted in the M?doc on the Left Bank of the Gironde. It was originally confirmed in Italy around Venice under the synonym Bord? in 1855. The grape was launched into the Swiss, sometime in the 19th century and was recorded in the Swiss canton of Ticino between 1905 and 1910. ?Researchers at University of California, Davis believe that the grape is an offspring of Cabernet Franc and is a sibling of Carm?n?re.?

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??????????? After a sequence of delays that consist of a severe frost in 1956 and several vintages in the 1960s lost to rot, French authorities in Bordeaux banned new plantings of Merlot vines between 1970 and 1975. Until 1993, the Chilean wine industry incorrectly sold a large quantity of wine made from the Carmenere grape as Merlot. In that year, genetic studies exposed that much of what had been grown as Merlot was actually Carmenere. The classification of Chilean Merlot is a catch-all to include wine that is made from a blend of random amounts of Merlot and Carmenere. With Merlot ripening 3 weeks earlier than Carmenere, these wines vary significantly in eminence depending on harvesting.

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??????????? Merlot grapes are identified by their loose bunches of large berries. The color has less of a blue/black shade than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and with a thinner skin; the grapes also have less tannins. In addition to a contrast against Cabernet, a Merlot grape tends to have higher sugar content and lower malic acid. Merlot prospers in cold soil, mostly ferrous clay. The vines have a tendency to bud early which gives it some hazard to cold frost and its thin skin increases its vulnerability to rot. It normally ripens up to two weeks earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Water stress is important to the vine with it thriving in well drained soil more so than at base of a slope.

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Merlot was popular, but then took a dip because of the movie sideways. Throughout the film, Miles addresses dotingly of the red wine varietal Pinot Noir. Following the film’s U.S. release in October 2004, Merlot sales dropped 2% while Pinot Noir sales increased 16% in the Western United States. A related trend transpired in British wine outlets. Sales of Merlot plummeted after the film’s release most likely due to Miles’ disapproving remarks about the varietal in the film.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#When You Think Fine Wines, Think Argentine Wines#/TITLE#

The history of Argentine wines is not a long and rich one as is the history of winemaking in France or Italy, but what Argentineans lack in history they more than make up for in quality.? Much of this is due to the weather in this beautiful country.? There are more sunny days during the year than not, allowing the grapes to mature properly so as to have the best flavor possible.? The soil of Argentina is rich and well cared for; the lack of erosion has continued to keep it healthy.

Chances are that not many people who love wine actually think of Argentina when they consider their list of great growing regions around the world.? However, there are a few reasons why this thinking is wrong.? The climate of this beautiful South American country is perfect for winemaking, and is varied enough throughout so as to support a wide variety of wines.? Many connoisseurs are beginning to understand why Argentine wines are fine enough to be considered some of the best in the world.

The history of Argentine wines is not a long and rich one as is the history of winemaking in France or Italy, but what Argentineans lack in history they more than make up for in quality.? Much of this is due to the weather in this beautiful country.? There are more sunny days during the year than not, allowing the grapes to mature properly so as to have the best flavor possible.? The soil of Argentina is rich and well cared for; the lack of erosion has continued to keep it healthy.? Most wines from Argentine respond to this combination of factors because of the beautiful fruit that is produced in the country.

The vineyards that produce Argentine wine are usually very small but are owned and operated by those who consider their wine to be works of art.? For example, in Finca la Anita, there are only seventy hectares (one hundred acres) of land, which is rather tiny compared to many other vineyards of the world, but they produce a product that is nothing less than the end result of obsession.? They are a favorite stop for many? wine tasting tours.? Another favorite stop is Pena Veyrat Durbex, where the grapes are still clipped by hand.? This is yet another Argentine vineyard that is family owned and operated, and the family’s pride in their product is obvious.

This is true of most Argentine wines.? They are not mass produced in huge wineries or distilleries, or are overseen by someone just hired to do a job.? Their vineyards are usually very small and still run by the same families that have owned them for literally centuries.? And since their name is on the label, these families take an inordinate amount of pride in their finished product.

Argentine wines come in a wide variety of red and white types.? You can easily find Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot and Pinot Noir.? White wines include Chardonnay, Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling and Viognier.

If you haven’t considered Argentine wines as being part of your collection of fine wines, you may need to adjust your thinking.? You can find some wonderful products from this beautiful country.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#There is a Reason Why People Love Italian Wines#/TITLE#

There are thousands of vineyards in Italy, and while many wines are produced in modern distilleries, some rustic villages still produce wine in the old fashion way by stomping the grapes under their bare feet, claiming this makes the wine taste the best.? Commercially available wines are of course prepared under much more hygienic conditions, so don’t worry about the bottles you’re considering purchasing from your local wine shop.

