One of the worst wines that I ever consumed was a popular White Zinfandel. On the advice of our legal department I won’t be naming names, but I vowed never to drink another White Zinfandel. But a few years later someone brought a different producer’s version to a dinner at our house and I felt compelled to taste it and not talk about the past. That also to be unnamed version wasn’t too bad. So I thought I would try another. First a few words of wine trivia. White Zinfandel became so popular that it prevented ripping out some of the oldest vines in the US. The producer of this bottle, Beringer is the oldest operating vineyard in Napa Valley. One more comment before our review, don’t tell wine connoisseurs that you’re serving them a Napa Valley Zinfandel if this be your wine. They will get the wrong idea, and perhaps not be amused. We will look for a red Zinfandel to review. But don’t be surprised if it doesn’t come from Napa Valley.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Beringer White Zinfandel 2007 10.5% alcohol about $8

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Pale rose color; strawberry and rhubarb aroma; touch of fruit sweetness in flavor; delicate, soft finish. Serving suggestion: Soft cheeses; Thai or Indian food, as a party sipper, or use in a Sangria. And now for my reactions.

At the first sips the wine was quite sweet with nice acidity. Its first pairing was with small, assorted pieces of barbecued chicken. This wine was refreshing with bright acidity. I had the feeling this is a fun wine, the kind you drink at a party where wine is about the last thing on anyone’s mind. I wish it were less sweet. It maintained a candy taste with roasted eggplant smothered in garlic. When this white Zin faced a white bean and red pepper dip it lost some of its sweetness, which upped it a notch in my estimation.

The next meal consisted of Kube (also called Kibbe); ground beef slow cooked in crushed wheat jackets accompanied by Swiss Chard and Bok Choy. The wine’s acidity almost counterbalanced its sugar. The more I drank the happier I was with the wine’s acidity.

My final meal was centered around a red onion omelet accompanied by smoked salmon on the side. The Zin was quite fruity but still sweeter than I would like while its acidity remained. In the presence of the smoked salmon the wine was round but not quite as fruity. The combination was pleasant but undoubtedly most of the credit went to the smoked salmon.

I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. When accompanying a yellow Cheddar the wine was fruity and sweet. It is almost as if the cheese wasn’t there. When paired with a more forceful white Havarti the wine was fairly round with diminished sweetness.

Final verdict. I would not buy this wine when I’m feeling serious about my libations. But if I just want to have fun and wash down selected nibbles, I wouldn’t mind another round. Does this mean that I’ll return to retaste my first White Zinfandel? Never.

Levi Reiss is the author or co-author of ten computer and Internet books, but really would rather just drink fine German or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his global wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.

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Tannin

Not only does soaking the skins give red wine its color, it also imparts a substance known as tannin. Tannin is what gives red wines a complexity that is beyond that of most white wines.

Do you know why red wines age better than white?

It is the tannin which gives the smell of wine in your mouth. Over time, the qualities of the tannin will mellow and blend harmoniously with the other characteristics of the wine. This is one of the main reasons that red wines usually age better than whites.

Benefits – Anti-Oxidants in wine

Red Wine contains Anti-Oxidants which is good for health. Drinking red wine can improve heart health and circulation while also preventing cancer. This site is for those looking for information, articles and news on red wine and health.

Aging Process

Red wines are most often aged in wood barrels to provide a deeper, richer flavor, sometimes described as woody, while white wines are not stored in wood to maintain their usually cleaner, clear taste. There are also guidelines on the types of wine to drink with different types of food, but many find the guidelines are not all encompassing.

Types of Best Red wines

Merlot

Merlot is one of the finest vintages of red wine and also one of the most popular. The higher alcohol content of merlot makes it an especial favorite among restaurateurs with an affinity for gourmet fare. Merlot has a rich and full-bodied flavor.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most common red wine that you will find most commonly in homes across America. This rich, full-flavored beverage goes well with most any dish other than fish or seafood.

Zinfandel

The Zinfandel varieties of red wine are most often classified as ladies wine, due to their subtle and light flavor. Zinfandel can be found in both red and white varieties, it is the red which is most popular among wine drinkers who appreciate the richness of a red wine, but the subtlety of white.

