FAQ - Top 10 Wine Questions Answered: From Varieties to Pairings

10 Most Asked Questions About Wine

April 18, 2023

Wine is as much fun as it sounds but it is equally interesting. It may seem that grape fermentation is what makes wine but trust us when we say, there’s a lot more to it. There are many curious minds when it comes to wine so here we have compiled a list of top 10 most asked questions about wine. If you think you know about wine, brush up your knowledge and if you are one of those curious minds, then here’s the tip of the iceberg for you but you will definitely get acquainted with the basics. So, read on…

1. What are the most important things to consider when pairing wine with food?

This is the most asked question since food and wine pairing is sacred. Always remember, you don’t drink wine, you experience it. Pairing the right wine with the right dish is an essential part of that experience otherwise it can ruin everything for you. If we go by the rule, red wines go best with red meat and white wine is best savoured with seafood. However, there are exceptions to it like Sangiovese and Pinot Noir taste great with crab. So, it’s better to be on the safer side if you are hosting a party but you can also experiment a bit when keeping it casual with your girlfriends or guy friends.

2. Does Price Really Matter?

The price of the wine is inclusive of many things like terroir, oak and time. Terrior is a combination of natural environmental factors and physical attributes of the land that shapes the style of the wine. When a wine exhibits terroir, it means it tastes the way that is typical of the region. The quality of the fruit defines the price of the wine and quality comes from the terroir, wine making process involved, time invested in making wine and fermentation in oak barrels.

3. Do all wines get better with age?

This question is common among all the wine enthusiasts, amateurs and learners. The answer to this lies in the fact that when a wine starts aging, it undergoes a chemical change known as phenolic compounds. This chemical change modifies the taste of the wine; sometimes for good and sometimes for not-so-good. In fact, the aromas and colours also undergo this change. The phenol levels of the wine are directly proportional to the aging of the wine. Higher the level, better the wine will age. Lower the level, lesser the chance of wine to age well.

4. What is tannin?

Do you know that dried-out mouth feeling after sipping wine? Yes, exactly that is tannins. Tannins in wine are quite a popular terminology, yet they are misunderstood. They hold utmost importance in a wine’s taste. How a particular wine is going to taste after aging depends on the tannins. Tannins are apparent in the aftertaste of red wines. They are a group of phenolic compounds made from the skin, seeds, oak and stems of grapes. Both red and white wines have tannins, however, they are more apparent in red wines.

Also Read :- What’s All The Fuss About Fine Wine?

5. What’s the best way to learn about wine?

Wine is an experience; the more you have will it, the more you will learn about it. You need to explore wine to learn about it. Don’t miss any of your chances to visit the wine-tasting sessions, a visit to a winery, or wine festivals - all of these and other events where wines are involved. You must go there.

6. What are legs?

The “tears of a wine,” are the water droplets that form inside of a wine glass. These tears or wine legs showcase the quantity of high alcohol or high sugar content in a wine. These are the result of a phenomenon in which the fluid surface tension is caused by the evaporation of alcohol.

7. Does white or red wine have more alcohol?

Although there’s no hard-and-fast rule, red wines tend to be higher in alcohol than white wines. This also relates to the wine’s body or weight: If you like lighter styles, aim for red or white wines at or under 13 per cent alcohol. If you prefer something richer, bump that up to 13.5 per cent or higher. Sweeter styles, like dessert wines, have the lowest alcohol by volume, typically under 10.5 per cent.

8. What does “vintage” mean?

Vintage means the year the grapes were harvested. All the grapes in a vintage wine were all or mostly grown and harvested in the same year. On the other hand, a wine that is not vintage would be a blend of harvests from several different years.

9. How long does wine last once opened?

After a wine bottle is opened be it heavy or light, it stays fine between three to five days provided its inside the refrigerator. The wine starts oxidizing after that affecting the taste. The fruitiness of the wine starts fading and the vibrancy also goes down.

10. What are Sulfites? Are they dangerous?

Sulfites are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in wine. They are often found in all wines with their degrees varying. Apparently, they are the lowest in red wines and highest in sweet white wines. They are not dangerous, though rarely can cause a mild allergic reaction.

10 Most Asked Questions About Wine