Wonders of Wine in the bottle. Have you ever looked into the history of wines, the gem that has been around for thousands of years? Perhaps the biggest question is the name or why aged? Maybe why some do not know the history thru the years of why wine became so relevant? However many articles have been written about wine, this is just the tip of when they came into life.
Wonders of Wine ~ In the Bottle
Wonders of Wine? Do you or have you wondered? And guess what that is what Wine Ambassador is doing for everyone, discovering and sharing. Let’s take some time travel into the Wonders of Wine and explore.
Why Wine Is Stored In Oak
Due to a few reasons, oak barrels tend to be one of the most recognized symbols mentioned in wine creation. However oak barrels were no intended to be used for wine, originally a clay vase was used to store wines. But it had the best end result.
And when you hear wine has been around for thousands of years, this is a well known fact! Not only did the Romans carry there weapons, an food they carried there wine. Also provided nutrients for the malnourished troops. Other regions used different methods of transporting wine that weighed less, however the clay vases were more airtight.
Over time and distance the troupes felt the clay was so heavy to carry there had to be a better, lighter way to transport wine. They had heard of others using palm but was not flexible or airtight as the clay vases. Therefore as discovered oak was the best solution, it is a softer wood and easier to bend into barrels, also toasting over fires for creating these storage units. Also with the tight grain was water proof, was an all around easier way to transport. And the forests were full of oak trees, the clay was replaced.
Over time the people discovered this to change the quality of wines, softer and smoother, also made some wines taste better. Also with light toasting of the oak added additional scents of cloves, cinnamon, all spice or vanilla. Due to aging in the barrels, time travel, they discovered the aging processes gave more quality to the wines.
How Are Wines Named?
Have you wondered where wines get there titles or names? The fact that a true fine wine has been named by the grape or region grown. Perhaps better indication is the differences between Old World and New World wines. Old World wines tend to be lighter-bodied, lower in alcohol, have brighter acidity, and show more earthy flavors. New World wines usually are fuller-bodied, higher in alcohol, have lower acidity, and are much riper on the palate.
Depending on where in the world the wine you have purchased was made, the practices of that location will determine whether or not they name the wine after the grape variety or the region. Our wines are from Napa and Sonoma and are named after the grapes used. Which is the New World.
Tip: Old World wines are usually named after the region where they were grown, while New World wines are usually named for the sole or principal grape in the bottle!
Aging Wine ~ Wonder Why
Another wonder of wine is the aging process and why this is done. Aging a wine means that a true fine wine is aged to perfection. And only those exclusive wine makers with the craft or knowledge judge the time left in barrels. Also with aging those exclusive grape varietals, bring out more of the true flavor and quality for those enjoying each one. Perhaps you decide to take a wine you have purchased and store it in a cool, dark place for a number of years, allowing the wine to improve as it sits in the bottle. That is not the same as oak barrels. And the oak adds oxygen, tannins , and a depth of flavor to the wine stored inside of them. Oak barreling is most commonly used with red wines and Chardonnay.
And did you know grapes are an incredibly impressionable and delicate fruit. Each decision the winemaker makes throughout the process, from how and where the grapes are grown, to what occurs to them after they are juiced, impact how the wine tastes and smells at the end.
Farm to Aging to Bottle
Also for all fruits and vegetables, good farming equals great wine, and it is at this stage where the grapes also first come in contact with elements that can impact the wine’s ultimate characteristics. Many insects are important to the health of grapes, but most important are bees. Also, the grapes grow in a vineyard surrounded by plants. Including such as wild herbs, flowers and grasses, the bees fly around the vineyard distributing pollen, and as the grapes ripen they absorb characteristics from these plants.
And after the grapes transition from the vineyard to the cellar, each decision the winemaker makes has an influence on the flavor. Due to how the winemaker chooses to press the grapes, whether the winemaker wishes to age the fermented juice in steel or oak. And how long the winemaker lets the wine sit in these vessels all aid in the unique flavors and smells into a wine.
I hope you have learned a little knowledge from this article and why the processing is brought to the perfect wine! Exploring the Wonders of Wine, not only gives you some back ground but knowledge when presenting wines to your followers.