Good wine isnt easy to produce.
A Brief History of Wine
Wine is centuries old.
According to researchers,the earliest known signs of winemaking date back to 5,980 BC.
Like other alcoholic beverages, wine may have been accidentally discovered after stored grapes began to ferment.
Over the millennia, the winemaking process has drastically changed.
There are dry wines, dessert wines, and even fortified wines like a bottle of sherry.
just note that our list isnt definitive.
Instead, view it as an introduction to the fascinating world of wine.
Youll find theres artistry not only in the production but also in the comsumption of wine.
Pairing vintages with meals is like creating a flavor rich ballet to titilate and tantalize the taste buds.
Well also suggest some vintages and food pairings for each category.
Champagne
Sparkling wine first appeared on the menu in the early 16th century.
Its since become one of the most popular types of wine, the most famous and well-respected being Champagne.
Once associated with only royalty and the social elite, Champagne is most often reserved for special occasions.
Many sparkling wines flirt with the Champagne name, but only a select few are genuine.
The grapes traditionally need to be either Pinot noir, Pinot Meunier, or Chardonnay.
However, some winemakers have broken from the norm and successfully used other grape varieties to produce Champagne.
Contrary to popular belief, there isnt just one style of Champagne.
As a result, each jot down pairs differently with food.
For example, a nice bottle of Brut (dry) goes well with a steak dinner.
If youre looking for top-quality Champagne, then look no further than Moet & Chandon.
Prices fluctuate so be sure to check with retailers before purchasing.
This bottle sold at auction for a whopping $2.07 million.
Sherry
When is a wine not a wine?
When its a sherry.
Therefore, it boasts a higher ABV, averaging between 15 to 22%.
Sherry is predominantly made from Palomino grapes grown in and around Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain.
Sherry is cask-aged, and unlike regular wine, goes through a fascinating aging process calledSolera.
Solera involves slowly moving the sherry through a series of barrels, typically between three and nine barrels.
Interestingly, the sherry is not transferred in bulk.
If it flies Amontillado.
But, if it runs Oloroso.
When looking for a great sherry to serve, consider investing in a bottle of Apostoles from Gonzalez Byass.
Massandras Sherry de la Frontera 1775 is the most expensive sherry in the world.
Being over two hundred years old, it is also one of the oldest bottles of wine.
Therefore, its no surprise that a single bottle sold for over $43,500 in 2001.
Port
Port is another throw in of fortified wine.
Its traditionally a red dessert wine, but you could find dry, semi-dry, and even white ports.
If you prefer more traditional winemaking, there are seven different types of true port.
Each one is made with a particular combination of Portuguese grapes.
Among these, arguably the most desirable grape is the Touriga Nacional.
Its a traditional red that pairs well with chocolates and caramels.
You may even try port-styled wines from outside Portugal, but we recommend authentic port for your first tasting.
To add, Dow offers shockingly reasonable prices compared to the most expensive port wine.
Riesling
Tracing back to the 15th century, Riesling wine takes its name from the Riesling grape.
The grape originates in the Rhine region of Germany and is known for its sweet and aromatic presence.
Compared to some grapes, Riesling grapes are rather unique.
Theyre known to have very different flavors depending on where theyre grown.
This makes tasting authentic Riesling quite an experience for genuine wine enthusiasts.
If their taste buds are refined enough, they can pinpoint the exact region where the wine was grown.
As a result, these wines have a very sweet, sugary taste.
They are also somewhat acidic.
Meanwhile, older Riesling wines are known for their heavy petroleum-esque aromas.
This smell signals quality to connoisseurs but is understandably off-putting to casual wine drinkers.
Thus, you must pair Riesling wine according to its age.
Fish, salty goods, and earthy flavors work well for Riesling in general.
Although grown worldwide, the best Riesling wines are those with Germanic roots.
Perhaps even a classic German wiener schnitzel.
You wont regret it!
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc is a white-skinned grape from the Bordeau region of France.
Its widely cultivated, being theeighth-most commonly grown grapein the world.
Sauvignon traditionally produces dry white wine, but it can also be found in sweeter variants.
The flavor of the wine is influenced by several factors, including where its grown and how its prepared.
The resulting flavor profile ranges from grassy to sweet to citrusy.
Thanks to its consistent popularity, there is no shortage of Sauvignon blanc wines to choose from.
Bottles range from inexpensive to wallet-stretching.
