| Is wine just an alcoholic beverage made by the | | | | and similarly wines are classified by body-type, |
| fermentation of grapes? No, wine is that essential | | | | wines can be light bodied, medium bodied or full |
| quotient for the perfect evening with loved ones, | | | | bodied... on basis on increasing tannin and alcohol |
| memorable candlelight dinners, romantic getaways, | | | | content. Around 50 key red wine varieties that |
| of poetry and dreams. An engagement ring in a | | | | manifest themselves in today's worldwide wine |
| glass of sparkling red wine had sealed many a | | | | market consistently, they include the expensive |
| marriage, with most of the work being done with | | | | and famous wines like Chianti and Bordeaux, which |
| wine making the drinker pleasantly content with a | | | | are names of region, as in the case of European |
| warm feeling. Knowledge of the aroma and taste | | | | wines which are classified by where the grapes |
| of the wine, its background and characteristics | | | | are grown, while the non-European wines are |
| and its special traits will go a long way in making a | | | | classified by grape type, like Pinot Noir and Merlot. |
| favourable impression last a long, long time. | | | | Serving and drinking red wine is also an art, as is |
| Red Wine is made almost exclusively from black | | | | wine tasting and classification. Red wine glasses |
| or dark grapes, the colour coming from the skins, | | | | are bigger in diameter and narrower towards the |
| which is crushed together with the grapes to give | | | | top. The glass is usually filled one-thirds, leaving |
| the distinctive red colour, and stored in wooden | | | | room for the wine to be swirled gently in the |
| casks for the flavour. Classified as a light wine, | | | | glass to bring out its fragrance. Red wine tastes |
| the red wine is certainly the most popular, with an | | | | best when it is allowed to breathe, too hot a |
| alcohol content of 10-14%, giving a relaxing, | | | | climate can bring out the alcohol flavour, too cold |
| mellow taste without knocking the drinker out. | | | | can make them taste bitter. The right |
| The tannin content in the skin gives the distinctive | | | | temperature for serving the red wine is 60-65 |
| taste of the wine. Basic knowledge of wines and | | | | deg Fahrenheit. Some wines like the Chinon are |
| their flavours is considered a must in social circles | | | | served chilled as they are already highly aromatic. |
| nowadays. | | | | Chemicals that occur in the wine during the natural |
| The individual wine's particular red hue depends on | | | | fermentation process have many health benefits, |
| the kind of grapes used in the process and the | | | | including reduced heart disease and cancer |
| length of time the pigment in the grape skin is in | | | | protection. The grape seeds and skins also |
| contact with juice. Some vintage wines cost | | | | produce antioxidants and studies are still on to |
| thousands of dollars for a bottle and are a | | | | research the various benefits of red wine. The |
| collector's item, with the term 'vintage 'meaning | | | | French, who are traditional wine drinkers have |
| grapes that were grown and bottled in a particular | | | | very low heart disease rate which is attributed to |
| year, and labeled likewise. | | | | the chemical called procyanidins which do not allow |
| Beware of wine and women, runs the old saying | | | | the blood vessels to constrict. |