A Few Misconceptions About Wine And The Truths Behind Them

People love wine. What’s not to love, really? However, some experienced drinkers lament at all the myths and misconceptions that the masses have on wine, not because the false information destroys its image (nothing can ever do that), but rather because a lot of these myths and misconceptions keep new enthusiasts from fully enjoying the experience.

Image source: thethinkingtraveller.com 

Let’s look at some of the misconceptions about wine and the truths behind them.

Age

The truth is the age of the wine has very little to do with its quality. This is only true in so few cases (pun unintended). What wind drinkers should know is that most wines are best in their first two years from being released. Rare wines that get finer with age are few and are too difficult to maintain.

Legs and tears

Legs and tears refer to the streaks of wine in a glass. They refer to the wine’s viscosity and alcohol content, and nothing more. A general rule of thumb is that fatter streaks mean the wine is more alcoholic.

Caviar

Some people disturbingly think that caviar is best consumed with champagne and vice versa. Nope. Champagne is an acidic wine and needs a partner that’s fried, like chips.

Image source: vinepair.com

Dessert

Much like the errant champagne-caviar connection, dessert wines do not exist the way people think they do. If you’re eating dessert, which is already sweet, it will usually eliminate the flavor of the wine. Moscato is probably best for dessert.

Hi there! I’m Doug Grady, an Austin, Texas-based realtor. When I’m not busy with work, I make it a point to have a laidback weekend and enjoy the finest bottle of wine. More on my work and interests here.

The Difference Between Warm-Climate And Cool-Climate Wines

The taste and flavor of the type of wine we love depends on whether the variety or blend is grown in cool- or warm-climate regions. Let’s look at some places (and grape types produced) which lead to those distinct wine characteristics.

Warm-climate areas will have generally more consistent temperatures throughout the year, giving grapes more time to fully ripen. The warm climate allows more varieties of fruit flavors to come out. However, because of the steady climate, some of the natural acidity in the grapes is lost (which other wine experts prefer). Regions with warm climates include Australia, Argentina, Southern France, Southern Italy, and California.

Image source: wineaustralia.com

On the other hand, cool-climate vineyards have temperatures that quickly drop off nearing harvest time, allowing for a distinct taste in the grapes. It’s harder to get the grapes to ripen, but the preserved acidity allows for the emergence of more tart fruit flavors. Cool weather is likewise ideal in the production of year-specific vintage wines. This is because certain seasons will be much warmer, thus producing riper grapes and better wine.

Cool-climate regions for growing grapes include Chile, South Africa, Austria, Northern Greece, Northern France, and several places in the United States (New York, Oregon, and Washington State).

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The name’s Doug Grady, a realtor based in Austin, Texas. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. During my free days, I love sampling various types of wine. For more about me, do check out this webpage.