Wijn 1

In the unreliable summers of northern France, the acidity of under ripened grapes was often masked with chaptalization with unsatisfactory results, whereas now the less ripe grapes are made into popular sparkling wines.

When at a wine tasting event, one is not frowned upon for spitting wine out. Red wines usually trump whites in alcohol content. In cooler climates, cabernet sauvignon tends to produce wines with blackcurrant notes that can be accompanied by green bell pepper notes, mint and cedar which will all become more pronounced as the wine ages. The word "sauvignon" is believed to be derived from the French sauvage meaning "wild." Terroir is the taste of the territory. More? Be not offended when your ex drinks wine. The Romans cooked grape juice in lead pots to sweeten their wine... and to poison their wine. Is wine vegan? Not if it uses gelatin in the clarification process. Grapes crushed and ready for fermentation are called must. Hint: Sangiovese is a four syllable word. Maybe more if you're drunk.

Alsace, in Eastern France, is highly regarded as a winemaking region. Burgundy is the definition of a strong red. Roll the wine around your mouth with your tongue and note the different flavors. Pertinent info is found on the label. A popular but unconfirmed theory claims that Malbec is named after a Hungarian peasant who first spread the grape variety throughout France. The world's oldest bottle of wine is over 1600 years old and can be found at a museum in Germany. Oak imparts vanilla, toast, caramel and coffee. A complex cabernet is a good one. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are two names for the same wine. A big body makes an impression on the palate. Egg whites are sometimes used in the clarification process.