 Wines are usually named either by their grape variety or by their place of production. Generally speaking, Old World (European) wines are named for the place of production, with the grapes used often not appearing on the label. New World wines (those from everywhere except Europe) are generally named for the grape variety. More and more, however, market recognition of particular regions and wineries is leading to their increased prominence on New World wine labels. Examples of recognized locales include: Napa Valley, Barossa Valley, Willamette Valley, Cafayate, Marlborough, Walla Walla, etc. Still, though, the grape variety is almost invariably present on the label. This is not the case with most European wines because of tradition and legal restrictions. Within Europe, a major exception to the no-grape rule is with German wines and wines from the Alsace region of France, for which it is not uncommon to find this information on the front label. To accommodate market demands, an increasing number of French wine makers are labeling their bottles with the variety or varieties of grapes included, as permitted by law.
White wine as well as Red wine are both produced from grapes. Red wine gets its color because grape skins and stems are left in the juice during fermentation process. So grape color is irrelevent as long as you can carefully seperate the skin and stem before fermentation process. Champagne(sparkling wine) is a good example of it. It is made from blend of grapes which includes Pinot Noir and that's is a variety of black grapes.
Besides color, not allowing the skins and stems to soak in the juice also reduces the amount of tannin in the wine. Tannin has a mouth drying quality that causes the wine to feel firm in your mouth. Sometimes though, a white wine will be allowed to ferment or age in oak barrels. The oak barrels will impart some tannin to the wine, but not as much as in a typical red wine.
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 Wine Serving Temperature
Generally Red wines are served at a cooler room temperature(50 °F - 65 °F). White wines are usually served chilled(40 °F - 55 °F). If you serve wine too cold, their aromas are suppressed while at warmer temperature they tend to taste flat with mostly alcohol taste. Sparkling wines or Champagnes are also served chilled(40 °F - 50 °F). Remember wine tasting is all about having a balanced feedback from your nose and tongue. Wine creates vapors as it warms up so it needs to be slightly at a lower temperature than its ideal temperature at the time of consumption. Most domestic refrigerators maintain an average temperature of 39 °F and that's too cold for most wines(red and white). So while you can use your refrigerator to do some gentle cooling, it is not ideal and a bucket of ice is probably a faster and better way of doing it. |
Popular White Wines
Chardonnay - The world's most popular white variety. It is usually oak aged and has a buttery flavor.
Chenin Blanc - Common in the Loire Valley of France. It is a highly acidic wine that can range from very dry to very sweet.
Gewürztraminer - The most intensely aromatic of all wines. The aromas are of florals and spice.
Muscat - Produces the only wine to actually smell like grapes. Can have a variety of styles and popluar in sparkling wines.
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio - A very wide variety of styles from dry to sweet to spicy. Often they will have a hint of honey.
Reisling - A low alcholic wine with striking acidity. Many are very sweet but they can also be dry.
Sauvignon Blanc - Meant to drink young, these are the most tangy and pungent of the wine varieties.
Popular Red Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon - The Cabernet Sauvignon is sometimes referred to as King of red grapes. Most of the red wines from Napa valley are made using their type of grapes. These are arguably some of the best red wines. They are usually aged is oak barrel for first couple of years and then aged more. Cabernet sauvignon usually have a spicy aroma that hints of cidar.
Cabernet Franc - This wine is also known as parent of Cabernet sauvignon. It is a little milder version of cabernet sauvignon. So if you don't like a strong spicy aroma wine, this is your choice. Most of the cabernet francs are fruitier and jucier in taste. This wine goes well with a meal dominated by vegetables. So if you're a vegetarian, this could be a good choice.
Merlot - These are usually deeper in color and contains higher alcohol percentage.They are less intense in flavor and are close to berry taste. Merlot is a simple wine and it is good start for beginners.
Pinot Noir - Pinot Noir is also a variety of grapes, they are difficut to grow but produce one of the best red wine on planet earth. Most of Pinot Noir comes from Burgundy region of France. Pinot Noir has a very rich and seductive flavor. Pinot Noir is the grape variety that is used for making Champagne as well. It is also used in cooking as well.
Zinfandel - Zinfandel grapes are very close to berries in taste. Zinfandel is usually consumed within the first 5 years of wine making. White Zinfandel grapes are sweeter in taste than Red Zinfandel. This variety of grape is also used to make some of the cheaper entry level wines.
 
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