A Study of Viticulture and Oenology

I've always enjoyed drinking wine ever since my first communion. Its also always been my dad's drink of choice (even though it's usually from a box of Franzia). During my time in Chicago, I went through a brief wine phase, trying to explore and understand the basic flavors. It's a more sophisticated drink, that can be quite heavy at times, and must be sipped and never, under any circumstances, be chugged. I once learned this the hard way in San Diego 2008. There's quite a study behind the many aspects of wine, known as oenology. There is also a study on the grape-harvesting, the foundation of wine-making, known as viticulture. I want to look at both studies, in this article, in order to better understand wine.

The Origins of Wine

So when considering the origins of wine, I can't help but think of the stories and paintings of ancient Greek mythology. The Greek god Dionysus, was considered the god of grape harvest, and wine-making, and was worshiped from 1500-1100 BC. According to archeological evidence it was actually around 4500 BC that the first fermentation of grapes began in sites such as Greece, Armena, Georgia, and Iran. Yet today, by some crazy coincidence, there was actually a major discovery about these origins. Archeologists found a new wine-making facility in Armenia dating back 6000 years ago. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12158341) I would like to add that I discovered this major news, after embarking on this article, which I find extremely coincidental. However whether wine originated in Armenia or Greece, one thing is clear, it's the most ancient alcoholic beverages known to mankind.


Types of Grape

There are over 5000 types of wine grape, categorized as either red grapes or white grapes, and sometimes a bit of both, however I'm going to focus on the most popular types of grape...

Red Wines

• Barbera: Red Grape with a tarry flavor, quite similar to Merlot; Grown in California and Piedmont, Italy
• Cabernet Franc: Red grape that is known as the father of the Cabernet Sauvignon, however is normally used as an additive for other grapes; Grown in Bordeaux France
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Red grape, that is properly aged, with a strong taste; Grown in Bordeaux, California, and Australia
• Gamay: Red grape that produces a light red taste; Grown in France and the United States
• Gewurztraminer: Red grape that is known as the spicey wine; Grown in Germany, Italy, California, Canada, and Australia
• Grenache: Red grape, that is the second most planted seed in the world; taste tends to be sweet and fruity; Grown in France, Spain, and California
• Merlot: Red grape, that is especially common in the states; it has an early ripe, and provides a strong taste of cherry, honey, and mint. Grown in Bordeaux, Italy, Australia, California, Washington, and Long Island.
• Nebbiolo: Red Grape with a pure, tannic, tarry, and chocolate taste; known for being extremely difficult to grow; Grown in Piedmont, Switzerland, California, and Australia
• Pinot Noir: Red grape that is soft and quite sensitive to the environment; Grown in Burgundy, Australia, California, Oregon, Italy, and Germany
• Pinotage: Red grape that produces a hearty, fruity, and spicy taste; Grown primarily in South Africa
• Zinfandel: Red grape that can produce both red and white wine, depending if the skin is removed; the taste can be quite fruity or spicy; Grown primarily in California and Southern Italy

White Wines

• Auxerrois: White grape that creates a neutral soft taste; Grown in Canada and Luxembourg.
• Chardonnay: White grape that is one of the most common and easiest to make; normally tastes like melon or peach; Grown in Burgundy, California, Champagne, Australia, and South Africa.
• Chenin Blanc: White grape that produces a light and fruity taste; Grown in the United States, France, and South Africa
• Muller-Thurgau: White grape with a floral aroma; Grown in Germany, Austria, New Zealand, and the United States
• Muscadet: White grape, from a series of "Musc" grapes; strong grape flavor; Grown in Bordeaux and Australia
• Muscat: White grape also from the "Musc" series of grapes; Does not ripen easily, yet also known for it's grapey-flavor. Grown in Italy
• Pino Blanc: White grape that is similar to Chardonnay; Grown in Italy, Austria, and California
• Pino Grigio: White grape and clone of Pinot Noir; one of my favorites, thus far. Grown in France, Germany, Austria, and the United States
• Riesling: White grape known as a dessert grape, but can also produce a crisp and musky flavor; Grown in Germany, France, Australia, California, New York, and many other countries
• Sauvignon Blanc: White grape that creates a crisp light flavor; Grown in California and France
• Scheurebe: White grape used for aromatic white winds; Grown mostly in Germany
• Semillon: White grape that ripens early and produces a grassy flavor; Grown in Bordeaux, Australia, and California
• Sylvaner: White grape that produces a light spicy flavor; Grown in Alsace, France, Germany, and Central Europe

The Best Wine in the World

1. France
Valleys: Burgundy, Champagne, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Alsace, Chateaneuf du-Pape,
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah
Claim to Fame: Traces it's history back to the ancient Roman times of the 6th century, and has today become the most largest wine producers in the world.

