8 posts tagged “uk wine tasting”

White wine is popular because of its refreshing attributes, but one thing, which everyone knows, is that white wine is not actually white. The colour of white wine can vary from palest yellow to deep golden and through every hue of the very palest of greens and yellows. The colour of white wine is derived from its parent grape variety. White wines are made from both red and green grapes of the vitis vinifera group; for all grape juice is white, the red colour coming from the pigmentation in the skins of black grapes.

Ideal Occasions of Drinking White Wine

White wine is a very versatile and may be drunk at diverse events by adults of all ages. People love to drink white wine at most occasions. Its refreshing nature makes it an ideal welcoming drink at parties and celebrations. White wine is an ideal aperitif and it can be consumed with snacks, picnics, light lunches, small dinners or even at great banquets. Although the old belief that white wine with white meat always holds true, it is, after all, a matter of taste and wine, of any colour, should be enjoyed with any food as your own taste dictates. Hing

White Wine – Types and Flavours

There are hundreds of styles of white wine; they may be categorized according to their principal grape variety, the country of origin or the making process. Among the most recognised of white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc – all names of grape varieties. White wines have many in different and distinctive flavours which may vary from (and through) the tastes associated with Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Pineapple, Melon, Butter, Honey, Floral, Herbs and soil!

White Wine Serving Guidelines

White wine should be served in a clear glass and avoid using a glass that has already been used for red wine. Glasses with a fullish bulb and narrow neck are ideal for serving white wine because it allows better concentration of aroma. The ideal temperature for serving white wine is from 45F to 50F. The American love of very cold wine is not wrong but over chilled wines run the risk of losing their flavour. It is also important to pay attention to the choice of cuisine. Seafood, poultry dishes, pork, or recipes with cream base are best suited to white wine.

For more information on wines and wine tasting events in and around London, visit: http://www.winelines.co.uk

To the purist, wine is an alcoholic drink made from the fermentation of grapes. Grapes have a property of fermentation without the addition of any enzymes, sugars, acids or other elements. Wine is produced after the fermentation of crushed grapes using different types of yeasts that consumes sugar found in grapes and converts that sugar into alcohol. Wine can be made using almost any fruit and a number of vegetables too. The resultant wine is usually named according to its principle ingredient.

Types of Wines

According to number of grapes species used in wine making, there are two types of wine:

1. Varietal Wines – The wine, which is made primarily from fermentation of a single grape variety, is known as Varietal Wine. You can identify the type of grapes used in making of a particular varietal wine from printed label. One fine example of a varietal wine is Red Burgundy, made after fermentation of the single variety of ‘Pinot Noir’ grapes.
2. Blended Wines – Blended Wines are made from fermentation of two or more varieties of grapes. Example of blended wine is Red Bordeaux, known in the UK as ‘Claret’, which is blended from of up to five varieties of grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Blended wines are in no way inferior to varietal wines. Some of the world’s most valued and expensive wines, like those of Bordeaux depend on the blend to ensure their outstanding qualities.

Vintage Wine

Vintage wines are made from grapes grown in a single year, which will be specified on the label. The percentage of grapes used in making vintage wine can vary according to the country of origin. In US, it’s mandatory for a vintage wine to contain at least 95% of wine volume from grape varieties harvested in that single year, if it’s labelled with country of origin. Whereas if it is not labelled with country of origin then the limit is reduced to 85% of wine made of grapes grown in a single year. These wines are generally bottled in a single batch to maintain similar taste in each bottle. The price of vintage wines is generally higher than that of non-vintage wines but price should not be relied on as an indication of quality.

For more information on wines and wine tasting events in and around London, visit: http://www.winelines.co.uk

Denbies is Great Britain’s largest and most tourist-friendly winery.  Although the UK is one of the smallest wine producers in the EU, it is often considered to be the hub of the international trade in wine and, as a result, has a thriving industry stretching from importers and bottlers through to freight forwarders and retailers. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) was established in 1824 representing all elements of the supply chain.

Grape Varieties of UK

Principal grape varietals grown in England and Wales are Reichensteiner, Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau and Seyval Blanc. Most of which are almost unknown to most British wine drinkers. Out of the top ten countries of origin for UK imports, six are outside the European Union. Australia is the largest exporter to the UK, accounting for 2.5 million hectolitres in 2004. They are followed by France, which accounts for 2.3 million hl and the USA which accounts for 1.5 million hl. The UK is the second largest importer by volume in the EU, very closely behind Germany. Despite currently showing a total of 362 registered vineyards, comprising of 923 hectares, in England and Wales, English and Welsh wines account for less than 1% of the total wine sold in the UK

UK Quality Wine Scheme

The UK introduced its Quality Wine Scheme in 1991. The motive was to help market the best English and Welsh wines. Wines submitted to this scheme must meet strict criteria covering demarcation of production areas, vine varieties, cultivation, winemaking methods and maximum yields. They must also be subjected to an analytical test assessing physical and chemical components of the wine, as well as an organoleptic tasting.

