Wine

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

“A bottle wine it contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.”

This thought of Louis Pasteur makes us wonder if it is possible to fully understand and get to know the nature of wine or this divine drink with each sip makes us look for new and new horizons - all as different and unique as each is unique. A bottle of wine. Because wine has a soul that is initially young, reaches its peak in life and then acquires the characteristics of old age.

The wine is a type of alcoholic beverage that is obtained by fermentation of grapes, although wine can be prepared from other fruits, flowers and wheat. The word "wine" itself comes from the Greek word "Fοινος", which means wine and vine. According to the law in our country, wine is defined as "a product obtained exclusively as a result of complete or partial alcoholic fermentation of crushed or uncrushed fresh grapes or grape must from fresh grapes."

The challenge for any self-respecting manufacturer wine is to get that unique drink, whose combination of a bouquet of aromas and a combination of flavors will make the tasters speechless. In the science of wine, a special terminology has even been invented that describes the dominant tones, aftertaste and other characteristics of wine.

There is something that exhausts the whole philosophy of a bottle of wine and at the same time it is so vague and complicated to formulate even by prominent wine experts. It is about the terroir of wine - this complex collaboration of subjective climatic conditions of the area, soil slope, method of vineyard care, grape variety, time of harvesting the vineyards, method of storage, etc. Terroir is a leading force of the European concept of quality wines and this term tries to unite in itself every dependence in the life of the grapes, the production and the way of maturing the drink of Dionysus.

The very life of wine is invariably connected with the life of the earth and in particular that of men. Whether it was the first man-made beverage is still debatable, but wine from time immemorial is certainly one of the most preferred and consumed beverages in the world, right after tea, coffee and beer. Even in biblical tests we find the connection of wine with religion and vice versa.

The complex nature of wine has inspired thousands of people over the centuries - poets, artists, writers, creators in all fields, who in turn respond gratefully to this elixir of the Gods, singing it forever in their creations - poems, paintings, etc. The uniqueness of wine is the reason for it to be the object of a whole science - oenology, and the reason for the emergence of a separate profession - sommelier.

And to shake off the lyrical tone with which we began to tell you the essence of the wine, we will try to introduce you in summary to the whole "wine world" - from the birth of the grape elixir and its history, through the process and technology of production and storage, through wine content, label when serving wine, combination with food and in after all, the main characteristics of individual types of wine. We called it a summary because volumes can be written about wine, and its history continues to be written to this day.

Wine production

The process of wine production is long and specific to each region or vineyard from which the drink is prepared. In this sense, the conditions and traditions in wine production are important. In general, wine is produced from grape juice, which in our country is called must. The must itself is obtained by squeezing the grapes with presses. As a result, grape juice (must) and marc are obtained.

Often in the production of house wine in some regions of Bulgaria the grapes are not pressed with presses, but the juice is allowed to flow under the weight of the collected amount of material. This must is called solitary flow. From then on, the processes of fermentation of the must, filtration and precipitation, maturation of the wine and bottling follow.

Today in many countries the production and consumption of wine has become a religion that has centuries-old roots. Some of the best and highest quality wines are produced in France, the Southern Islands of New Zealand (the southernmost point of the Earth where wine is produced), Italy, Spain, Australia, Argentina, USA, China, Germany, the Republic of South Africa, Chile, Portugal, Greece, Romania, Hungary and fortunately Bulgaria.

Types of wine

White wine - it is made from both white and red or pink grapes. The moment of fermentation after removal of the grape skins is mandatory. Exactly this moment - the removal of the skins, which contain dyes, determines the white color of this grape drink. Among the most famous and widespread white varieties are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Semillon, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Muscat and others.

- Red wine - with thousands of red grapes, red wine often occupies the pedestal of "Wine". Often, when wine is mentioned, red is meant. Fans of the "bloody" grape drink are so fierce that in some cases they do not recognize any wine other than red. As a rule, red wine is obtained from red grape varieties whose dyes from the grapes pass into the grape must. Unlike white, red wine ferments with solid particles (flakes), which allows the extraction of dyes, tannins and other substances characteristic of red wine. Famous red wine varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Mavrud, Merlot, Pamid, Rubin, Syrah, Gamza and many more. etc.

- Rose wine - Rose - rosette combines the color of white and red wine, as a result of which its shade revolves around the rose - pale and delicate to intense, close to deep red. The rosette is made from red grapes, but by the technology of obtaining white wines. It is a weak tannin wine, which is similar in taste to white wine, and in terms of density and color follows red wines. The darker color of the rosette indicates that it has undergone more intensive pressing and prolonged fermentation. The crystal shine of rose wine is given by clarification.