As always, check prices with retailers.
Meanwhile, the title of the most expensive variant goes to the American-grown Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc.
A bottle of this will set you back several thousand (at minimum.)
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is another white wine that first saw life in France.
Its a common grape with a relatively neutral base flavor thats heavily influenced by regional conditions.
Grapes grown in very hot regions, such as Calfornia, have largely tropical flavors.
Due to the crops versatility, chardonnay was very popular in the 80s.
However, its since waned.
A good chardonnay pairs well with fish and white meat dishes, as just most white wines do.
You might try poached salmon or sage-grilled chicken breast for your next bottle of chardonnay.
Carmel Vineyard Chardonnay 2015.
Otherwise, wed recommend a Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2018.
Both are affordable for the average joe.
One of the few remaining bottles sold at auction for a remarkable $11,325 in 2010.
A white wine, Gewurztraminer is cultivated around the world, though its difficult to grow.
It needs dry, warm summers yet cannot thrive in chalky soil.
Furthermore, it is susceptible to both disease and frost.
The grape also ripens late in the year.
A Gewurztraminer wine is a solid, middle-of-the-road wine that most people will find palatable.
The fruity tones also make it a fantastic companion for a fruit salad.
Despite not being the most recognizable name, there are several excellent Gewurztraminer wines on the market.
You may also consider the 2005 Domaine Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles.
Zinfandel
The Zinfandel grape originated in Croatia but is now commonly grown across Californian vineyards.
While traditionally a red wine, the rose white zinfandel often outsells its red counterpart in the United States.
Much like chardonnay, the rose Zinfandel is looked down upon by die-hard wine traditionalists.
Its considered an entry-level wine, both in terms of consumption and cultivation.
Its wickedly sweet but low in alcohol and calories.
(Thus, its popularity.)
It pairs excellently with barbequed red meat or a nice spicy curry.
Best Zinfandel Wine
There are plenty of options for Zinfandel wine.
And the best part?
None of them really break the bank.
Check with retailers for the best deals.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a French red wine grape grown in vineyards around the globe.
Despite being the 10th most commonly cultivated grape, Pinot noir isnt easy to grow.
The grapes also have particularly thin skin.
This impacts the final color of the wine, which is usually on the paler side.
The resulting wine is wonderfully medium-bodied, adding to the grapes universal appeal.
Its also very easy to pair with dishes.
If on the lighter side, the wine can be served with fatty fish, such as salmon.
Looking for something to go with your table wine?
Try one of these30 types of bread.
Its a well-balanced, well-liked red.
You may also consider a bottle from the Luminous Hills Estate Astra for your next dinner party.
They dont have a large selection, but they make up for it with affordable, high-quality wine.
It sold for $558,000 to a private collector in 2018.
Merlot
Merlot is another classic French red wine thats popular across the globe.
Its also the second most commonly cultivated wine grape in the world.
Both can create an excellent bottle of wine, just with very different flavor profiles.
That said, Merlot is difficult to grow.
This has resulted in a lot of sub-par labels on both sides of the ocean.
The grape itself is a blue-skinned fruit that grows in loose bunches.
Final flavors are influenced by the origins of the grapes.
Merlot is also a fantastic wine to serve with meat.
One bottle of this vintage auctions for thousands of dollars.
Syrah/Shiraz
A crossbreed between two relatively unknown wine grapes, Syrah is a unique red wine.
Grown globally, the wines body varies according to the grapes origins.
Syrah grapes grown on French soil and in more moderate climates yield a medium body wine.
Note that Syrah wine is often labeled Shiraz on bottles from Australian and South African vineyards.
This is just a linguistic difference and should be considered the same key in of wine.
In the winter, a Syrah wine will go nicely with a hearty beef stew.
Due to its flavor, Syrah isnt a casual wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Last but not least: the Cabernet Sauvignon.
When grown in moderate climates, a good bottle of Sauvignon has fruity notes of blackberry and cherry.
Its Australian counterparts, meanwhile, offer a slightly more jammy flavor with undertones of eucalyptus.
Cheese, as always, goes wonderfully with Cabernet Sauvignon.
You may alternatively try portobello mushrooms.
Both are somewhat pricy but affordable for cabernets.
We recommend saving your selection for special occasions.
There are hundreds of different flavors, bodies, and aromas to enjoy.
With a little time, youll be sure to find the right vintage for you.
