Wine

Have you ever asked yourself ‘what is wine?’ or ‘how is wine made? Well, if you’re looking for answers to these questions and more, then look no further - you’ve come to the right place! Here we will explore the world of wine together. 

What is wine? Wine is an alcoholic drink, that is created using the fermented juice of grapes. And not just any old grapes, but special wine grapes. So the grapes you have on your table that pair perfectly with cheese and crackers are unfortunately not going to be any good for making wine with.

When wondering how is wine made, we look to wine grapes for our answers. Wine grapes are sweeter, smaller, have thicker skins, and tend to have a lot more seeds than regular table grapes. These specific grapes take a full season to ripen. In terms of winemaking, this means that wine can be made in yearly cycles. This explains why wine bottles tend to have a ‘vintage’ year printed on the packaging - this refers to the year that the grapes were grown, harvested, and converted into wine. ‘Vint’ means ‘wine making’ and ‘age’ is the year the wine was produced.

How many types of wine are there? There are, broadly speaking, five different types of wine. These are white, red, rosé, sparkling and fortified. However, there is huge variation within each category, depending on the grapes used, the region of production, and each winemaker's personal finesse. 

Wine can be a ‘single varietal’ or a ‘wine blend’. Single varietal tends to mean that this bottle was made predominantly with 1 type of grapes. This does not mean that the wine has to be made exclusively with this grape, just mostly. The wine is then usually named after the grape variety. 

Different countries have different standards for what percentage of wine has to come from one grape to qualify as a single varietal. For example, in the USA*, Greece, Chile, South Africa, and Australia there has to be 75% of one grape variety present. (*The state of Oregon actually has a 90% requirement). Argentina has an 80% standard, and European countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria have an 85% requirement. 

On the other hand, wine blends are made using a mixture of different grape varieties. However, it is the resultant wines that are mixed, after the fermentation and aging process, rather than the grapes themselves being mixed. (This does happen though, and Port is an example of this ‘field blending’ aka mixing of different grape varieties that then are fermented and aged together.)

It is both interesting and important to note that the flavor of the wine is a part of its scent. In reality, our taste buds can only actually discern four different flavor sensations: salty, sweet, bitter, and sour. However, our noses have an incredible ability to distinguish between hundreds of different nuanced scents! So, when looking to taste the flavor of wine, always remember to swirl the liquid around inside the glass, take a big sniff, and then take some wine into your mouth and hold it there in order to fully appreciate the flavors.

Many different factors contribute to each wine’s different flavor palate. During fermentation, the wine takes on acidity, tannins, sweetness, alcohol, and aroma compounds. We can explore these different qualities, and how they affect the taste.

Acidity: Wine tends to have a tart flavor, and this is owed to the acidity level of the wine. In terms of the PH scale, wine can range from between 2.5 to 4.5 

Tannins: Tannins are found in red wine (and also tea!) and create that astringent flavor present in red wine. 

Sweetness: All the 5 types of wine can have a huge variation of dryness to sweetness. If a wine is described as ‘dry’ it means it is not having any sweetness, and in opposition, a sweet wine can be very sweet, like honey or sugar syrup. 

Alcohol: It is the alcoholic content of the wine that creates that warm, burning feeling at the back of the throat and coats the mouth with a rich spiciness. Wine usually has an ABV (alcohol by volume) of between 10 and 15 percent. But of course, there are exceptions to the rule as, for example, Port is a fortified wine and can be around 20% ABV! If you want to buy fortified wine online then check out our great selection here. 

Aroma Compounds: It is these aroma compounds that give wine its different flavors. For example, red wines can have different aromas that create flavors of red and dark berries. Plus, red wine tends to be aged in oak barrels, which infuses the wine with a flavoring of vanilla, and spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and clove. White wine leans more towards aromas such as those of white-fleshed fruits, including peaches or nectarines, apricots, and citrus fruits.

Do you want to know where to buy wine? Are you searching for a good online liquor store to order wine online? Then check out our website for a fantastic range of quality wine brands! When you buy with us, you can trust that you’re buying exclusively good quality products, from reliable and reputed suppliers. We only stock brands that we believe in - brands that we know have amazing products, at appropriate prices. There’s something for everyone!