2. United States
Valleys: California, Napa Valley, Washington, Oregon, New York
Grapes: Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon
Claim to Fame: With it's golden gem in Californa, of the Napa Valley, American Wine has risen to great global recognition over the past century.

3. Italy
Valleys: Tuscany, Piedmont
Grapes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Pino Blanc, Pinot Grigio
Claim to Fame: Home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, and along with France is one of the world's largest producers. Vineyards were developed as far back as the 2nd century.

4. Spain
Valleys: Priorat, Jerez, Galicia, Catalonia, Penedes
Grapes: Grenache, Cabernet Savignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo
Claim to Fame: Located on the Iberian Peninsula it has the largest vineyard area in the world, and is the third largest producer in the world.

5. Argentina
Valleys: Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja
Grapes: Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo
Claim to Fame: Put great emphasis on their quality over quantity, and 90% of the wine they produce is drank within the country. They have many distinctive grapes brought long ago from France, Italy, and Spain.

6. Germany
Valleys: Mosel, Baden, Palatinate, Rheingau, Wurttemberg
Grapes: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Gerwurtztraminer
Claim to Fame: In the southwest of Germany, along the Rhine River they have some of the oldest plantations dating back to the Roman era. They are best known for their white wine, especially their Riesling.

7. Australia
Valleys: Coonawarra
Grapes: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillion, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Claim to Fame: They are the fourth largest producers of wine in the world, and is a significant contributor to their economy.

8. Chile
Valleys: Los Carneros
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Claim to Fame: Dating back to the 16th century, with the arrival of the conquistadors, Chile has rose to prominence in the cultivation of wine. They have now become the 5th largest wine exporters in the world.

9. South Africa
Valleys: Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worcester, Constantia, Overberg
Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombard, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinotage
Claim to Fame: Dates back to 1659, however in 1973 the Wine of Origin system was created to organize and encourage South African wine production.

10. Portugal
Valleys: Douro Valley, Pico Island
Grapes: Alvarinho, Touriga Nacional, Semillon, and many other distinctive Portuguese grapes
Claim to Fame: The first ever wine-producing region in the world was created in the Douro Valley in 1758. It has many native grapes, giving it's wine a distinctive character

Good Movies about Wine

• A Walk in the Clouds (1995): Set at the end of World War II, Keanu Reeves plays a war veteran returning to America, where he falls in love with a Mexican-American woman, on a wine vineyard in Napa Valley. I use to love this movie growing up as a kid!
• Sideways (2004): Follows the road-trip of two wine admirers, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, as they journey through southern California's vineyard of Santa Ynez Valley. The trip ends up being a ridiculous, hilarious, and dramatic adventure.
• A Good Year (2006): Russell Crowe plays a British stock-trader, who must travel to France, to sell his uncles' vineyard. However he eventually falls in love with the area, especially the beautiful local cafe owner, played by Marion Cotillard. I have not yet seen this movie fully through, yet hear it received bad reviews.
• Bottle Shock (2008): Based on the historic 1976 wine tasting competition known as the "Judgment in Paris", where American wine managed to beat out French wine. This story demonstrates the emergence of American wine as a well-respected wine producer.

Best Food to Go with Wine

• Seafood (Grilled fish, salmon, trout, shellfish, crab, etc, go best with white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc)
• Beef (Steak or lamb go best with red wines such as Cabernet or Merlot)
• Chicken (Parmesan could go with lighter reds such as Barbera, Grenache, or Burgundy, while most forms of chicken such as cordon bleu, should go with white such as Chardonnay)
• Salad (Such as a Greek or Caesar Salad go best with whites such as Pinot Grigio, Chablis, or Sauvignon Blanc)
• Bread (such as Bruschetta or baguettes)
• Soups (Vegetable or Minestrone soups go best with red winds such as Merlot or Cabernet)
• Pasta (Red or white wines, depending on the sauce, such as Zinfandel, Pinot Blanc, Pinto Grigio, and Chardonnay)
• Asian Cuisine (Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai could go well with either red or white wine, depending on the sauce and spiciness)
• Cheese (goat cheese, gouda, hard cheese, and smoked cheese go especially well with red reds such as Burgundy, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay)
• Appetizers (artichokes, olives, asparagus, anchovies, crackers)