There is also the so-called orange wine, which is obtained from white wine grape varieties that have stayed in contact with the grape skins for some time. They are called orange because their color is darker and more saturated than white and has a slight orange tinge, ranging from "salmon" to dark amber. The technology for making orange wines is exactly the opposite of that for making white wine. Georgia has a tradition in orange wines, and the most suitable variety for this type of wine is the Pinot Gris variety.

Classification of wines

In addition to red, white, rosette and orange wines, the wine is subject to a complex and diverse classification depending on the various components.

According to the ratios of sugars and alcohol in the different types of wines, they are divided into Dry wines, Semi-dry wines, Semi-sweet (semi-dessert) wines and Dessert wines. According to production technology, 2 other groups of special wines are distinguished. These are sparkling wines (Champagne from the Champagne region, naturally sparkling wines, carbonated wines) and Alcohol-fortified wines (Madeira, Malaga, Porto, Sherry, Vermouth).

Europe has been a dictator in oenology for centuries, which is why there is a so-called European classification, which divides wines into Table wines (widely available in terms of price) and Quality wines (expensive and selected types). In Bulgaria we follow the French classification of wines, which divides them into Table wines, Local quality wines, Wines produced from quality varieties in a relatively small region and Wines of controlled origin. The latter are wines of high quality local and foreign varieties, produced in accredited areas with specific agrometeorological conditions, which give the wine a strictly specific taste and aroma.

History of wine

The history of wine is millennial and dynamic. Evidence has been found that even the Egyptian pharaohs consumed wine. The drink of the gods was an integral part of the daily life of the Phoenicians, sometime around 1100 BC, when they were at their peak. Various images of wine on many paintings, papyri and tombstones have been preserved from this period.

The wine tradition continues in ancient Greece, where the grape elixir was poured everywhere. It is there that wine is referred to as the drink of the gods, which was the inspiration of many ancient Greek artists. The Greeks liked to mix wine with herbs, spices and honey and finally diluted it with sea water. That is why Homer describes wine with such epithets as "fragrant" and "sweet-smelling".

2000 years later, the Byzantines made wine, to which they also added aromatic herbs and fragrant resins and poured it into wax-smoked amphorae. Aristotle himself described an interesting method in which the wine was allowed to evaporate for so long that a sticky and tough consistency was obtained. Centuries later, wine merged even more with everyday life, tradition and religion. This was followed by its transformation into an industry, from which the science of oenology originated with the whole process of production, maturation and wine tasting.

Wine composition

A curious fact is that just one glass of wine contains nearly 600 ingredients. The taste and aromatic qualities of each wine are due to the chemical compounds in it. They in turn depend on the grape variety, the wine-growing region, the type of soil, the sunshine, the climatic conditions, the amount of yeast, etc.

The wine contains approximately 80% water. After the fermentation of the grape sugar, ethyl alcohol is obtained - from 9 to 20%, which determines its durability.

The taste characteristics of wines and their acidity depend on the acids that are formed in the process of alcohol and apple-milk fermentation. An important component in the composition of wines is the residual sugar, which varies from 1 to 200 g / l in different types of grape drinks. Thanks to the sugars, the wine has a soft and pleasant taste, but they in turn are the reason for its low durability and whims during storage.

The phenolic ingredients in red wines determine their color and structure. They are usually from 1 to 5 g / l - anthocyanins (natural red pigments) and tannins. Wine contains a huge number of aromatic substances that are volatile and in different individual concentrations. In addition, the drink of Dionysus has nutrients that include amino acids, proteins and vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, B12.

Selection and storage of wine

If you are unfamiliar with wines, trust the advice of the sales consultant, asking him for a full set of information about the specific wine you have chosen. Leading in choosing a good bottle is often the price, although this is not always the absolute rule.

When you pour the wine into glasses, look closely at it to see if there are any particles. Raise the glass on a white background if possible. Hold the glass straight, then tilt slightly and concentrate on the intensity of the color of the wine, its hue, the degree of transparency and luster, the presence or absence of bubbles.

If the wine is pale, it means that it is light, and if it is shiny and transparent - that it is highly acidic. You will know that the grape drink has a softened acidity if it is slightly matte. Usually young white wines have a white-greenish color, and more mature ones have a straw-gold color. It is fully mature if it has an amber color. For red wines, the principle is the same, except that the color goes from purple to brown. Turbid young wine is not good.

