The Vitis Vinifera Plant And How It's Used To Make Wine

Wine is a kind of drink extracted from the Vitis Vinifera plant, more commonly known as the grape vine. This popular beverage has become a favorite of many all over the world. A huge selection of different wines can be found, from cheap to very expensive in price. When one thinks of a joyous occasion, one can certainly be sure that it will be accompanied by wine. Have you ever thought about where this drink came from? This article will give you a brief look at the origin of wine.

Most people are under the impression that Vitis Vinifera is only grown in Europe, however did you know that wine as we know it actually originated from Asia? 9,000 year old records have been discovered from China which talk about a drink made from the grape plant. This drink was made from grape juice, rice that was fermented and then mixed with honey. Archaeologists have also found tartaric acid in jar bottoms which validates this research. It is not know exactly what grape species was used to make wine, but we can assume that some local grape variety was used. This kind of substance was also discovered in some jars around Western Asia, particularly Iran, but at an earlier date.

Even before wine was made in the east, wine from Vitis Vinifera was been made in Europe. 12,000 year old records have been found from Greece that talk about the use of grape seeds and grape skins. Grapes were an extremely popular vegetation in the European continent for its cool climate and good, fertile soil. This is also one of the main elements for great tasting wine products in the area. In the past, wine drinking was considered as a social status where only the high and the mighty had the privilege of feasting on such drinks. Servants of rich people used to serve their masters and visitors many glasses filled with wine all day.

Over the years, people, particularly the Europeans have learned to perfect the art of grape growing and the wine making process. From the traditional manual pressing, wines today are now extracted through machines. As wine making became widespread and its products more popular all throughout the world, more and more countries started learning how to grow grapes and cultivating their own farms to produce the drink.

Vitis Vinifera is currently one of the most popular plants grown all over the world. The enjoyment of wine is no longer limited to only the high and mighty, but to average people too. Wines now come in a huge range of prices, with various tastes and alcohol content in them. In the end, this lowly plant has indeed come a long way from its humble beginnings to be dubbed as the world's most favorite drink.

5 Popular Red Wine Grape Varieties

Red wines are rich wines that come from a variety of red grapes that grow all over the world. Depending upon the terrain of the earth that yields the grapes, the flavors of the grapes will produce wines that might vary wildly in flavor, but are all very tasty just the same. The wine grape varieties that produce the wines that we love are grown in the U.S., Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, and in other smaller regions. Here is a look at five of the wine grape varieties that produce some of the best red wines on the market, past and present.

The Durif Grape: This grape was developed by a French doctor, Dr. Durif in 1800s. He created this wine, by mutating the breed with another wine grape. The Durif grape is a cross of the Syrah grape, and the Pelourisn grape. When these two wine grape varieties were blended together, they formed a wine that is known as the Petit Sirah, especially in the U. S. It grows well in warmer climates, such as California. The Durif was used for the production of Burgundy wines from the 50s to the 70s when Burgundy wine was popular on the market.

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The Process Of Making Homemade Wine

Making homemade wine is quickly growing as a hobby among wine enthusiasts around the world. As wine making kits and books become more readily available, it has become an easily achievable goal for anyone who is persistent enough to perfect the art. Why should anyone try making homemade wine? There are so many choices of wines available on any shelf, perhaps you wonder if it is worth the time to make your own.

It is true that it is a lengthy process, but the satisfaction of doing it yourself and long-run savings make it a very feasible undertaking. Making homemade wine also allows you to try unique flavor combinations, from not just grapes, but many other fruits. Creating your own flavors means you can use grapes, peaches, berries and even apples.

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5 Popular White Wine Grape Varieties

White wines come from the grape varieties around the world that produce these various types of wine. Unlike the grape varieties used to make red wine that are grown in the warmer regions, the grape varieties that are used to produce white wine are grown in regions with colder temperatures. However, some of these grape varieties come out of South Africa, which is deep into the southern hemisphere. There are many cool days and nights there as well.

While red wines are rich in texture and flavor, white wines are quite the opposite. They have a light body and a subtle taste as well. They go very well with poultry, and seafood. They can be enjoyed at any time of year, but because of their light and refreshing taste, they are welcome and wonderful during the hot summer months. Here is a look at the grapes that produce white wines:

Chardonnay: This grape is grown throughout the world and as a result it produces probably the most popular white wine of all, known by the same name. The white Burgundy wine of France is also made of these grapes. The wine produced from these grapes is rich and buttery in flavor. Chardonnay wine is relatively inexpensive since it thrives everywhere and it's an excellent accompaniment to both chicken and fish.

