Men and women have been collecting wine for centuries, because of the stunning qualities of wine.  The nuances in taste, quality, and aromas dependent on vintner techniques and grape selection make the collection of wine an art form similar to collecting oil paintings or sculptures.  But wine also has the ability to become a social centrepiece at a meal, a means of promoting friendship (as pointed out by poet Gay), and even a commercial enterprise for those who like to buy, sell, and trade bottles of wine.

An Amazing Array

Australians appreciate wine and in 2006 the country was the sixth largest producer of the world’s wine.  Wine is produced in all the states and the variety of growing conditions has led to the creation of wines from every categories including red wine, white wine, sparking wine, fortified wine, and dessert wine.  Even more fascinating is the fact that the various categories of wine include variations depending on which Australian state grapes and production methods were used.

Now add the variety of wines produced around the world to the mixture, and it is easy to understand why people decide to become a wine collector.  There is an amazing array of global wines that tempt the palate.  Wines from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, New Zealand and the United States are just a few of the countries producing award winning wines.

Like any art collecting, there is a right way to approach the practice.  The first consideration is deciding the kind of collector you want to be.  Some people collect wine simply as a hobby, while others collect wine as an investment.  The purpose you have for collecting will determine the kinds of wines you will purchase.

You also need to decide how big you want your wine collection to become in order to determine the amount of space needed for proper storage.  Wine must be stored at a temperature that remains constant somewhere between 7ºC and 18ºC.  The space chosen for the wine collection must be refrigerated and humidity controlled.

A Collecting Strategy

As far as the types of wines you want to collect, there are different approaches a collector can take.

• Collect award winning wines
• Collect a single category of wine such as red or white wines
• Collect wines from around the world
• Specialise in a collection of Australian wines
• Collect a wide variety of wines in all categories
• Collect various vintages of wine
• Collect wines found appealing for personal reasons
• Collect wines expected to have investment value

Once you decide what kind of wine collection you want to develop, a wine specialist can help you achieve your goals.  Depending on the immediate and long-term budget, you may want to buy a single expensive bottle, several bottles, or enough bottles to represent the larger collection planned.

Enjoying Wine To Its Fullest

There are two more important points to keep in mind when becoming a wine collector.  First is the fact you need to keep a good record of your wine purchases and storage.  Second is the need to have a plan for replacement as the wine is used.

Some people will drink a bottle of wine and then replace it with one or two bottles from the same category.  For example, if you drink a bottle of white wine then you can replace it with a white wine. This will help you develop and keep balance in your collection.

There are people who simply purchase an appealing wine for collection replacement without regard for what was drunk.  A popular means of maintaining or increasing a wine collection is through membership in a wine club.

It is possible to enjoy wine in so many ways, but collecting wine takes the enjoyment to a new level.

What is the exact definition of an organic wine?  An organic wine is defined in most countries as a wine produced from grapes grown organically and that has no, or a limited amount of, sulphites.  Many people prefer to buy organic wine because they are interested in reducing their carbon footprint, appreciate the flavour of organically produced wine and are seeking the health benefits of organic produce.

Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown organically and is then produced in a process that does not use preservatives or uses the absolute minimum required to protect the wine quality.  The process begins with the farming techniques used to produce the high quality grapes and ends with the method used for fermentation.

A Light Carbon Footstep in the Vineyard

Organic farming of grapes means the crop is grown without the use of synthetic chemicals for fertilizing or insect control.  But organic farming also refers to planting and harvesting methods which protect soil quality and stability.

Wine made with organically grown grapes is considered to be healthier by many people because the grapes are grown using only natural products.   When you drink organic wine, you don’t have to worry about how many chemicals you might be unknowingly consuming.

Organic Wine Flavour and Preservation

Organic wine offers some very special qualities.  Many of the wines are made without sulphites.  Technically an organic wine does not have to be sulphite free but can simply be made with organically grown grapes.  Interestingly, sulphites are avoided by a large number of wine drinkers.

