Wine
First of all, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape. Pinot Grigio is the name used in Italy where it translates as “gray pinot” and in France “gray pinot” is Pinot Gris. This comes from the color of the grape which has a grayish/brownish pink skin. This white grape is thought to be a mutant clone of the red pinot noir grape. The word “pinot” means “pine cone” in French and is believed to be used because the grapes grow in small pine cone shaped clusters. The grape originated in France and is known there as Pinot Gris. However, it thrives in the Alsace region of France where it is called Tokay. In the United States you will see the wines labeled as either Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris. With the popularity of the term Pinot Grigio, this is the primary name used. However, when produced in Oregon it will be called Pinot Gris most of the time.
PINOT NOIR (Red) [PEE-no NWA]
About:
Pinot Noir is a red grape varietal and is considered the classic grape of Burgundy France, however it is grown in areas all over the world. It is a difficult grape to grow and does best when grown in cooler, often fog prone regions. Pinot Noir is one of the varietals used to produce the great sparkling wines in Champagne France, as well as many other sparkling wines around the world. Pinot Noirs tend to be lighter in color and somewhat less tannic than most other red wines. Some can be a bit tannic when the vintner chooses to ferment the wine with some of its stems.
Riesling (Reessling)
About:
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is indigenous to Germany and, because of its ability to withstand cold weather, is one of the few quality grapes that can be grown there and other regions with similarly marginal climates. The grape can make entirely different wines when grown in other areas of the world. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.
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Saké is brewed from rice (no other grain) with water, yeast and koji being the only other ingredients. What makes it very unique in the realm of beverage are two things:
Koji: Aspergillus Oryzae – a mold that is applied to the rice grains.
Multiple Parallel Fermentation: Saccharification and fermentation taking place at the same time.
Is it beer or wine?
Saké purists will say that saké is saké. It is not wine or beer. It is it’s own unique beverage and deserves it’s own identity. That is certainly true, but in a world that is trying to understand saké, it is not easy to be so definitive and may not be a good idea.
What is Sauvignon Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape varietal that is usually produced dry with a crisp acidity. Sauvignon blanc may have aromas of grass or hay (typical California style), grapefruit, green pepper, gooseberry (typical New Zealand style), minerality (French style and some South American styles), and sometimes even a little toast or smoke if it has been oak aged. Most Sauvignon blanc are all stainless steel fermented and never spend time in oak barrels. The wine should be served chilled.
Spain is one of the world’s largest wine producing regions. The country has the largest area of vine cultivation in the European Union and the world followed by France and Italy. It is the third largest producer of wine after Italy and France. Spain’s geographical position, its climatic differences and its wide variety of soil types makes it a privileged place for producing wines with very different characteristics.
Spain is a member of the European Union and thus complies with their laws and standards. This means they divide wines into two major categories: table wines and quality wines.
The lower category of “table wines” include two categories:
Vino de mesa (literally meaning “table wines”)—The lower echelon of the wine classification system. This category is very important to Spain and accounts for about half of its production.
Vino de la tierra (country wines) – sourced within a single, fairly broad wine region (geographical indication “GI”), and must meet nominal alcohol and sensory standards.