Wine is enjoyed, treasured, and celebrated all around the world. Whether enjoying a barbeque picnic on a sunny day or spending quality time by yourself, having a nice bottle of wine is perfect for such moments. If you enjoy wine but feel lacking in knowledge, this beginner’s guide is just what you need to improve your understanding and become a more assured wine lover.

The History of Wine  

Wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages and was first produced in Georgia, Eastern Europe. It is basically produced from fermented grapes and its rich variety of flavours depends on the grape type and the winemaking techniques. Red wines are typically made from red or black grapes, whereas white wines are made from white or yellow grapes.

Art of Winemaking

The winemaking process consists of these necessary steps, beginning from harvesting the grapes and then crushing them to extract juices, followed by filtering and ageing the wine in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks, and finally bottling them for additional ageing or ready-to-drink. The taste and other factors of wine are determined by its particular grape variety and winemaking procedure, making each bottle of wine unique and delicious in its own way.

Wine Terminology

There are a lot of words and phrases that are used by wine enthusiasts and wine experts when discussing wine and this sometimes may make novices confused. Therefore, to understand this wine language, Here are some of the most common terms you can confidently use next time while addressing wine.

• Wine Varietals: Wine grapes that are used in making wine.
• Wine Grape: It is a small, sweet, and thick-skinned grape that is seeded, unlike regular grapes.
• Tannins: It is a phenolic compound causing dryness and bitterness that leaves puckering effects in the mouth.
• Astringency: A tasting term used for dry, puckery, and tingling mouth sensation aftertaste due to high tannins.
• Acidity: It gives a wine its crispiness and sour taste, activating our salivary glands.
• Sommelier: A wine professional or a wine steward
• Decanting: It is transferring the wine to aerate the new wine into another vessel, usually a decanter.
• Full Length/LLong Finish: The 'length' of aftertaste that lingers on taste buds after a wine has been consumed is an important aspect of its finish.
• Viscosity: It indicates the thickness and alcohol content in wine when it clings onto the sides of a wine glass, also referred to as legs.
• Breathing: It means exposing the wine to allow oxygen to enhance the flavours.
• Decanter: A decanter is a vessel that is used to transfer the wine, which may contain sediment.
• Verizon: This is a French term used for the beginning of growing grapes.
• Nose: The nose is the smell of the wine in the glass.
• Aroma: The aroma of a wine is the smell and scent of the wine grape variety.
• Wine Bouquet: Wine bouquets are aromas of a wine, originating from fermentation and ageing, highlighting wine's unique flavours.
• Wine Cellar: A facility, usually a space, where wine is stored to keep it at the right temperature.
• Palate: A tasting term to feel your taste buds on the tongue, the interior of your mouth, and the most important sensor of all: your nose.
• Terroir: A French term, mainly used for describing the unique characteristics of the geographical, soil, and climate factors that influence grape maturation.

The Main Types of Wines

Wines are classified into five main categories. These are produced from one of the most popular grape varietals with unique winemaking methods:

• Red Wine: They are produced using red and black grapes wines, varying from light to full-bodied wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz are the most popular grape varieties. 

Here are the top red wines you should consider as a beginner:

Wyndham Estate Bin 888 Cabernet Merlot 2023

Angove Long Row Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Jacobs Creek Shiraz 2023

• White Wine: These are mainly produced from green and yellow grape varieties and are lighter and crisper than red wines. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio are the main grape varieties of white wines

Here are the top white wines you should consider as a beginner:

Wicks Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Adelaide Hills

Jacob's Creek Cool Harvest Pinot Grigio 2023 SEA 

Ara Single Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Marlborough

• Sparkling Wine: These wines basically involve another fermentation process to create the bubbles. Sparkling wine can be red, white and rosé style. Champagne and Prosecco are the two most preferred sparkling wines. 

Here are the top sparkling wines you should consider as a beginner:

Jacob's Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV SEA

Dalfarras Prosecco 2023 Victoria

Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV Langhorne Creek

• Rosé Wine: These wines are made from red grape skins varying from dry to sweet wines and usually have a pinkish tint. It is an everyday wine as well as perfect for celebration.

Here are the top rosé wines you should consider as a beginner:

Whistler Dry As A Bone Barossa Valley Rose 2023

Cullen Dancing In The Moonlight Margaret River Rose 2023

Jacobs Creek Sparkling Moscato Rose NV SEA.

• Dessert Wine: These wines are made using both red and white grape varieties, they are usually sweet and pair well with desserts or cheese.

Here are the top dessert wines you should consider as a beginner:

Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling 2023 Coal River Valley 

Bethany Select Late Harvest Riesling 2023 Barossa Valley.

Prominent Wine Regions

Wine is produced in multiple regions across the world with each displaying significant characteristics and flavours of the wine. Following are the prominent wine regions from all around the world that are quite popular and you should definitely know about:

• Bordeaux Region, France: A popular region in France, Bordeaux is usually best known for wines like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
• Napa Valley Region, California: Napa Valley region in California is known for producing wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
• Tuscany Region, Italy: Tuscany is a famous region of Italy, known for wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.
• Marlborough Region, New Zealand: This Marlborough region of New Zealand is known for its most-loved wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
• Mendoza Region, Argentina: This Mendoza region of Argentina is renowned for producing high-quality Malbec and deep, spicy wines.
• Hunter Valley Region, Australia: This is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia, Hunter Valley, and is popular for producing best-quality Semillon and Shiraz wines.

Discovering these regions will provide good knowledge of wines for beginning your wine journey, with each wine narrating a unique story about its origin and characteristics. 

Wine Serving Principles

Create a good impression on everyone by following these simple steps to serve wine like a pro. You can elevate your wine-drinking experience with these basic tips:

1. Choosing Appropriate Glassware: For red wine, use wide glasses for oxygenating wine, for white wine, use a narrower glass for crispness, and for sparkling wine, use a tall, narrow flute-shaped glass for effervescence.
2. Storing at Proper Temperature: Red wines should be served just below room temperature, white wines can be kept mildly chilled and sparkling wines should be stored totally chilled.
3. Using Corkscrew: You should open the wine bottle with a corkscrew by carefully and easily pulling the cork or screw cap.
4. Pouring Carefully: Pour the wine by holding the stem of the wine glass, and serving half of the glass for red and white wines, and for sparkling wines, slowly pour down the sides of the glass.  In the end, make sure to swirl the wine to release aromas. 

Wine is more than simply a drink; it's a journey through rich history, diverse cultures, and regions. Although wine learning can be a lifelong endeavour, with the help of this beginner guide to wine, you will be ready to start your wine journey. Just Wines has everything you need to get started with wine!