In conventional wine making, sulphites are added to increase the stability and preservation of the wine.  In organic wines you will find a selection of both sulphite-free and low-sulphite wines.  White wines are fermented without the skins and seeds so they usually need a minimum amount of sulphites since the wine has a lower amount of preserving tannins.  Red wines are fermented with the skins so they have more natural preservatives in the form of tannins.

You should only purchase a bottle of sulphite-free or minimum-sulphite organic wine if you intend on drinking it shortly after purchase.

Competing on an Even Basis

Wine lovers are sometimes surprised to discover the growing enchantment with organic wines.  Not only are they produced in a way that causes the least amount of environmental harm, the wines are flavourful and award-winning.  The organic wine market is just beginning to flourish and it is expected to grow tremendously as people become more and more environmentally aware.

Organic winemaking differs from non-organic methods primarily in the use of fertilizers and pesticides.  However, there are many other subtle differences such as the amount of sulphites which also define organic winemaking.  The organic winemaker must pay even more attention to the details of the process as related to grape selection and the filtering process.

Many people insist on drinking organic wine because they feel it has more personality.  Organically grown wine is processed less and relies on grape perfection for flavour.  For those who want to lighten their carbon footprint while also discovering the depth of individuality wine can achieve, organic wine is the only choice.

You do not have to be a wine connoisseur, investor or collector to care about wine storage.  Every bottle of wine you purchase costs money and you expect to get a certain level of enjoyment from drinking the wine.  It is very disappointing to open a bottle of stored wine to discover it has been ruined due to exposure to too much light or the wrong temperature.

Pamper Your Wine

You can think of wine storage as a chance to pamper your wine.  Pampering your wine will make sure it retains its excellent flavour when you are ready to open the bottle.  The basic aging of the wine needed before the wine is drinkable has been done at the winery.  However, your wine will continue to age after purchase which is another reason why you need to pay close attention to how you store it.  This is especially true for red wines.

Temperature

The first storage consideration is the temperature at which you should store the wine.  Wine should be stored at 10º to 12º Celsius, but you also need to pay close attention to the fluctuations in temperature which can occur wherever you have the wine storage.  It is the temperature fluctuation which can cause the most damage to your wine, and the temperature should not fluctuate more than 2º to 3º Celsius.

The reason this is true lies in the fact that cork will expand and contract like wood.  If the cork shrinks and allows air into the wine bottle, the wine will suffer.  One of the indications the cork has shrunk and wine has evaporated is the appearance of a wine residue around the cork.  At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, if oxygen reaches the wine, the bottle is doomed.

Light

Wine likes to be kept in the dark.  Exposure to light will cause wine to age too quickly or it will cause deterioration in the quality.  That is why so many wines are bottled in dark glass bottles.  Ultraviolet light can ruin the flavour and aroma of wine.

Humidity

The humidity in the wine storage location should be around 70% but it can fluctuate between 50% and 80% without harming the wine.  You notice humidity can get fairly high, but when there is not enough humidity more serious problems can occur.  In low humidity there is a greater probability the cork will dry out and air will reach the wine.

Bottle Angle While Stored

Anyone familiar with wine has heard stories about always needing to store wine on its side.  This is partly true.  Table wine should be stored horizontally to preserve the cork.   When wine is stored on its side, the cork is kept moist by the wine.

Of note fortified wines need to be stored standing with the exception of port.

Seeking Perfection

When you store wine properly, it is going to pamper both the wine and your tastebuds.  The proper storage of wine as a minimum protects your wine quality, but in all likelihood will help to enhance it.  It is very satisfying to open a bottle of wine and discover the rich or exotic flavour and aroma are simply perfect and perfectly preserved.

Flavonoids Love Your Circulatory System

The wine that provides the most health benefits is red wine or wines made with dark grapes.  Dark grapes contain a high amount of flavonoids.  Flavonoids can prevent the platelets in your blood from clumping.  This means you are much less likely to experience blood clotting, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks.

Flavonoids decrease the rate of circulatory system aging and also slow down the decline of immune system functioning that normally comes with aging.  Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.   Antioxidants slow down aging in the body by preventing free radical damage to arteries and organs.

