TH - Collections

Virtual Wine Cellar

Research - Wine & Cheese

Welcome to my wine sight.
Reasoning behind the creation of this sight include my own desire to learn
about various types of wine and to serve as a forum to keep track of the comments emminating from the tasting of wines from my soon to be created wine cellar.

Background
There are many types and varieties of wine. Since wine production is a global industry, wine types and names brands are determined by the type of grape and the geographical location of cultivation and vintage. Different types of grapes make different tasting wines. Color is usually determined by the amount of time the grape skins are left in the grape juice after crushing. Skin left on for a long time produces red wine, while skin left on for short duration yields white wine. Rose/Blush wines are produced by moderating between the two.

	"Red Red Wine"
	*Cabernet Souvignon* Best known as the "King of Red Wine" it has a deep red color, with richness of taste and flavor. Serves well with hearty foods.
	*Merlot* Often used as a blending grape with the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, it has developed into a delicious wine in its own right. It's color is medium to dark ruby, with a plummy fruit flavor. It is a good match with beef, chicken and pasta dishes. Also an excellent compliment to chocolate.
	*Petit Sirah* Original produced to blend with others wines, it came it to it's own in the 1970's due to it's red wine color and full tannic taste. The wine goes well with beef, lamb and spicy sauces.
	Pinot Noir Burgundy wines are most often made from the grape. Color is light to medium red, and darken as the wine ages. Dishes of pasta with red sauce, light beef and fowl would do well with this wine.
	Port Port Port is a fortified wine made by adding brandy to fermenting grapes. It comes from the Douro River Valley in Northern Portugal
	Syrah Known either as Syrah or Shiraz, the grape creates a light, medium to heavy red color, with taste varying from peppery to fruity flavor. Hearty foods such as beef as well as spicy Indian or Mexican foods serves well with this wine.
	Red Zinfandel A very popular wine in the U.S., style can vary from light to full bodied, and color from deep red to dark purple. It has a spicy peppery flavor. Serves well with "American" foods such as burgers, pizza and red sauce dishes.

	"Bottle of White"
	Chardonnay Known as the "King of White Wine", it's color is pale to straw yellow producing an elegant white wine. Taste can vary from semi sweet to sour, heady or light. Goes best with poultry, seafood, red meat and cheeses.
	Chennin Blanc Used as a blending grape for sparkling, dry and sweet wines, its color is usually pale to medium yellow with taste of either dry, semi-sweet with acidity, and goes well with chicken, seafood and fish.
	Gew\|rztraminer Know as the spice grape, it is a sweet white wine with full, fruity spicy flavors ideal with Asian foods, ham, pork and grilled sausages.
	Riesling Also known as Rhine or Johannisberg Riesling, it is pale straw to white in color with a taste of dry tartness. It is best served with seafood and most oriental dishes.
	Sauvignon Blanc Another popular blending grape, it's color is light to medium yellow with a tinge of green. Typically very light with a sweet to dry taste, it is a very popular picnic wine and ideal with fish, shellfish, chicken and pasta dishes. In the U.S. it is also known as "Fume Blanc".
	Viognier A recent addition to California vineyards, it is a very difficult grape to grow and therefore grown in only a few vineyards. The grape yields a medium bodied white wine, noted for it's spice, floral and citrus flavors.
	White Zinfandel A newcomer to the wine industry, it is very popular with new wine drinkers because of it's sweetness and ease of taste. Although labeled as a white wine, color is pale-rose and tends to have citrus and lights flavors. The wine is delicious with light sauces and pasta, fish, pork and other light meals.