Pinot Gris: These grapes are used for the Pinot Grigio wine out of Italy. This wine has a medium body and a taste of fruit and flowers. This wine goes wonderful with poultry, seafood, and spicy food. This is a very delicious wine that should be enjoyed chilled.

The Riesling Grape: This grape is known for being produced out of Germany. It's generally found in places with cold weather. This, of course, includes Germany but it is also found in other parts of northern Europe such as the Alsace region in the north of France. The wine from these grapes is very sweet. Riesling is very popular, and the wine is very easy to find.

Scheurebe: These wine grape varieties are grown almost always in Germany. The wine produced from these grapes has a fruity flavor that is crisp. They have dark berry notes to them. These wines are best served with seafood.

The Chenin Blanc Grape: These are very high yielding wine grape varieties. They are grown in South Africa, France, and the U.S. in California.  The wine produced from these grapes is very crispy and acidic. This wine would go well with a light snack, and with a light summer meal.

An important thing to remember when serving white wines is that they are generally served chilled. These make wonderful light wines for summer dinners, and for social events.

Visit Grape Growing School for more information on grape growing and how to grow grapes.

These 5 Wine Grapes Are Used To Make Excellent Red Wine

Red wines are rich wines that come from a variety of red grapes that grow all over the world. Depending upon the terrain of the earth that yields the grapes, the flavors of the grapes will produce wines that might vary wildly in flavor, but are all very tasty just the same. The wine grape varieties that produce the wines that we love are grown in the U.S., Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, and in other smaller regions. Here is a look at five of the wine grape varieties that produce some of the best red wines on the market, past and present.

The Durif Grape: This grape was developed by a French doctor, Dr. Durif in 1800s. He bred this grape along with another to produce a unique wine grape. The Syrah and Pelourisn grapes were bred together to produce the Durif grape. When these two wine grape varieties were blended together, they formed a wine that is known as the Petit Sirah, especially in the U. S. It grows well in warmer climates, such as California. This grape was also used to produce Burgundy wines from 1950 to the 1970s.

Merlot: The Merlot grape is mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon, and it makes a soft finished wine that tastes of berries. It's a rich and dry wine. Merlot goes really well with rich meats, and although it's great all year long, it goes especially well with heavy winter meals. These grapes are a bit more fragile than other wine grape varieties, and they can develop problems with mold easier than some other wine grape varieties.

The Pinot Noir Grape: This is a challenging grape for wine production. It needs just the right conditions to thrive including the right about of sunshine in the day and a cooler temperature at night. However, when successfully grown it produces an excellent wine that has a cherry and strawberry flavor. It can be consumed with along with many different types of food.

The Sangiovese Grape: You can find this grape growing in the northernmost parts of Italy. The Chianti wine is produced from this grape. The wine is very smooth and is a popular addition to many different varieties of meals but it goes the best with rich Tuscan cuisine such as pasta. These wine grapes are often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to build upon its flavor.

The Grignolino Grape: This grape is native to the Italian region of Piedmont. Unlike most wines, the wine produced from this grape does not taste better with age. It's best consumed fresh. These wines are best enjoyed with beef, and with light to medium flavored snacking meats and cheeses. You'll rarely find this wine grape growing anywhere else in the world . This is a wine grape variety that is extremely rare to find outside of its home region.

Of course we can talk about many more different red wine grape varieties, but these are some of the most popular. Something to keep in mind is that while the label on the wine bottle generally mentions only the primary grape used in the wine production, often other grapes are blended together to enhance or modify the flavor and to produce unique tasting wines.

Learn more about grape growing and how to grow grapes by visiting http://www.grapegrowingschool.com.

 

Wine Making At Home

When you take up wine making at home, you not only save yourself some money on wine, but have the satisfaction and making it the way you want it. This activity has gained popularity among many people recently too. It is easy to produce some top-quality wines with the right instruction. There are many options to choose from for this information too.

Many online websites have much needed tips and tricks on the wine making at home. If these are not enough information for you though to get started there are many books available on the subject too. Of course, it always helps to have someone show you how to make homemade wine who does it themselves, but not everyone knows someone who does it. If you must use the online guides or physical books to guide you just make sure their details tell you all you need to know.

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Growing Wine Grapes

Walking past the aisles of wines, with Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot being some of the more prominent choices, makes you wonder what wine grapes made each wine. With more exotic choices, such as a Grenache or Muscato wine, or even Shiraz - how do the vineyards determine which wine they are going to produce, and how do grapes affect the taste of wine?

There are several types of grapes, and these cultivated varieties are used for three different purposes. You can't make a wine with the wrong grape. Some are classified as a table grape (for eating), others are dried for raisins, and the others are wine grapes.

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