Resveratrol Loves Your Overall Health

There are many other benefits found in drinking red wine.  The seeds and skins of grapes contain a substance called resveratrol.  This substance is also an anti-inflammatory element and is believed to contribute to an improved circulatory system.   Resveratrol is a non-flavanoid antioxidant which help arteries from becoming clogged.

Resveratrol is also being studied as a possible antioxidant which can assist in weight loss programs and for the control of diabetes.  There is also continuing research into the ability of resveratrol to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and cataracts and even brain functioning.

The reason red wine has a much higher level of resveratrol than white wine is due to the fact red wine is fermented with the skin throughout the entire fermentation process.

Red Wine in Moderation Loves Your Heart

Alcohol can contribute to a healthy heart when used in moderation.  Medical studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol can provide important health benefits that include the following.

• Protection against low-density lipoprotein cholesterol damage to arteries
• Increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels which prevents bad cholesterol build-up
• Contribution to a reduction in blood clotting

Defining Moderation

The definition of moderation is as follows:

• Women - one glass of wine per day
• Men - two glasses of wine per day

Drinking too much wine or getting inebriated only serves to negate these benefits as well as potentially being harmful.  The health benefits of wine are enhanced when the wine is included in an overall healthy lifestyle.  You should eat a low fat diet and get regular aerobic and non-aerobic exercise.

Taking care of your health is important if you want to live a long and healthy life.  The power of antioxidants is already proven through research.  Since red wine contains a high level of these powerful disease and aging preventers, it only makes sense to include regular consumption of wine in your program, in moderation.

Making wine is part science and part art.  Anyone can grow grapes, but knowing when to pick them and how to convert them into a high quality wine requires experience, judgment and finesse.  The commercial wine making process is complex for this reason even though the steps themselves may seem simple.

Variety is the Wine Spice of Life

Australian wines are produced using a variety of grapes to create everything from Chardonnay to Merlot.  Australia’s Shiraz wine has achieved global recognition and accolades for possessing unique and interesting qualities.

However,  there is a standard wine making process by which all wines are made no matter what variety of grape is used.  At a commercial vineyard, the grapes are grown, crushed, fermented and bottled with variances in procedures found depending on which vintner you choose.

Wine begins with grape growing of course.  In Australia, there are over 169,000 hectares planted with commercially grown grape vines in 60 recognized wine regions.  The primary wine producing vineyards are found in the states of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Harvesting the grapes is the first major step in the process of wine making.  Deciding when to pick the grapes is seen by many as  one of the most important decisions a vintner makes.  The grapes must be as close to their ideal state of ripeness as possible in order for the winemaker to produce the kind of wine desired.

Commercial winemakers have years of experience when it comes to determining when to pick grapes.  They also have experienced wine pickers who know how to pick the fruit without damaging it in the process.

Crushed to Perfection

After the grapes are picked, they are cleaned in preparation for crushing.  Mostly grape juice makes it to a bottle of wine and there will be no stems, leaves or other unwanted residues.

Red and white grapes are crushed differently.  Red grapes are generally crushed with the skins left intact and the juice and skins are used during fermentation.  The skins contribute to the wine qualities of flavour, appearance (eg colour) and body in red wines.  The skins and juice of red wine are fermented together and this leads to the presence of the right quantity of tannins in the wine.

White grapes are crushed with the skin intact, but the skin is then separated from the juice prior to fermentation.

Thoughtful Fermentation

During the fermentation process alcohol is produced.   The amount of alcohol can be tested with scientific instruments to a precise degree.  The quality of the fermented wine is determined by the vintner and will depend on the type of wine being produced.

During fermentation the crushed grapes are placed in big steel vats or oak barrels along with cultured yeast.  Wine fermented in oak barrels is often red and the barrel itself contributes to the earthy or woody flavour of the wine.  The skins are removed from the fermented red grape mixture before filtering and bottling.  Having said that, many white wines – especially Chardonnay – is also oak fermented, but they remain in the minority.

The vintner is the person who decides when the fermentation process is complete.  During fermentation the crushed grapes will be maintained at a carefully controlled temperature.  After the decision has been made as to when to pick the grapes, the fermentation process is the most critical step in the process of creating high quality wine.

