Friday, July 17, 2015

Wine Basics for the Beginner

At Seven Springs Winery we live, breathe, work, and drink wine! After seven years in the industry, we've learned a thing or two about wine, and we would love to share our knowledge (and our wine) with you. We've learned a lot, worked a lot, and taste-tested a lot to get where we are today, and we are proud to be known as the best winery at the Lake of the Ozarks! Whether you are a budding Enologist, or an established wine connoisseur, here are a few basics that can benefit anyone.

Basic Types of Wine

Wine is not made from your typical table grapes from the grocery store. A wine grape is small and sweet with a thick skin and seeds. There are over 1,300 different wine grapes, but only a few of them are planted all over the world (most require specific climates to grow). Here is a list of the most common white and red wines:
Common White Wines:
  • Riesling
  • Pinot Gris
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
Common Red Wines:
  • Pinot Noir
  • Zinfandel
  • Syrah
  • Cabernet Sauvignon


How to Serve Wine

Your glassware will affect the flavor of the wine, so it's important  to have the proper glasses. You will also want to perfect the art of opening a bottle of wine. You can cut the foil either on the top lip or bottom lip (the difference is based off of personal preference.) You'll want the radial diameter of the worm (the curly-cue part of the wine opener) to be centered in the cork so it's less likely to tear. In order to do this you'll poke the cork slightly off center. As with coffee, soda and tea, you should also notice that the flavor changes when the temperature does.

  • Red wine tastes better when served slightly below room temp, anywhere from 53-69° F. 
  • White wine tastes amazing at 44-57° F, with your zesty whites on the cool side and your oak-aged whites on the warm side. 
  • Sparkling wines taste great at 38-45° F. 


Developing Your Senses

The way you decide if a wine is a "good wine" is simple - it just depends on whether you like it or not. You take a sip, roll it around on your tongue and then say "yes" or "no". The reason a connoisseur develops his senses isn't just to find a good wine, but also to define the flavors and scents that are hidden in the wine. When you learn how to taste properly, you will be able to identify the main flavor and scent components in every wine you try. You will also learn the basic characteristics for all of the most important varietal grapes, as well as for the blended wines from the world's best wine-producing regions. What is the best way to develop your senses? Drink LOTS of wine!


Pairing Wine & Food

The goal behind pairing wine with food is to bring out the best characteristics of the wine you will be enjoying. Reds go well with red and white meats, cured meats and some rich fish. Whites pair well with vegetables, cheese and starches. A dessert wine obviously goes with dessert, but can sometimes be paired with some cured meats and soft cheeses. The idea is that the wine should always be sweeter than the food and have a higher acidity. The best way you'll learn is by trying, so come visit us, buy the best wine at the Lake of the Ozarks, and start pairing!

Don't let the complexity of wine scare you away from becoming a connoisseur! We hope these quick tips will introduce you to the amazing and detailed magnificence of wine. We have many delicious varieties of wine that you can try, so come down for a taste-testing and let us share our passion with you. We don't just specialize in wine, we also specialize in a good time by hosting many fun events at the Lake of the Ozarks! Join us this Saturday, July 18th for a wonderful fireworks display by Ed Libby. Reserved seating begins after 7:00 PM, and a delicious buffet will be available for $14 per person. Reserved seating is $10 per person, so call our office today to make your reservations!

Come for the wine...Stay for the atmosphere...Remember the view! 

Seven Springs is the finest Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks with a full service facility perfect for outdoor weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and parties.  Call us today to make reservations for your special event!

Seven Springs Winery
573.317.0100
846 Winery Hills Estates
Linn Creek, MO 65052


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