What foods go fine with red wine?

For the most part, guidelines say that red wine should be consumed with red meats and white wines with white meat. However, with the different flavors of the different types of wine, people are finding that some red wines taste better with fish and some white wines go better with their beef. Essentially, it is a matter of individual taste that determines the flavor of the wine, regardless of the meal.

Do you know that not all wines are made of grapes!

Not all wines are made of grapes, and these types of wine are usually indicated by their name such as apple wine or elderberry wine. There is also several types of wine that are made from grains such as rice, but they usually have a closer resemblance to beer instead of the smoother taste of wine. There is even wine made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine known as ice wine that offers a crisper taste.

Only Good Wines | USA State Tourism | Organic Is Great

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Serving Temperature for Red Wine: Serving temperature is among the most important aspects of wine service as it can greatly influence the flavor and aroma of the wine. While red wine is almost always served a bit warmer than a white wine, there is such thing as too warm.

The term room temperature for red wines can be misleading as the temperature in most modern homes is close to 70 degrees F, which is much too warm. To experience the full flavor and natural aromas of red wine, it should ideally be served at cellar temperature, which is around 55 degrees F or 15-16 degrees C.

As a general rule, a red wine should never be served warmer than 65 degrees and very light and fruity wines taste best closer to 55 degrees. Try experimenting with the temperature of a particular type of wine to see what temperature you feel is best. A few minutes in the refrigerator or over ice may make the wine much more enjoyable.

Decanting Red Wine

Decanters are specifically designed to allow the wine to properly breathe and also enhance the visual elements of the wine. However, whether or not red wine should be decanted before serving has been a subject of much debate. Decanters are really only deemed necessary for red wines that, by the nature of the way in which they are made, form a sediment in the bottle. This sediment should never make it into a wine glass and a decanter ensures it does not.

Decanters are sometimes frowned upon with very expensive wines because there is certain elegance and style about pouring it directly from the aged bottle. Whether you choose a decanter or serve directly from the bottle, most red wines should be opened and allowed to breathe for upwards of an hour before serving. As air hits the wine, the full flavors and smells are better released.

Choosing the Right Glasses for Red Wine

The aroma or bouquet of a red wine is very important to its overall enjoyment and using the right wine glass can enhance your wine drinking experience. Red wine glasses are especially designed to have a wide bowl with an opening that only tapers slightly. Never fill the glass more than half to allow the drinker to swirl the wine in the glass. This helps to aerate the wine and let the aroma properly escape. The wide mouth of the glass means that the wonderful smell of the wine will gracefully enter the nose as it is drank.

The Right Food Pairings with your Red Wine
Strong cheese is almost always a good pairing with red wine and a combination like Brie with a Cabernet or Muenster with a Zinfandel is a marriage made in red wine heaven. Soft and gentle wines such as Gamay and Merlot are full of fruit, easy to drink and are a great choice before a meal. Full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel can be far too overpowering when served with vegetables or light, white meats. What they need is a large, juicy steak to do them full justice.

While you can read plenty of opinions and guidelines about what foods should go with red wines, ultimately the only true way to judge the best pairings is to experiment and go with what tastes best for you.

Simon has coolated some useful tips for when you spill red wine, vist the website for tips on clean red widgets and how to clean red wine stains

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Knowing Your Red Wines: Red wines are most simply differentiated by what is known as their ‘body’ type. Light-bodied red wines offer a less intense taste that does not last as long on the pallet and full-bodied red wines supply a much heavier taste that lingers on in the mouth. There are also several versions of medium-bodied red wines that fall somewhere in between.

The key to enjoying your red wine is to start with a light-bodied variety and work your way through to the heavier-bodied varieties. If you start the other way round, the stronger flavors will drown the lighter ones. To enjoy your red wine evening to the utmost, you would do best to start off with a light wine variety such as a Merlot or Barbera and move on to a medium bodied red wine such as Pinot Noir or Tempranillo before hitting the Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Shiraz or any of the other full-bodied wines.

