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How do grapes affect wine and what can they tell you about it? Read and learn more about wine grapes here.
Maybe you are standing in front of the wine shelf, scratching your head in confusion over all the different wine grapes with names that are almost impossible to pronounce. Gewürztraminer or Riesling? Or wait, was it called Reisling? Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir? Does it even matter? They are both wine grapes after all.
The taste of a wine starts with the grape variety: some varieties have high acidity, some low; some varieties have lots of tannins, others very few; some have fruity, and floral aromas, others have mineral and spicy aromas. Following the grape chosen, other big influences on a wines flavour is determined by where the grapes were grown (soil conditions and country) and last but not least, how the winemaker processes the wine (barrel maturation etc).
We can distinguish two main grape varieties: aromatic and neutral. Aromatic grapes have intense aromas and all that is needed to make a flavour rich wine out of them is a steel tank for fermentation. The grapes and the fermentation will provide all the aromas needed to make a tasty wine. Sauvignon blanc is one example of this kind of grapes. Neutral grape varieties make wines with little aroma and character. In order to make the wine more interesting, the winemaker will have to use other methods such as maturation on lees/shelves leaving the sediment in the wine to help create a richer flavour and barrel aging. Chardonnay is an example of one of these kind of grapes.
It is also important to consider where the grapes come from and how they are grown as this also has a great influence on how the grape expresses its characteristics. A Chardonnay grown in the cool climate of Burgundy is going to taste very different from a Chardonnay grown under the burning sun of South-Eastern Australia.
The flavour of wine is characterised by grape the variety used in wine production
While currant wine tastes like currants and apple sider tastes like apples, wines do not necessary taste like grapes. The flavours we experience when drinking wine vary from lemon, apple or peach to sweaty horse coat, wet dog or rotten autumn leaves. It is this aspect of wine that makes wine so exciting.The taste of a wine starts with the grape variety: some varieties have high acidity, some low; some varieties have lots of tannins, others very few; some have fruity, and floral aromas, others have mineral and spicy aromas. Following the grape chosen, other big influences on a wines flavour is determined by where the grapes were grown (soil conditions and country) and last but not least, how the winemaker processes the wine (barrel maturation etc).
We can distinguish two main grape varieties: aromatic and neutral. Aromatic grapes have intense aromas and all that is needed to make a flavour rich wine out of them is a steel tank for fermentation. The grapes and the fermentation will provide all the aromas needed to make a tasty wine. Sauvignon blanc is one example of this kind of grapes. Neutral grape varieties make wines with little aroma and character. In order to make the wine more interesting, the winemaker will have to use other methods such as maturation on lees/shelves leaving the sediment in the wine to help create a richer flavour and barrel aging. Chardonnay is an example of one of these kind of grapes.
It is also important to consider where the grapes come from and how they are grown as this also has a great influence on how the grape expresses its characteristics. A Chardonnay grown in the cool climate of Burgundy is going to taste very different from a Chardonnay grown under the burning sun of South-Eastern Australia.
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