Quality Can Be Bottled

When the fermentation process is deemed complete, the winemaker then filters the wine so most of the grape sediment, vine particles and yeast are removed.  After filtering the wine is ready to be bottled.

When you hear the term “wine aging”, it refers to storing the wine until it is at peak condition.  All wines improve with ages.  The degree of that improvement and the extent to which it can keep improving over time depends on many factors.  Of note in the 21st Century more and more wines are being bottled to drink now.

This is a simplified description of how wine is made, but serves to create a general understanding of the process and its intricaies.

Speaking the Language of Wine

Every industry has its own language. The language has developed over many years and each word has a very distinct meaning. In the world of wine, only certain words can accurately describe a wine or an impression after drinking a wine.

Acidity

Acidity refers to the acid taste the wine has which is in reference to the sharpness of the wine taste.

Aroma

Aroma is a term used to describe how the wine smells (or ‘bouquet’). The aroma a wine has is related to the type of grape or botanical used to make the wine. For example, a wine may have a flowery aroma or an earthy aroma.

Balance

The term ‘balance’ in the world of wine alludes to how the many qualities of the wine blend together without any single quality overwhelming the others. It can also be used to define the pairing of the wine with food. Balance is another word for the harmony of the various wine elements.

Body (Weight)

The body or weight of the wine is the texture you feel on your tongue or in your mouth while drinking the wine.

Breathe

When you let wine breathe, it means you are exposing the air to oxygen. For example, when you open a bottle of wine, the air mixes with the wine.

Decant

The term decant can mean one of two things. It refers to pouring the wine out of the bottle into a different container. It can also refer to pouring the wine slowly so the sediment is not disturbed. In the first case you are allowing the wine to breathe and in the second case you are preserving the clarity.

Dry

Dry wine is wine that has very little sugar in it. A dry wine may be mildly sweet or not sweet at all.

Fermentation

Fermentation is the process during which the crushed grapes are combined with yeast so the grape sugar turns into alcohol.

Finish

The finish of wine is the last impression the wine leaves as you swallow. You may describe a finish as smooth or harsh.

Fortified Wine

Fortified wine is wine that has had other alcoholic spirits added. It may contain brandy for example and it usually contains higher alcohol content than unfortified wine.

Full-Bodied

A full-bodied wine is one which makes the tastebuds feel an intense flavour and can even feel heavy or thick.

Harsh

A harsh wine is a biting wine that leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. It is a wine that has too much acid or too much tannin in it.

Palate

The palate actually refers to the roof of the mouth and it is where the wine first hits before inundating the tastebuds on the tongue.

Sediment

Sediment is the remnant of the grapes or even yeast used in the production process. In high quality wines sediment is kept to a minimum.

Tannin

Tannin is a substance found naturally in the grape seeds and stems. Tannins can make a wine taste very dry or bitter unless properly managed by the winemaker. Tannins can cause the mouth to pucker. Over time, as wine ages, tannins will mellow.

Varietal

A wine labelled as varietal is one made with a dominant grape variety. The name of the wine usually indicates the name of the varietal grape. This makes it easy to read a wine label and identify the varietal grape.

Vintage

The vintage of wine is the year the grape was harvested.

These are just the main terms used to describe wine. There are many others, but if you know these basic terms you can speak the language of wine.

Wine competitions are held in cities, at regional levels, nationally and internationally.  There are many different kinds of wine categories including, but not limited to, the following most popular Australian wine types.

• Shiraz
• Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
• Merlot
• Riesling
• Rosé wines
• Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris
• Grenache
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Sparking wines
• Fortified wines such as Muscat and Tawny

This is not intended to be a complete list, but only to give you an idea of the interesting and complete selection of Australian wines presented at competitions around the world.  Australian wines only continue to grow in popularity and winemakers have earned many awards in recognition of their talents.

Uncorking the Best

Wineries submit their wines for official wine tasting and judging in order to reap recognition and awards in the appropriate categories.  There are even awards for the best wine bottle design.  In Australia, there are many different competitions held.  In some competitions the wine is judged without food.  In other competitions the wine is judged after being paired with appropriate foods.  The ultimate goal is to earn a gold medal which brings with it international recognition.

