by Administrator
6. October 2008 05:40
Wine can be extremely confusing. This is no great secret. With over ten thousand grape types being grown in more than 70 countries, it comes as no surprise that many are so intimidated by the subject. Even among the world's experts there are still many vague and uncertain answers. Ancient truths we held high are dispelled every day by DNA fingerprinting and new technologies, but I suppose such is the price of discovery! With so much information and innovation spanning so many languages, centuries and cultures, it is only inevitable that a few basic truths manage to become rather widely misinterpreted over time. Here are a couple I will attempt to clear up for you.
1.) All Wine is Meant to Age.
This is simply false, although many (if not most) believe it to be the case. The vast majority of wine (90+%) is not meant to age much longer than 5 years after release, and most of that will not actually improve with time. A small percentage of wine can sit 5-12 years and improve, while a minute portion of the world's wine can age for decades. Typically the most expensive bottles, examples of these are: Bordeaux Premier Crus, Burgundy Grand Crus, a small number of California Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage, Some Italian Super Tuscans, high end Australian Shiraz and a select few Spanish gems. So what are you waiting for? Start popping bottles!
2.) I'm allergic to sulfites! They give me headaches!
This is easily the most common misguided comment I hear about wine. The fact is sulfites (or sulfur dioxide) have never been proven to cause headaches. Several Harvard studies have been done on the subject and no correlation has ever been made. While sulfite sensitivity is an actual allergy (that less than 1% of the population suffers from), true sufferers of this experience allergic reactions, not headaches. A good example of this is that when people typically complain of this malady, they tell me that they cannot drink RED wine because of it, and have to drink white instead. I have always found that odd, as white wines almost always contain more added sulfites than red wine. Remember, don't confuse a red wine headache (RWH) with the headache that comes six hours later. . . that's called a hangover!
I hope this shines a little light in a couple foggy areas for you! If you ever have any questions, I'm only a click away.
Cin Cin!