General Temperature Guidelines for Red wines: Red wine is best enjoyed when served at the proper temperature. The general rule that states that all red wines should always be served at ‘room temperature’ can be a bit misleading. The correct temperature actually refers to the ‘room temperature’ of a wine cellar, which is around 15-16 degrees C or 55degrees F and not that of a heated modern home, which at 70 degrees F is way too high.

As a general rule, full-bodied wines taste best when served at around 63 to 68 degrees F, light-bodied wines a bit cooler at 59 to 63 degrees and very fruity red wines cooler still at about 54 to 57 degrees. There are even thermometers specifically designed for wine for wine connoisseurs who want to be sure they have the temperature just right!

When served at a temperature that is too cold, the subtle flavors and textures of the wine will be lost whereas the wine can taste somewhat flat and totally non-refreshing if the temperature of the wine is too warm. No need to go rushing for your thermometer every time you open a bottle of red wine though. Just remember that red wine needs to be just cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough so that you can savor all the flavors. You know you have got it right if the glass of red wine feels slightly cool in your hands.

Let Your Wine Breathe: It is best to open a bottle of red wine at least 20 to 30 minutes before serving so that the wine gets a chance to breathe. All red wines benefit from breathing time as it allows them to release their multiple flavors and really show what they are made of. This is especially true for the full-bodied red wine varietals.

Use the Right Wine Glass: Truly experiencing the aroma of red wine is very important to how much you will enjoy it. This means you need to use the proper wine glass. A glass for red wine should be have a large bowl so that you can properly swish the wine and release its subtle fragrances. The mouth should only taper slightly so that you can fully smell the wine as you sip it. The large opening also allows the wine to ‘breathe’ properly.

Now you’ve got the fundamentals right; sit back, relax and enjoy your red wine.

Cheers!!

Simon is a lover of wine and has had his fair share of spills in the past. The Stains and spills website has some great tips for how to remove red wine stains and how to clean red widgets stains.

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Red wine comes in different flavors some of which are listed here:
Cherry, Plum, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currant, Raisin, Fig, Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Coffee, Cocoa, Mocha, Tobacco, Leather, etc.

Types of red wine
The type of Red wine depends on the area in which it is produced and the type of grape used for extracting the wine.

Syrah:
Syrah, also called as Shiraz, is mostly served with meat, beef or pastas. They are mostly dark colored wines. Syrah is widely cultivated in the regions of France, Australia, and California. One of the main ingredients of syrah is aroma which is very good for health.

Merlot:
Merlot, a red wine, is known for its light color and soft taste. It can be served with any kind of food. It is a very light drink and is not strong at all. Merlot is cultivated in countries like Romania, Chile, Washington, Italy and Australia. They are also present in herbal and medicinal form.

Cabernet sauvignon:
Cabernet sauvignon is produced from oak. This red wine is beneficial in preventing cardiovascular problems and also cancer because of its medicinal properties.

Pinot noir:
Pinot noir is rarely found because it is difficult to grow. This red wine plant is cultivated in countries like New Zealand, USA, Oregon and many other valleys.
This red wine is best suited with meat and lamb.

Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is the native wine of California because it is produced only in California. This is very hot and spicy in taste and goes well with meat, pizzas, and pastas.

Sangiovese:
Sangiovese goes well with Italian dishes and is available in valley areas.

Barbera:
Barbera is available only in USA.

Wine and Health
Consumption of wine to a limited extent may be beneficial to ones health. It removes bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol while reducing blood clotting, which is used to prevent a number of heart diseases and leukemia, because it acts as an antioxidant. They are used to prevent Parkinsons disease because of presence of resveratrol in the wine. Red wine contains higher amount of flavonoids which is very useful. Melatonin present in red wine is used to cure a number of skin diseases. Over consumption of wine may lead to many health problems like:
1) Red wine headache (RWD) – It is a disease caused due to excessive consumption of red wine, which may further lead to nausea.
2) Consumption of red wine is hazardous during pregnancy. It also increases the chances of breast cancer.
3) Brain migraines
4) Diabetes
Hence, moderation is highly recommended for the consumption of red wine.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.cecwine.co.uk where you can find out about red wine

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