Wines meeting these strict criteria can display the phrase ‘English Vineyards Quality Wine psr’ or ‘Welsh Vineyards Quality Wine psr’ on their label. The system is not dissimilar to that of the French Appellation Controllée system. PSR means Produced in Specified Regions.

UK Regional Wine Scheme

The UK Regional Wine Scheme was introduced on 1st April 1997. According to that scheme, wines must meet certain analytical and organoleptic criteria but the rules are less strict on use of vine varieties.

UK producers may operate under the rules of both the  UK Quality Wine Scheme and the UK Regional Wine Scheme. The United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) is the main producer association representing the majority of UK vineyards. English Wine Producers (EWP) is a voluntary group of leading English vineyards working in close association with the UKVA.

For more information on wines and wine tasting events in and around London, visit: http://www.winelines.co.uk

“Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used – Shakespeare”
Food and wine often cast as a rather mysterious and unique division of science, but it really is not as mysterious as it seems to be. Wine in the UK can be dated back to Roman times. There were numbers of vineyards in England by the time of the Norman Conquest, most of them attached to monasteries and great houses. The areas of concentration were the coastal areas of the southeast, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The first commercial vineyard in modern times was established at Hambledon in Hampshire in 1951 but significant development in the UK wine industry has been in not much more than the last 30 years.
Climate for wine agriculture
The Wine Industry is based on the farming of grapes. According to the geographical conditions, the UK is not suitable for commercial grape production, being too far north. Most of the successful vineyards in the UK are southern England and Wales where, in some parts of southern England, the subsoil is chalk or limestone and has similar geology to that of the Champagne region in France.
Vine varieties

The main grape varieties planted in the UK are Reichensteiner, Bacchus, and Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau and Sylva Blanc; very few of which are names that the average British wine drinker would be familiar with.
British Wine: English and Welsh wine must be produced from fresh grapes grown in the UK, whereas British wine is a form of ‘made wine’ which can be manufactured in the UK and Ireland from imported grapes, grape juice, grape must or a combination of these. Although ‘made wine’ products can be called ‘wine’ they must be prefixed with a term such as British, Mead, Fruit, Tonic etc. These products are not governed by the EU Wine Regime.

With all difficulties of climate and latitude,  there are more than 250 commercial vineyards in the UK ranging in size from a few square metres run by small-scale hobbyists to large wineries run by commercially astute wine producers.

Best English Wines:
1. Nyetimber: widely regarded as one of the best English wineries.
2. Curious Grape: Brand name of the UK’s largest (and probably best) producer, New Wave Wines.
3. Three Choirs: Sizeable operation in the Midlands making some well priced and tasty wines.
4. Davenport: The UK’s leading organic producer, making fresh, bright, full-flavoured whites.
5. Denbies: In Surrey’s North Downs, this is the largest producer with some interesting wines.

For more information on wines and wine tasting events in and around London, visit: http://www.winelines.co.uk

Knowledge is always important and useful, no matter what kind of application there will be for that knowledge in future. It is always good to seek out and absorb knowledge about anything you are interested in. Acquiring knowledge about wine is useful. The pleasure of having some knowledge about, as well as the pleasure of drinking, a good wine is something to enjoy. When you’re drinking, it’s nice to know what varieties of grape went into the wine, when and where it came from, what process went into the making of that particular wine, aand, indeed, who made it? If you have some knowledge about the wine while drinking it, it might well add to your understanding and appreciation of what is in your glass. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn the type of wine you are drinking, where it was made, and its vintage.

People who are not that much aware about wines are scared off by just the mention of the descriptions of wine. Such people think they are novices and will be unable to appreciate a wine. Their ignorance may even prevent them from enjoying wine. The best way to learn about different wines and to experience them in the best possible manner is to keep tasting better wines! If you are not a wine expert, or you are unable to recognise their variety and know anecdotes about wine, you may not know which wines to select but that should not stop you from enjoying wine whenever it is placed in front of you.

If you have some knowledge of wine aromas and flavours, and familiarity with a range of wines, look out for opportunities to taste similar or better wines from the same region. Don’t forget that there are three important things to look for in all wine, tthese are aroma (bouquet), taste (palate) and colour. With a little effort and a keenness to differentiate using these three attributes, you can become a wine tasting expert. When tasting a particular wine, you should ask yourself, how does this wine compare with others from the same varietal, from different vineyards in the same region, from the same producer in different years? There is no doubt that comparative knowledge, based on tasting experience, can enhance your tasting pleasure.

However, it is also possible that such knowledge can detract from your tasting pleasure. No matter how well you can discern and discriminate various aromas and flavours, overindulgence in any wine will tend to decrease your ability to enjoy them. Always make yourself aware of the alcohol content of a wine and only ever drink sensible quantities.
For more details, visit: http://www.winelines.co.uk