There are so many different types of wine that it can become overwhelming trying to remember or even figure out which wine is suited for which meal. I am nearing my 21st birthday and plan on studying up so that whenever I go out I will be able to order like a pro. Here is a little history of wine and information on a few different types of wine.

Biologists have noted that birds and primates are naturally drawn to the smell of ethanol produced by fermented fruit so the animal kingdom might have been the first to catch on to the wonderful drink we call wine. Historical records provide information on wine and wine growing areas, which began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Today France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and many other European countries have wine histories dating back to the Romans and Celts.

An ancient Persian fable credits a lady of the court with the discovery of wine. There was a Princess who had lost favor with the King and attempted to poison herself by eating some table grapes that had spoiled in a jar. She became intoxicated and giddy and fell asleep. When she awoke, she found the stresses that had made her life unbearable were gone. Returning to the source of her relief, her subsequent conduct changed so remarkably that she regained the King's favor. The King shared his daughter's discovery with his court and so on, wine became history. The Old Testament of the Bible tells us that Noah planted a vineyard and made wine. So whether it was this Persian Princess or Noah, wine has made a lasting impression on its drinkers and history.

Winemakers throughout the world use hundreds of different grape varieties to make different kinds of wine. But what is wine? Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of fruits containing sugars. Yeasts carry out fermentation converting sugars into alcohols, primarily ethanol, and other chemicals that add to the wines character. Grapes are richly flavored, sometimes colored and high in fermentable sugars making them ideal for producing wines. The types of grapes used to make a wine are probably the single most important factor in the taste of the wine. However, the flavors are also affected other factors such as soil, exposure to sunlight, climate, how the grapes are handled and fermented, types of yeast used, whether the wine is aged in wood, etc. Because of this, the same type of wine can be produced in several different regions, but various factors result in wines, which taste different! No wonder this can be so confusing.

I have found it is easiest to divide wines into three categories:

• Red wine
• White wine
• Dessert or fortified wines

Then you have your Champagne or Sparkling Wine, Kosher Wine, Rose and White Zinfandel. I have listed a few from each category.


Red Wine
· Cabernet Sauvignon performs well practically the world over, as long as it's not too cold, but in some areas of France, and in California's Napa Valley, it produces astonishingly rich and complex wines. The classic Cabernet flavor is one of deep, dark fruits, primarily black currant, and the best are medium- to full-bodied, intense and firm. Cabernets are almost always aged in oak for over a year, and should age several more years in the bottle. The great Cabernets of the Medoc region in France age for 15 years and more.
· Merlot is along the same lines as a Cabernet Sauvignon but it is more lush and Full-bodied with flavors of cherry, plum, and chocolate.
· Sangiovese is an important grape in some of Italy's greatest red wines; this hard-working grape from the Tuscan region is coming into its own as a stand-alone varietal. Wines from the Sangiovese can be medium to full-bodied and medium to high in tannin. They are typically characterized by cherry and spice flavors, sometimes with hints of violet, and sometimes even slightly nutty.

White Wine
· Chardonnay has become the worlds most often purchased dry white wine. Chardonnay is grown in nearly every wine producing area of the world. Usually aged in oak barrels, the wine is rich in strong flavors and aromas. The wine contains a fruity character with vanilla and buttery components.
· Riesling wines are much lighter than Chardonnay wines. The aromas generally include fresh apples. The Riesling variety expresses itself very differently depending on the district and the winemaking. Riesling should taste fresh. If they do, then they might also prove to get better with age.

Dessert Wines
· Port is different because it has above average alcohol content (most range between 19 and 22% volume). It's also special as its color and sweetness range according to the different types of Port. Port is a sweet fortified wine from the grapes growing on the deep walls of the Douro River Valley in Portugal. Port is made from up to about 40 grape varieties, most of which are red. After fermenting briefly, the grape must is poured into larger containers holding spirit, which kills the yeast and stops fermentation. The wine is then sent to the Port houses in Oporto, where it stays in barrel for a year or two. At that time a "vintage" can be declared, and the Port bottled with a vintage designation. This Port virtually demands another 15 or 20 years aging in the bottle.
· Vermouth is a fortified wine, flavored with herbs, Because of this, it is often not necessary to start out with fine wine. But some producers do use start with a good quality wine as a base. Vermouth is made in as many different styles as there are producers.

Other Wines
· White Zinfandel is a pink wine made in from early-picked Zinfandel grapes. The red grapes are quickly separated from the grape skins during the crushing and fermentation process, so that the resulting wine is very light pink. Because early-picked grapes are usually high in acidity, most White Zinfandels are made in a sweet style to balance the acidity. Sutter Home Winery was one of the first wineries to promote White Zinfandels.
· Champagne - The process called “Méthode Champenoise” produces Champagne and sparkling wines. After the grapes are pressed and fermented for the first time, they are blended, and the wine is bottled and temporarily capped, then a second fermentation. Sugar and yeast are added, and this time, the carbon dioxide is kept inside the bottle. The resulting sediment is extracted through a process of racking. The bottles are progressively turned upside down until all the sediment is collected in the neck. The necks are then frozen and the sediment is disgorged. After this phase, the winemaker may decide to add sugar to sweeten the wine. Finally the wine is corked. Some wines move through this process in a couple of months, while others are aged after the racking phase to build greater complexity and depth. True champagne comes only from France's northernmost wine-growing area, the Champagne region, just 90 miles northeast of Paris.
· Rose is rarely complex, and not to be aged. A good rose is tart and fruity. Roses are made from red wine grapes, but during fermentation there is minimal contact with the grape skin, so they don't pick up much color from the skins.

There is a lot of information to take in here. While red wines and white wines have their differences, it is the variety of wine within each group that reveals something about its taste and there are so many different combinations! I might not ever be a wine expert or order like a pro but I can guarantee that when my birthday rolls around I will be experiencing the most enjoyable part of studying up on wine, drinking it, responsibly of course!