There are also many international wine competitions held and wineries from countries around the world attend.  They are spectacular industry events which attract a fascinating collection of people with one thing in common – wine.  The judges have earned a reputation for their ability to accurately judge wine and the coveted awards are sought by wineries seeking acknowledgement of their achievements.

When a wine wins an award, the winery earns the privilege of including the award name on the label.

The awards given to wine are as varied as the wines presented.  Awards range from best local boutique wine to awards presented on a global scale.  Earning top awards for a wine can lead to greater sales, increased exports and even investment purchases.  There are many wine collectors and investors in the world ready to buy the next bottles of award winning wine.

Wine is Serious Business

Despite its entertainment purpose, winemaking is serious business.  The wine awards given at shows such as the National Wine Show of Australia, the International Wine Competition, and many others, bring prestige and honour to the winemaking industry.

Vintners have been making wine for thousands of years.  It is an ancient practice that has led to the creation of a unique art form.  It is appropriate that competitions give awards to recognize the efforts and judgment put into each bottle of wine.

Wine has many different characteristics and there are a number of excellent medium quality wines which make ideal wines for daily use; quaffers!  These wines have excellent flavours and aromas that heighten the wine drinking experience.  You don’t have to buy bad wine when so many wonderful, good quality wines are available here in Australia.

Of course there are also high quality wines and that is where you can truly enjoy a sensory experience.  High quality does not necessarily mean high price though you can literally pay as much as you want for a bottle of wine. Private stock wine possessing unique qualities,  properly stored, available only in limited quantities can command thousands of dollars.

Australian Quality Around the World

For most wine drinkers, the goal is to find a wine that can be paired with food in a way that enhances the entire meal experience.  In Australia, wine consumption has reached 22.5 litres per person per year.  The country has become a major producer and exporter of wine because of the high quality wines produced in varying conditions.  In fact, the wine is so good that Australia has become the 6th largest producer of wine in the world.  It is also the 4th largest wine exporter.

Obviously the quality of our wine is very high or people would not be demanding the product in over 100 countries around the world.  But if someone asked you why the wine is of good quality, could you tell them?

The answer to that question is best addressed by learning how people judge high quality wine.  If you know how to recognize high quality wine, you will know how to buy high quality wine.

Judging Quality

When wine is judged there are certain qualities that are considered.  These qualities include appearance, aroma, taste and body.

Appearance

If you enjoy drinking wine, you have probably seen someone pour a glass of wine, gently twirl it around in the glass, and then hold it up to the light.  What that person is doing is judging the appearance of the wine.

The appearance of wine refers to colour and clarity.  Wine clarity judging looks for cloudiness and the right shade of colour.  Red wines should be richly coloured and have colour intensity.  Though red wines will pale as they age, the colour of the wine should still be brilliant and glittering and not dull.

When judging the appearance of white wine, you are looking for colour shades ranging from yellow to amber.  White wine colours should remind you of richness.  As white wines age, they may darken.  However, white wines that have browning may have been improperly oxidized which means they cannot be considered high quality.

By the way, the swirling of the wine in the glass is meant to uncover any sediment that adheres to the glass. This is related to judging clarity.

Aroma

The aroma of the wine is the second characteristic judged in order to determine quality.  The aroma is literally the smell of the wine as you get ready to drink it.  It is the first sensory experience of wine drinking because you smell the wine as soon as you open the bottle.

The swirling of the wine in the glass will release the aroma of the wine.  To judge a wine’s aroma, you inhale the odour deeply after letting the wine breathe for a few minutes after pouring.  There are a number of aromas you may detect, and the wine should smell according to the type of wine it is.  For example, red wines may smell earthy while white wines might have a fruity aroma.

When judging the aroma of a wine, you can use your common sense in many cases to determine if the wine is high quality.  If you open a bottle of wine and find yourself wrinkling your nose or wondering why it smells earthy when it should generally smell fruity or florally, then you probably have a low quality wine in your hand.

Taste

Once you have judged the appearance and the aroma, it is time to judge the taste.  How the wine tastes depends on the type of wine you have purchased.  You take a small sip of wine and roll it around your tongue and mouth and let the full flavour leave an impression on your tastebuds.

