This review was composed mainly for French Wine. A general and a more elaborate one can be found in Just-did-it’s review on the same subject - https://mouthshut.com/readreview/22291-1.html
France, the country which produces the best wine also makes it most complicated for foreigners to select a wine to match their taste. The country produces all the varieties of wine available in the world. Then you have the different regions in France which produces different qualities of wine. To add to it all, you have the French terminologies attached to these wines. This makes it impossible for anyone not knowing the French language to buy a proper wine bottle. This is probably the reason why other wines from Spain, Italy, Australia, Chile and South Africa are becoming more and more popular. They don’t confuse their customers.
Well, just so that you do not miss the best, I am listing down(from a French to English dictionary) all the terms related to the wine that would help you understand what you are buying:
AC(Appellation contrôlée)/AOC= highest quality wine and most expensive
blanc= white
brut= dry
cépage= grape variety
château= wine-making estate
côte/coteaux= slope/hills
crémant= sparkling
cru= superior growth
demi-sec= medium-dry/sweet
doux= sweet
millésime= vintage
mis en boutilles dans nos caves= bottled in our cellars
mis en boutilles par= bottled by
mousseus= sparkling/frothy
rosé= rose
rouge= red
sec= dry
VDQS= regional wine of good quality
vignoble= vineyard
vin de garde= wine to lay down to mature
vin de pays= local wine - less strict quality control than AC wines.
vin de table= table wine - variable quality
vin ordinaire= table wine
Now about some of the common wine depending on the regions:
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WINE REGION(France) DESCRIPTION
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Anjou Loire Semisweet Rosé
Beaujolais Burgundy light, young, fruity red wine
Chabis Burgundy dry, white, flinty bouquet, nutty taste
Champagne Champagne delicate, sparkling white wine
Extra Dry(fruity) - medium dry
Brut - driest
Sec - least dry
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rhône full-bodied red wine
Côte de Beaunne Burgundy very delicate red wine
Côte de Bourg Bordeaux medium, full-bodied red wine
Côtes du Rhone Rhone light, fruity, red wine
full-bodied white wine
Gewürztraminer Alsace light, crisp white wine.
Graves(blanc) Bordeaux soft, white wine
Graves(rouge) Bordeaux robust red wine
Máconnais(Pouilly- Burgundy light, dry, white wine
Fuissé)
Médoc Bordeaux light red wine
Muscadet Loire light, dry, white wine
Muscat Alsace sweet white wine(also sparkling)
Pinot Alsace light, fruity, white wine
Pomerol Bordeaux mellow, full-bodied red wine
Riesling Alsace light, fruity white wine
Saummur Loire dry, white wine
Sauternes(Barsac) Bordeaux honey-sweet white wine
St-Emilion Bordeaux full-bodied, dark red wine
Vouvray Loire white or sparkling white
Before buying you should keep the following in mind:
Use red wine for Red meat and white wine for chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes.
Use port wine for cooking. Remember to add very little amount.
Check out the wine completely - color, looks, aroma and taste(if u r buying in restaurant). Color should be clear. Aroma can tell you whether the wine is seet, sour, bitter or salty. If in a restaurant try to smell the cork when the waiter opens the bottle. If it has fowl smell(you got to experience it - by keeping a wine in freezer or higher temperatures), you should reject that wine. Taste is dealt with seperately.
Wine should be ideally kept at a maximum temperature of 65ºF. Red wine should be kept outside horizontally in cold climates. In India you might want to keep it in the fridge but remember to increase the temperature.
Its also important to know where lies the origin of the wine. You might like the taste of a particular region.
For Vintage wine, its a must to know what if the region from where the wine originated had faced any weather calamities. For example, if there was heavy rainfall in Burgundy region in 1998, then Beaujolais produced in that year would be available at cheap price and you might want to pounce on it but then think twice - why is it so cheap. I always put that question when I see a good quality vintage wine on sale.
Tasting(can only do that while buying in a restaurant) is an art. I recommend you eat a piece of bread before tasting the wine. It will help to suppress any taste lingering on your taste buds from previous consumption of food & drinks. When you take a small sip, roll it with your tounge inside your mouth. Close your eyes. Feel all the 5 senses(6, if u have them) - check ur vision; check the aroma; check the taste; check the sound you hear(yes, a very strong wine will give you a momentary deafness); rub your hand - if u like the touch of your hands, be assured the wine is good!
The price of the wine will differ from region to region and based on the taxes. Do not pay more than double the normal price for a vintage wine which is less than 15 years old. Duty free shops sell wine at a higher price than the retail price(personal experience).
Ladies prefer red, sweet wine. When going for dinner pick up a red wine or champagne, not white wine. Red has a significance as a gift and moreover ladies prefer red. Romantic evenings turn out to be better with wine - the love potion!
Guess this should help you pick up a great bottle of wine. Enjoy!
Chin Chin!(as they say in France)