Making wine is probably as old as humankind itself, and one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world is Italy.? Italian wines traces their roots as far back as the Roman Empire, and probably even before that.? Rome is the city that began bottling wines for ease of transportation, storage and use.? Today, wines from Italy account for about one-fifth of all the wines produced in the world.

There are thousands of vineyards in Italy, and while many wines are produced in modern distilleries, some rustic villages still produce wine in the old fashion way by stomping the grapes under their bare feet, claiming this makes the wine taste the best.? Commercially available wines are of course prepared under much more hygienic conditions, so don’t worry about the bottles you’re considering purchasing from your local wine shop.

The favorable weather of the Mediterranean area makes for very favorable growing conditions for Italian wines, and true wine connoisseurs know that weather has a great affect on the quality of the wines.? There are also many different elevations along the coast of Italy, allowing the country to produce many different types of grapes and therefore types of wines.?

Italian wines are typically much less sweet and a bit more dry and acidic than most other wines produced around the world.? This makes them a typically better accompaniment for food than other wines, whose strong or fruity flavors may interfere with the taste of your meal.? Most restaurants therefore are known to carry a wide variety of Italian wines, most especially those that specialize in Italian food!? Real wine lovers know that it’s almost perverse to have a French wine with Italian food.

Italy has certified some 350 grapes for use in their wines, and there are some 500 other varieties and hybrid varieties that are used for Italian wines.? Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are two of the most commonly used for red wine, and chardonnay and reisling for white wines.?

The country of course prides itself on its wine varieties, and so laws are somewhat stringent when it comes to how they can be labeled and referred.? However, some winemakers took it upon themselves to step away from common blends and grapes used in order to produce richer and more flavorful wines.? The term “Super Tuscan” refers to Italian wines that do not have the traditional blending of grapes that one would typically find in the different regions.? Some of these blending varieties were initially labeled as “table wines” by the Italian appellation system, but that term is seen as somewhat derogatory, and so makers of these Italian wines began to use the term Super Tuscan.

If you’re looking to expand your list of favorites, then you must consider Italian wines.? There is such a wide variety, and the winemakers take such pride in their product, that you are sure to find many that are just to your liking.? So the next time you are at an Italian restaurant be sure to try one of the fine wines available, you will be pleasantly surprised.?

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Learning About Winter Wines#/TITLE#

When considering your options, you would probably prefer an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon or an earthy Chateauneuf-du-Pape.? These are both complex wines with a hearty aroma and reassuring body.? Neither needs to be very expensive, as they are both typically very fine choices regardless of vintage or name brand.

If you’re unsure of the meaning, winter wines are those that are preferred during the cold winter months and that will help take the nip out of the air, giving you a toasty warm feeling all over.? These are wines that are considered full-body and lush, as opposed to the light and refreshing wines you would enjoy during the summer months.? If you’re a wine lover, you understand the appeal of the wines of winter, and find that they’re easily preferred over the standard winter beverages of hot cocoa or tea.? Sure, those are all well and good, but how do they taste with a fine selection of cheese and olives?

When considering your options, you would probably prefer an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon or an earthy Chateauneuf-du-Pape.? These are both complex wines with a hearty aroma and reassuring body.? Neither needs to be very expensive, as they are both typically very fine choices regardless of vintage or name brand.

Reisling is another fine choice when it comes to winter wines.? While still crisp and fruity as you would expect from a summer choice, it is intense with a typically rounded finish - perfect for those late winter lunches when you’ve slept in decided to spend all day inside.? While still served slightly chilled, it’s a perfect match for seafood or shellfish, or for when you want to just nibble some cheese in front of the fire.

Consider a good port as another choice when it comes to hearty wines.? Aging these in wines in oak barrels means adding distilled grape spirits, often cognac, in order to boost the alcohol content.? White port is also a good choice, and is served cold or slightly chilled; these range from dry to very sweet.? Port is such a popular choice when it comes to winter wines that there are actually rules of etiquette that once surrounded its serving; typically the bottle is passed “port to port,” meaning that the host pours a glass for the person to their right and then passes the bottle to their left; this is repeated until the bottle makes its way around the table.? Of course, if it’s just the two of you, it may be a good idea to be a bit more modest about this practice and save some for later!

Burgundy wines are also fine choices for winter, as they are typically the heaviest or most full-bodied wines there are.? If you’re looking to stay away from chilled wines and want something to keep you warm that’s not too sweet but still full of flavor, burgundies are probably your best choice.