One of our favorite wine brands is Stella Rosa. Stella Rosa offers an incredible range of wines, with of course the classic and reliable red and whites, but also new and interesting fruity variations, such as watermelon, blueberry, or peach wine. If you want wine online from top wine brands then definitely check out Stella Rosa!

If you want to order wine online then check out Sandeman and their top wine brands selection of port. This port wine is some of the finest out there! Plus, it’s affordable, and won’t damage your wallet! It can be a great gift for the table (and make you a popular guest).

Our online liquor store also has a great selection of champagnes - and a brand well worth checking out is Veuve Clicquot and its gorgeous range of sparkling wines and champagnes. If you want to buy wine online this is a great choice for you!

Are you hosting a dinner and want to know where to buy wine and what specific wine, then check out this table-must-have: our Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2018. This fabulous red wine is bursting at the seams with juicy red fruits and undertones of wood and Oak, that bring depth and earthiness. Vanilla is also present, along with sweet spices, like cinnamon and clove. It pairs great with Italian food and meats and is a total crowd-pleaser.

If you’re more of a white wine person, then try our Smoke Tree Chardonnay. Arriving in a beautifully packaged bottle, this wine has citrus flavors, and floral aromas of jasmine, elderflower, plus vanilla, and pear.

Do you want to buy wine online, and buy good quality wine? If you’re willing to push the boat out and splash the cash, then try this Beau Joie Special Cuvee Brut Champagne. It will add sparkle and magic to any party or social event and has lovely flavors of lemon, apricot, and cherry.

Many people claim red wine to be healthy, due to its high level of antioxidants. These antioxidants can be beneficial for the health of your heart and arteries. Drinking red wine in moderation is thought to help lower the risk of heart disease or heart attacks. But remember, this only covers drinking in moderation - binge drinking of any wine will not be healthy and can lead to numerous health problems. So always drink sensibly!

It may seem obvious, but the sweeter the wine, the higher the sugar content! Therefore, if you're looking for a wine with a low sugar content, then go for a dry wine. Dry reds such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon are great choices, and are deliciously dry, with a much lower sugar content than their sweet red counterparts. Dry whites such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Viognier are also a good choice if you’re looking for a low-sugar content wine.

Merlot or Sauvignon are some of the smoothest and easiest red wines to drink. If you’re looking for an easy-sipping red, then we recommend trying one of these! This Decoy Merlot 2019 is silky smooth, with a great balance of tannins and acidity, plus the gentle sweetness of blueberries and cherries.

If you are new to red wine and want to try something lighter and more fruity to gently enter yourself into the world of wine, then try red zinfandel. This wine is not too heavy or strong and has light, jammy, candy flavors, with just the right amount of spicy tobacco finish to warm the mouth. The Prisoner Saldo Zinfandel is a great entry red wine, and it goes great with BBQ food! It has a silky smooth texture, with flavors of licorice, black pepper, cherry, and spices. This mouth-watering wine is a great red for all you beginners out there.

Shiraz tends to be a lot heavier, bolder, and stronger, with higher alcohol content. Shiraz can pack a powerful punch. If you want a full-bodied wine, Shiraz is the one for you! Made with black-skinned grapes, Shiraz tends to have flavors of blueberry and blackberry, and a gorgeous purple-red color.

Merlot on the other hand is a lot lighter and tends to be a bit sweeter than a Shiraz. Merlot has fruity notes in the flavor and is medium-bodied. This, therefore, makes it better for beginners, or those wanting a less intense red wine experience.

The most popular red wine in the world is Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes for this wine are grown in many different regions and come from a red wine grape. These grapes are a cross between the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and are beautifully balanced and full of flavor.

The classic flavor profile of this red is full-bodied, with dark berry flavors, and high tannins. It has medium acidity. This bold, assertive wine is a great match for rich meals such as steak or heavy, buttery, creamy sauces. It also goes great with BBQs or smoked foods. This wine tends to have an ABV of between 13.5% and 15%.

Pinot Noir is probably the lightest and most mild red wine. It has a bright flavor, with high acidity, and low alcohol content. The ABV tends to be below 12.5% and is a black-skinned grape variety.

So there we have it, the world of wine! There are so many great variations of this delicious alcoholic beverage out there, so go for it, pour yourself a glass (or 2) today, and get stuck in!