Awesome Wines

An English word, wine is derived from the ancient terminology of Latin descent, vinum from the vine. Whether you appreciate fine wine or are more apt to savor table wines during quick easy meals you may well appreciate the work that goes into the production of making your glass of vino. The various brands come from the same basic fruit, a grape, and how they are handled and processed will determine which are served with every Italian meal or may be treated to special handling and kept to just the proper temperature and served after letting the bottle "breathe" for several hours. Wine enthusiasts consider decanting their wine to be a controversial subject, one that answers vary but often lead to similar conclusions.

Decanting a wine or pouring it into a container designed just for that purpose allows the bottle adds aeration as well as a process known to aid in removal of sediment by way of a filter used during the process of decanting. The sediment is a result of storing wine in old bottles and must be filtered out according to some experts. Others however do not agree and believe a certain amount of the sediment must be present to maintain the integrity of that particular wine.

As a popular "saying" in many movies, the comparison of maturity to a fine wine lets us know that many things only improve with time. Fine wines do indeed improve with age and many types need the seasoning of time to be palatable and enjoyable. Some of the various types of wine include:

Bordeaux is a wine produced in France along the Bordeaux region (Atlantic coast). Famous for red wines especially, the French have a long reputation for producing fine wines.

Burgundy is a fine wine that may be a red or a white. The region is separated into four parts including Maconnais, Cote Chalonnaise, Cote de Beaune, and Cote de Nuits with each producing wines that are generally expensive and treasured.

Alsace is an area of France known for white wine primarily although they do produce rose, red, and sweeter or sparkling wines. They grow Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Muscat, and Riesling grapes.

Sparkling wines are white and include a lot of carbon dioxide. Often called Champagne and served at functions such as weddings and other celebrations, sparkling wines may be considered a symbol of high society and class.

Red or white? What works with which foods?

Red wine goes best with beef while white wines are preferred with fish or salads. That is no hard and fast rule but seems to be the most common criteria when it comes to dinner wines. Red or white are both appreciated by chefs when it comes to many dishes they prepare and generally are added then cooked slowly to thicken flavor and enrich many gourmet meals and sauces. Fine wine is especially appreciated as an after dinner drinks and served cold.