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The one alcoholic drink that has respect among men and women is wine. Wine is considered to be a status symbol among the elites. The low percentage of alcohol in wine and other nutritional values give it a unique place among other strong alcoholic products. Wine is safe, while having a long chat, and the preferred choice for political discussions, since one hardly gets intoxicated. It is precisely the reason, why women love it. However, it could have made matters worse, if wine did have lots of alcohol content.

Drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy lifestyle has proved to be beneficial. From the ancient times, wine has been a staple drink in social gatherings, religious ceremonies, and private affairs. The natural processes and ingredients that automatically initiate fermentation within grapes make it a perfect source. Grapes grow abundantly in all the famous winemaking regions of the world. The best known wines are exclusively made from grapes. They contain the right proportion of sugars and fermenting agents that help in natural formation of wine.

Apart from making the heart “merry”, wine is known to have other benefits. Research has shown that people ingesting high levels of cheese fats were insulated against heart attacks due to presence of bioflavonoid.In such cases, wine come to their rescue, as it contains anti-oxidants to reduce bioflavonoid. Wine contains anti-oxidants present in grapes that may also help to prevent ageing-effects on the skin. A significant quantity can be ingested without having to worry about hangovers. Red wine may prevent and even halt development of atherosclerosis

The polyphenols in red wine maintain blood vessels by catalzing nitric oxide formation, which controls vascular tone. There is an overall reduction of low-density lipoproteins, and fat deposition. In ancient times, wine was considered to revive exhausted people better than water. Wine swabs and bandages were used to cover wounds. The alcohol within the wine cleaned the injury, while other agents helped in clotting. Modern society has included wine, as one of the ingredients that make perfect combinations in culinary preparations.

Red wine is coloured due to the use of grape varieties ranging from reddish, deep purple, or blue. The resulting wine is color classified using terms, such as garnet, black, dark red, light red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, and so on. A light-bodied wine like, the Beaujolais Nouveau has low tannin content and go well with a variety of foods. Medium-bodied red wines like, Merlot and Chianti contains a moderate amount of tannins but is milder than higher ranked wines. Full-bodied red wines like Super Tuscans contain the highest amount of tannin and alcohol. Best known red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Malbec, and Grenache.

White wines differ from red ones in color, composition and the taste. Under that skin, the pulpy part of a white grape is the same color as that of a red grape. White wine can be produced from red and white grapes. It has similar beneficial properties like red wine. Common grape varieties used to produce white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, and so on.

The quality and consistency of wines produced at different wineries is assessed by wine tasters, who are employed by the retailers or by the winery itself. They describe their perception of appearance, flavors and aromas of the wine to categorize them on quality rankings. The proper analysis is done through impartial tasting procedures, such as blind-tasting, where the taster is unaware of the origin and colour of the wine. Wine tasters are key decision makers, who determine the price and status of a specific batch.

High levels of wine in the body can have adverse effects on the lifestyle. The level of triglycerides is greatly increased due to excess wine intake. This can exacerbate diabetes and heart complications. Alcohol increases estrogen level in the body and raises tumor growth rates, especially in case of breast cancer. The presence of sulfites, histamines, and tannins is a trigger for migraine attacks. Wine is also associated with weight gain, since the alcohol content carries a high calorific value compared to other constituents.

Oxygen is a vital, critical component to you, me and all human beings. Alas, the story is a bit different when it comes to wine. If wine is exposed to more than a small amount of oxygen, the results can be horrific. How so? Well, it might be better used for your fish and chips!

Timing is a big issue when it comes to wine. When you open a bottle of wine, you often want to let it breathe for a few minutes depending on the type of wine in question. Why? The exposure to oxygen will modify the taste of the wine in a manner that was planned for by the vintner at the winery. Take that same bottle of wine, however, and leave it uncorked and on the table for a couple of hours and what happens? The wine “goes bad” and tastes terrible. The reason has to do with the temperature probably getting to high and the impact oxygen exposure is having on the wine.

What is the problem with oxygen exposure? It has to do with a microbe called acetobacter. It is almost always present in wine. When exposed to oxygen, the microbe starts doing something interesting. It starts converting the ethyl alcohol in the wine into acetic acid through a multistep process. So, why is this a problem? Well, acetic acid is the main component of…vinegar! Yikes!

It takes more than a few hours for acetobacter to convert the ethyl alcohol in wine to a vinegar substance. Leaving a wine bottle open for a few hours isn’t a problem. Exposure to oxygen while the wine is being stored, however, is a different story. Even a tiny bit of oxygen leaking in through the cork can lead to a stored bottle of wine that is not wine, but vinegar. It happens all the time!

If you have are storing wine to let it age, you should take all possible steps to prevent oxygen from getting into the wine. The last thing you want to do is open a bottle after 10 years and get a whiff of vinegar!

It’s great hosting a wine tasting party! When doing so, see that you follow these steps to ensure your guests get the most out of their experience at your wine tasting party.

Which Wines should you serve?

There is a host of wines to make your choice. They are red, white and sparkling wines. You may choose one of the three types or make a smart mix of all three. A great way to get started is with the sparkling wine, which arouses the taste buds. You should next serve a light wine and then a fuller-bodied wine. You must ensure that the wines do not overpower each other in their flavors, especially the flavor of the wine tasted before. An exciting way to conduct your wine tasting party is to introduce a theme. It could be like “Italian Wines” where you serve a collection of wines from the different regions of Italy, such as Veneto, Piedmont and Tuscany.

How to Serve Wine

The Glass – White wine is usually served in a small, slightly curved glass to help retain the chill of the wine and bring out its aroma and delicate flavor. Red wine is usually served in a large round shaped glass to heighten aroma and flavor.

Temperature – White wine should be served chilled after refrigerating an unopened bottle for an hour or two. Red wine should be served a cool room- temperature. Approximately one and a half ounces of wine should be poured into a glass.

Eats with the Wine – You may serve unsalted crackers or bread and water. The water helps cleanse the palate between sips of wine. If you would like to add some festivity, then you could serve light appetizers that complement the wine. In the case of an Italian theme you could serve Parmesan cheese or seasoned olives.

The Experience

Wine tasting arouses three senses, that of seeing, smelling and tasting. As host you should be familiar with the art. The glass containing the wine should be lifted up against a white background to see the color. The color of the wine should be brilliant and clear. The wine should next be swirled gently in the glass holding it at the stem while the base rests on the table. That will incorporate air into the wine to release the molecules into the air. You should now take a whiff at the wine to gauge the aroma. You will be able to identify it with the flavors of flowers or fruits. That will also indicate the taste of the wine.

Now sip the wine and swirl it around in the mouth, allowing the nuances to seep into your taste buds. Savor the taste to distinguish the flavor, which could be dry to semi-dry, or sweet to semi-sweet. Does the taste feel light-bodied or heavy-bodied? Judging from the smell and the taste is it fruity or flower flavored? It will please you to see the satisfied looks of your guests when they identify with the characteristics of each wine and what they like. Your guests will appreciate being provided with notepads to write down the characteristics of each wine as they party.