Wine, a great French wealth since the dawn of time (to be consumed in moderation), is one of the pleasures of life, especially if you know how to appreciate it, thanks to a beautiful wine tasting.
Family meals, small celebrations, weddings, communions and others, discover wine in another form, and when you will know how to recognize these red, white, rosé liquids, sparkling or not, trust me, you will not drink them, but enjoy them.
Wine, origin and evolution over time
Viticulture appears to have appeared 9,000 BC in Asia Minor, but certainly not with the quality we know today.
3000 years BC the Egyptians cultivated vines in order to use the wine for funeral rites. From the Egyptians to the Greeks who passed on to the Romans, the vine was developed in Spain and Portugal, around 600 years BC.
I think you are already looking at wine differently… and that’s not over…
You should know that there are around 4,000 varieties of grape varieties (different vine plants). Viticulture in France is very developed, let’s be a little chauvinistic, we have the best wines in the world even if distant countries give us increasing competition.
Some well-known wine names in France
- Alsace (Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer…………)
- Loire (Sauvignon, Gamay, Cabernet…………..)
- Champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot…………)
- Charente (Colombart, wines from Ile de Ré, and various alcohols, Pineau, Cognac………)
- Burgundy (Chablis, Côtes de Beaune, Côtes de Nuit, Côtes de Beaune, Mâconnais……..)
- Jura (Savagnin, Chardonnay……..)
- Corsica (Vermentino, Sciacarello ……..)
- Provence (Clairette, Grenache…….)
- Languedoc (Grenache, Clairette……..)
- Rhône (Marsanne, Picpoul, Grenache…….)
- Savoie (Gamay, Roussette, Pinot noir…….)
And now you are going to practice tasting, a way to please yourself, to appreciate this immense French treasure, and also to make your friends a little jealous by showing them your knowledge of wine.
TOP 1. Wine tasting, from A to B
- Bitter (it is a wine that leaves a bad taste in the mouth, bitterness, certainly due to excess tannin).
- Rough (as if it scratches the palate, a tannic wine).
- Astringent (very strong in tannins, as if it burns the mouth a little)
- Woody (it has imbibed the taste of the wood in which it is raised)
- Bourru (a wine in fermentation, a new wine)
- Burnt (perhaps a wine that has spent too much time in an old barrel which can give it a little musty taste)
TOP 2. Wine tasting, from C to D
- Heady (wine rich in alcohol, heady, very good quality)
- Fleshy (thick, consistent, very good in the mouth)
- Structured (well built, harmonious, with all the qualities)
- Common (ordinary, unoriginal, basic quality)
- Complete (harmonious, balanced)
- Full-bodied (rich in alcohol, fleshy, heady… in moderation…)
- Smooth (soft and very pleasant on the palate)
- Short (little flavor)
- Hollow (without interest, without taste)
- Delicate (well balanced, pleasant, to taste…)
- Stripped (too old wine which has lost all its qualities)
- Distinguished (quality wine, young or old, which will bring you all that is good in a wine)
- Hard (with a lot (too much) tannins)
TOP 3. Wine tasting, from E to F
- Balanced (perfect, complete)
- Fully (solid, ample and silky)
- Fine (distinguished, delicate)
- Fresh (very pleasant taste, fruity, young wine)
- Fuité (a nice bouquet and the flavor of grapes)
- Smoked (shades of smoked foods)
- Barrel (a taste of old wood, unpleasant)
TOP 4. Wine tasting, from L to H
- Generous (rich in alcohol, in moderation….)
- Easy to drink (light, fresh, a Beaujolais for example)
- Fat (full-bodied, meaty and round)
- Herbaceous (as this term reminds us, herbal aromas)
TOP 5. Wine tasting, from L to M
- Light (lightly colored, low in alcohol and tender)
- Chew (it is thick, it has chew, a wine with body)
- Lean (hollow, little alcohol, very little wine)
- Soft (lacks acidity, no body)
- Soft (velvety, smooth, often sweet white wines)
- Nervous (vigorous)
TOP 6. Wine tasting, from P to R
- Dish (unflavored)
- Primeur (young wine with already some qualities)
- Powerful (full-bodied, holds well on the palate)
- Racé (recognizable appellation, a classy wine)
- Round (fleshy, supple and full)
- Roast (referred to as sweet wines)
TOP 7. Wine tasting, from S to S
- Dry (the particular trait of non-sweet white wines and red wines which have lost their sweetness)
- Supple (a simple, light, very smooth wine)
TOP 8. Wine tasting, from T to T
- Terroir (the taste comes from the place where the vine grows, the climate and its maturation)
- Canvas (a bit of a rotten taste due to old or poorly maintained material… quite rare)
- Tuile (simply a wine that turns into an aperitif, color and taste change, too old or poorly stored)
TOP 9. Wine tasting, from U to U
- Used (wine which has lost all its qualities, possibility of being kept in the bottle for too long or aging in poor barrels)
TOP 10. Wine tasting, from V to V
- Velouté (a wine that will please the ladies, velvety and soft)
- Venison (undoubtedly a very old wine, which has a gamey aftertaste, we are in the quality)
- Green (young, acidity is one of its qualities or its faults, if it is from a good region, let it age a little)
- Lively (term also used for a young wine)
- Vinous (alcoholic, vigorous)
- Voile (slightly cloudy, leave to settle before serving)
It has a beautiful color, it is fulfilled, it has potential, it is vintage, etc.
Some terms and explanations that will help you discover other aspects of these wonderful liquids, and if you are not selectors, remember that the price is not, in all cases, always equal to the quality of the wine, so before treating yourself to a cellar (small or large), ask professionals for advice… and enjoy your tasting, with moderation.
How about tasting a good wine on one of the biggest boats in the world? Or in one of these most expensive cars in the world?