Winter wines are good options for the cold months when you’re looking to try something new and want to get away from the overly fruity and sweet wines of summer.? When you’re stuck indoors and are looking for ways to keep yourself warm, you should definitely give your wine tasting some renewed attention with any of these options.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Why Not Try Some English Wines#/TITLE#

One of the key factors when considering wines from England is just what types of grapes that English vineyards are likely to have more success with.? Many of the common French grapes that are used for wines are off limits to those in England.? This means that rarely will you see an English version of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Many people who love wine are typically surprised when one starts to talk about English wines as being not just drinkable, but actually some of the better wines available.? After all, good winemaking relies heavily on a particular climate so as to grow the best grapes possible, and England is not usually known for its desirable climate.? Grapes typically grow better in warm and dry climates, and England is usually known for having chilly and damp summers that scare off both the tourists and the good crops.? However, in the past few years especially have vineyard owners come to realize how to get around poor climate and how to prepare their product, so that now English wines can be competitive with some of the finer wines of the world.

One of the key factors when considering wines from England is just what types of grapes that English vineyards are likely to have more success with.? Many of the common French grapes that are used for wines are off limits to those in England.? This means that rarely will you see an English version of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.? Instead, wines from England are more likely to include Huxulrebe, Phoenix, Bacchus, and Seyval Blanc.

An interesting twist in the business of English wines is the issue of global warming.? Many wine growers are agreeing that as average temperatures creep up, even by just a degree or two, this becomes much better for their business.? Warmer temperatures also typically mean less humidity which is also good for grape growing.? It is of course a very controversial subject, as few would think that global warming is good for everyone overall, but it is something that you’ll often hear talk about when it comes to the manufacture and production of wines.? Many vineyard owners in England have found their crops do a bit better in the past few years than they have done previously, simply because of this slight shift in temperature.

Some of the best brands of wines from England are Nyetimber and Ridgeview, which produce a sparkling wine that are often considered world-class and competitive with some of the best in the industry.? Sparkling wines seem to do well in the climates of England, as their damp climate produces a much more tart and overripe grape that is well suited for this type of wine.? For other types of English wines, try Denbies, which has a visitor’s center near Dorking in the North Downs, and has a wide variety of wines that are considered to be very flavorful and well worth the trip.

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#BREAK# #TITLE#Exploring Greek Wines#/TITLE#

There have been many political upheavals and other problems that have kept Greece from competing in the global wine market; however, today they are just as competitive as wines from any other region of the world.? This is a necessity as there has actually been a decline in recent years of domestic consumption of locally produced wine.

If you’ve never heard of Greek wines, you must not be a real wine lover or historian.? While there are many countries today that produce wines that are more popular and perhaps more appreciated, it’s thought that winemaking actually originated with the Greeks thousands and thousands of years ago.? At that time, wines from Greece were produced in individual homes right along with everything else that was considered everyday foods, including bread, butter, cheese, meat dishes, and so on.? Wine was considered a standard staple of the dining table and not something that was reserved for special occasions.? It’s thought that during the Roman Empire, these wines were traded extensively as Rome opened up merchant routes all along the Mediterranean regions.

Wines of the Past

There have been many political upheavals and other problems that have kept Greece from competing in the global wine market; however, today they are just as competitive as wines from any other region of the world.? This is a necessity as there has actually been a decline in recent years of domestic consumption of locally produced wine.? Greek vineyard owners have, out of necessity, found themselves competing on the world market just to stay economically feasible.? Those that produce wines have found that they have needed to introduce foreign grape varieties to their vineyards in order to stay competitive.? In 1963, their first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was planted, and the 1960’s and 1970’s saw an ever evolving revolution in the area of wine making.

Reasons for Success in Making Greek Wines

One of the reasons for the success of wines from Greece is of course the climate of the country.? With its warm and dry summers and mild winters, it makes for near perfect grape growing conditions.? Also, there are literally hundreds of indigenous Greek grapes from which vineyard owners may produce their own unique brand, and foreign varieties do quite well when planted or grafted into existing vineyards.

It’s also interesting that many true wine connoisseurs are always on the lookout for exotic brands and varieties to try, something different than the standard French or Italian fare.? In this regard, many upscale wine lovers are turning to Greek wines as they are truly unique in the world of winemaking.

Today you can easily find wines from Greece available in any local wine store or liquor shop.? They are also available online from specialty importers.? As Greek vineyard owners continue to appreciate the beautiful and perfect climate they are blessed with, it is certain that more and more world class Greek wines will continue to be available and will be competitive on the world market.

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