When you are wine tasting while looking for quality, the key characteristic to keep in mind is balance.  The wine’s acidity and sweetness are judged.  The amount of acid in the wine determines how tart a wine tastes.  If a wine is flat tasting or is too tart, the acidity level is not correct.

The sweetness of wine is determined primarily by the amount of alcohol and the acidity level.  But when you are tasting wine, it should of course taste as you would expect.  A dessert wine should taste sweet and there are certain wine names that let you know a wine should be sweet.  If you discover the wine does not meet its definition by industry standards, it is not a high quality wine.

Body

Finally, high quality wine will have the right body.  Body is determined by the tannins in the wine and the body changes as wine ages.  The body of the wine refers to the weight or feel of the wine in your mouth.

For example, when you taste a full-bodied red wine you would expect the wine to feel heavy in your mouth.  When you are drinking a light white wine, the sensation would not be as strong.  Wine is defined as full-bodied, medium-bodied and light-bodied.

The Joy of Drinking Wine

Learning how to judge a high quality wine takes practice.  As you learn about different types of wine and are able to associate certain characteristics to expectations, your wine judging abilities will grow.  The qualities of wine are determined by the grapes used and the wine making process followed.

The one thing you can count on though is that quality judging is just another way to experience the joy of drinking wine.

Wine is a drink that is meant to complement a meal which means it should complete it. You don’t want to savour the flavours of your food and then overwhelm the experience with the wrong wine choice. Equally, you don’t want to mix flavours that are confusing to the palate. For example, a sweet dessert wine would not be served with a steak or pasta.

Blending Individual Tastes With Wine

Of course, every one has preferences so the traditional wine and food pairings are not etched in stone. However, there are certain guidelines you should learn before you begin to experiment while seeking your own serving style.

The reason it is necessary to become familiar with the guidelines is so you are able to learn how to match particular wines with particular foods no matter what you decide to prepare or order in a restaurant. You can then vary from these guidelines to meet your individual tastes without creating a chaos of flavours.

Guidelines for Palate Delights

There is one overriding pairing guideline that starts the pairing process. The paired wine and food should make each taste better. In other words, there should be balance achieved in terms of the following:

• Intensity
• Flavours
• Weight
• Aromas

This may sound like a difficult accomplishment, but there are some ground rules you can begin with in order to achieve a balanced.

First you should achieve harmony between the wine and food flavourings. If you food is going to be spicy or tangy you would choose a wine with high acidity so the food flavour does not overwhelm the wine flavour. If your dish is salty, you would also choose an acidic wine.

Meat dishes, on the other hand, work better with dark and fruity wines because the tannins will dry the mouth and the meat juices will keep the mouth moist. Sweet wines, or dessert wines, go well with sugary and rich desserts because of both their flavour and weight.

You should also consider how the food has been cooked before choosing your wine. If your food is fried, roasted, or braised you will choose a heavier flavoured and bodied wine than you would if the food has been broiled.

You also want to consider the type of meal you are eating. Heavy pasta dishes with tomato based sauces will work best with a heavy bodied red wine. Fish or chicken dishes are better eaten with a lighter, white wine. The body of your wine choice should complement the intensity of the food flavours. You can think in terms of light wine goes with light flavoured food, while heavy wine goes with heavy flavoured food.

When it comes to cheese the pairings can be a little unusual. There are many different kinds of cheeses and cheese often has a very strong taste. A sharp and/or hard cheese pairs well with a red wine. Sweet wine flavours can balance the taste of cheeses that are intense. Soft cheeses pair best with a wine that has higher acidity.

On Occasion

The occasion where wine will be served usually influences the choice of wine based on price after matching the meal. You would use the wine pairing guidelines for the meal and then consider the occasion. For example, you would serve a red wine with prime rib roast, but might decide to purchase a more expensive wine if the food is being served at a wedding or celebration.

Enjoy Your Flavours!

In the final analysis, you need to enjoy the taste in your mouth when you eat the food and drink the wine. The guidelines are not etched in stone, and your personal preference will be the final determining factor. If it works for you, then the balance is right!