This chemical reaction can change the flavor, color, and mouthfeel of wine, especially in wines with high phenol levels like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo. In particular, we can point to one group of phenolic compounds: Tannins. Tannins are key in how a wine develops with age, and...
"Santa Barbara county is growing up a lot," says Willett, noting that more and more strong producers are continuing to make waves, and the quality of the wine coming out of the area is better than ever. "As we all continue to better understand the terroir, things will only continue to...
The shank is another popular cut of lamb, taken from the lower part of the legs. This is a hard-working, muscular cut of meat with plenty of connective tissue and collagen, making it quite tough when cooked too quickly. When it is slow-cooked, either braised or stewed with red wine an...
The intensity of color can be observed with the wine’s opacity. Deeply opaque red wines have been noted for having more pigment and phenolics than more translucent red wines. For example, Syrah has as much as 4 times more pigment (antioxidants) than Zinfandel. There are a few features you...
How wine color changes with age One of the most visible processes in an evolving wine is slow oxidation. Color is the most obvious indicator of this. As white wines age, they often evolve from pale lemon or golden to amber and even brown. Vivid salmon-hued rosés can take on onion skin...
The color of red wine, from deep purple, ruby to crimson, mainly comes from the pigment in the skin of grape, varying according to grape variety, ripeness and climate of the year. A blackish purple color indicates the wine is probably made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Nebbiolo. A br...
The winemaker has complete control over the color of the wine, and removes the red grape skins (the source of the red pigment) when the wine reaches the perfect color. As you can imagine, nearly any red wine grape (from Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah) can be used to make rosé wine, howe...
A good holiday meal can support a bold syrah as much as a lighter zinfandel or pinot noir. The wines will be evaluated alongside an assortment of traditional holiday foods like roasted turkey, prime rib, all the fixings, appetizers, and traditional desserts....
It is a beloved wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with a range of foods, including seafood. Syrah: Full-bodied and packed with broad tannins, this wine often features intense flavors of dark fruits, herbal notes, or meaty characteristics such as hints of bacon (yes, bacon!) ...
Wine Aging Chart WineColorAging Window (Years) Port Red 10–50 Merlot Red 3–15 Malbec Red 5–10 Sangiovese Red 10–30 Monastrell Red 7–20 Cabernet Franc Red 5–12 Nebbiolo Red 15–40 Syrah Red 2–12 Cabernet Sauvignon Red 5–25 Chardonnay White 2–10 Riesling White 0–5 Viognie...