To best store your wine bottles, keep them in a dark and cool room with a temperature between 10-12 degrees. The bottles must be in a horizontal position, which helps the cork not to dry and the wine to oxidize from contact with air.

The humidity of the room should be between 65 and 80%. Even the type of floor or the concrete shelf is important when storing wine - whether it is entirely concrete floor, whether the shelf is wooden or has small gravel or finely crushed stones and tiles, which has a good effect on the wine.

It is recommended to use the specific room only for the cellar and for nothing else, because the bottles are sensitive to different odors. Also an important point is that the room is in a quiet place that is not in danger of being shaken by the passage of a train, tram or bottles being shaken by other vibrations.

Culinary use of wine

Wine is deeply associated with good food. It can be used as an ingredient in a dish to enrich its taste or served with a specific specialty to harmonize the tastes of food and emphasize the aromas. Therefore, an important rule is to choose the wine so that its strength is combined with the richness of the dish, and its aroma - with the delicate taste of the specialty.

It is important that the sharp and strong taste of the food does not dominate over that of the wine. That is why red wine is served with heavier meats, white wine - with poultry and fish, and rosette can be combined in various cases and game and fish. If you want to serve wine with dessert or some sweet bites, it is best to stop with champagne.

Popular and beloved by many of us is the combination of wine, aromatic cheeses and fruits. Hard cheeses like Edamer are excellent with red wines rich in tannin. Goat cheese can be served with dry white wines and red tart wines. Brie cheese also goes very well with red wine, but cheese souffle must be served with white or rose wine.

A classic combination is Burgundy wine with game.

It is difficult to trace when people started using wine in cooking, but it is certain that the Romans literally poured liters into pots of dishes. In fact, in Roman cuisine, wines are the main focus. To this day, cooking with wine guarantees the excellent taste of almost all types of meat, as well as various sauces and creams.

Etiquette when serving wine

There are strict labeling requirements for serving and consuming wine. Among the most basic rules is to always serve well chilled wine and never warm, because the cold can be warmed in the glass, but not well chilled will not allow maximum enjoyment of the bouquet and its aroma. Serve dry white wines with a temperature of 8-10 degrees, and strong white wines - about 10-12 degrees. Light red wines are best tried if they have a temperature of 14-16 degrees, and strong red wines should be 16-18 degrees.

The wine should not be refrigerated for more than 48 hours, and cooling it with a lot of ice or in the refrigerator is a totally bad idea. Sudden tempering is called striking, or in other words, rapid cooling. In no case does it reflect well on guilt. Only white tolerates more intense cooling wine.

Never offer ice to the wine you serve to your guests, although many people have this unpleasant habit of consuming wines, especially white ones. Additions of lemons and other fruits are not recommended unless you are making cocktails with the addition of wine.

When pouring into glasses, the wine is poured on the right side of the guest. The cups are usually filled to 2/3 of their volume. Be sure to follow the law of glasses, which are different in red, white wine and champagne. Serve the red wine in decanters and the white wine directly in bottles, because it is not decanted. If you plan to enchant your guests with different types of wine, know that always white wine is served before red, young wine is served before the old, and light - before the strong.

As for the label when pouring champagne, it should never be poured into wet glasses. The main focus of champagnes are bubbles and foam, which would be damaged by residual water in the glasses.

Benefits of wine

The wine can bring benefits to our health and good mood, but we must not forget that it is, after all, alcohol, which intoxicates no less than other spirits. The charm of wine to some extent is in the amount in which we consume it. That is why 1 cup a day brings our body important antioxidants, but after the third cup, their action is no longer important, because they themselves turn into free radicals.

The antioxidants in wine help us keep our body young and toned. They fight premature aging and kill free radicals. It is believed that moderate amounts of wine help to better the endocrine system, to maintain normal stomach acidity. The magic grape drink has antibacterial properties that help get rid of toxins from the body.

Other benefits of wine consumption include normalizing metabolism, improving sleep quality, good tone and restoring vitality, and dilating blood vessels. Wine gives our body many B vitamins and useful amino acids.

It has been proven that wine can protect us from atherosclerosis and slow down skin aging. It has a positive effect on the levels of bad cholesterol in our body and helps to cope with stress. Specifically - grape seed juice can prevent blood clots and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. In addition it helps to balance the lipoproteins in the blood.

There is evidence that a glass or two of white wine can help lower blood pressure, and red in small doses is useful even for hypertensives. This divine drink dissolves sclerotic plaques in blood vessels and reduces the risk of stroke.