Wine can be tricky. All of us know how great it can be and we know there are thousands of different ones from around the world. But do you know its history? Do you know what wine to buy to compliment the delicious meal you’re cooking for your first big dinner party? Can you recommend wines at System when a friend from out town asks?
For those of you shaking your head no – we thought we’d help you out a bit. Thanks to our writer, Paul Dahlgren, we bring you a small crash course on wine. This isn’t a summary of the Wine For Dummies book (if the image threw you off a bit). This is Wine For Dummies, by us.
Wines
Wine has gone from being a luxury to being a natural and popular social drink in today’s world. Our Swedish Liquor, formed in 1917, sells annually 180 million liters of wine. Sales have doubled since 1996, largely due to the production of boxed wine that account for half of the sales. Keep in mind that this drink of fermented juice of grapes can appeal to so many. According to researchers the wine is created by the brain when managing to transform the scent we take in through your nose and the taste we get through the mouth. The best taste experience is created naturally on good wine combined with good food.
Champagne & Sparkling
Best start to a party, dinner party or a dinner for two is a glass of sparkling wine or champagne. There are a wide amount of choices for fine sparkling wines. Known champagne houses like Bollinger and Paillard give that little extra. The favorite at the moment is the Champagne Brut Millesime Andre Clouet – perfectly dry and healthy!
White Wine
A good everyday wine suitable as party wine or a good complement for food is reasonably priced La Gascogne par Alain Brumont. This white wine has been of a high-class for a number of years. It’s both dry and fruity. For a more festive occasion I recommend a favorite of mine, Meursault. A good Meursault enhances most dishes and knocking out the recommended wine pairing, mainly in taste, but also in price.
Red Wine
Italian wines to be exact, especially after I recently re-visited the Piedmont. A light but tasty everyday wine is Brolio, a Chianti Classico product from Baron Rica Solis beautiful châteaux in Tuscany. I’m waiting to re-open a bottle of Barolo Ravera wine vintage 2007. I always appreciate tightness, fullness and the lovely aromas; it’s a pleasure. I have in storage a French Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte from Graves in Bordeaux from the peak year of 2005. It will be brought out at a very selected time.
Fortified Wines
Fortified wines are increasingly served as an aperitif to dessert and/or cheese. A bad habit is the different types of jams that have increasingly served as an accompaniment to cheeses. It exceptionally enhances the cheese flavor but always robs the wine its aroma. A good cheese is best eaten with good bread and a suitable glass of wine. South African’s Allesverloren-Fine Old Vintage is a great fortified wine that only gets better if stored for some years.
Wine Facts
Wine is a popular drink and has been produced for over 8,000 years. According to most sources the first wine was drunk in Persia, which archaeological findings confirm. The art of cultivating wine then spread to countries around the Mediterranean. During the Roman Empire time the Romans grew grape vines, which spread and was first cultivated in Europe. The manufacturing of glass bottles started in the 1700s. The bottles were sealed with corks so after storing the wine was better in flavor and softer in its texture. The world’s vineyards are located in two belts, between 30-50 degrees North and 30-45 degrees in the southern hemisphere. Cultivation within these areas is a daily temperature of 10 degrees or higher, rainfall 500-750 mm per year and hours of sunshine are about 1500. The number one wine-country is still France with its well-known regions but Italy is the world ‘s largest producer of wine. Spain has the area’s largest growing area and is third of the producers. The United States is the world’s fourth largest producer and the quality of the wines from there is increasingly gaining recognition. Argentina is the world’s fifth largest wine producer, with excellent red wines and Australia has cultivated wine since the 1700s and has continually been a popular choice for white wine. Systembolaget sells most of its wine from South Africa. The largest consumer of wine is the U.S., followed by France. But I predict both will be surpassed by China in just a few years.
Wine Tips
Champagne
Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut, France, (7418), 395 SEK
Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée, France, (7857), 349 SEK
André Clouet Brut Millesimè, France, (95277), 349 SEK
White Wines
La Gascogne par Alain Brumont, France, (2882), 79 SEK
Meursault Domaine du Pavillon, France, (75494), 269 SEK
Red Wines
Brolio Chianti Classico, Italy, (2705), 115 SEK
Ravera Barolo, Italy (97,030), SEK 435
Chateau Smith -Haut – Lafitte, Graves, France, (95548), 549 SEK
Fortified Wines
Allesverloren Fine Old Vintage, South Africa, (12109), 139 SEK
Words by Paul Dahlgren
Photos of some of the bottles I describe. The castle Barone Rico Soli, images are available from http://www.ricasoli.it/…
