RED WINES TO ENJOY
via GIPHY
Welcome fellow-quarantiner! It’s another day of our randomly-forced staycation, so it’s also another day to find something interesting to get in to. Yay!
We may all be stuck in the house right now, but look on the bright side, at least there’s plenty of delicious wine to discover and try! But first things first, seriously, who doesn’t like wine? I’m an exclusive red wine drinker, so my personal experience with wine is extremely biased. If you find yourself disgusted with wine, specifically red, hopefully you’ll be inspired to try a different type by the end of this post. Here’s an official reminder to order some wine online or add some to your next lengthy grocery list.
Things to Know:
via ilovewine.com
Drinking one glass of red wine a day is more beneficial to your health than not drinking any at all. Here’s a nice scholarly source in case you’re a skeptic.
Some red wine varieties are healthier than others. Dry wines are healthier than sweeter wines. And unfortunately, wines with a lower alcohol percentage are better for you than those with more alcohol.
The color of any particular red wine variety depends on the shade of the wine grape used to make it.
Red wine gets lighter in color with age. Really aged red wines can be really pale, almost translucent.
The taste of red wine depends on the ripeness of the wine grapes at the time they were used. Red wine from places with cooler temperatures tend to be more, red-berry flavored (like raspberry and strawberry), while places with warmer climates tend to have wine with deeper flavors such as blackberry and pepper.
A FEW RED WINE TYPES
Zinfandel
The Zinfandel red wine variety derives from a black-skinned wine grape. Might I also add that it is a very versatile and delicious wine in general. It pairs well with a diverse group of foods, ranging from turkey and ham to Manchego cheese and caramelized onions. White Zinfandel, a lighter and sweeter variety of Zinfandel, was actually discovered on accident while making Zinfandel; it is also quite popular amongst red wine drinkers. Top 3.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes are extremely popular. They are literally the world’s most planted varieties. These wine grapes are super solid and fairly easy to grow, which may help explain its global popularity. This red wine has a full-bodied taste, often with black-fruit notes while some varieties have richer flavors, like vanilla and clove.
Pinot Noir
The all-time favorite! It’s the world’s go-to light-bodied red wine. Pinot Noir is an extremely smooth red wine with a fruity, flowery, and sometimes spiced aroma. Some of the main flavors hinted in Pinot Noir are raspberry, cherry, and hibiscus. Pinot Noir pairs particularly well with salmon, chicken and pork, so grab your favorite cookbook and bon appétit! Definitely in our Top 2.
Merlot
Second to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot wine grapes are the second most-planted type in the world. Merlots have great range, with flavors being either very fruity and sweet, or bold, rich and cabernet-like. Because of this incredible range, Merlot can pair with an innumerable amount of dishes. Merlot pairs very well with common dinner selections such as grilled meats, shellfish and even greens. Top 2 but not two!
Wine at Your Fingertips